[1]
Prior legislation: Ord. 15-05.
The purpose of the commission is to:
A. 
Advise and inform the city council and staff on culture and arts related issues;
B. 
Evaluate the needs and resources of local culture and arts organizations;
C. 
Facilitate, encourage, promote and stimulate arts and culture in our community;
D. 
Promote and increase public awareness, locally and beyond the city, of arts and cultural resources and activities;
E. 
Support and promote the arts and culture as a major element in Benicia's community identity;
F. 
Ensure that cultural and artistic elements are integral to the city's quality of life and economic vitality; and
G. 
Engage youth in culture and arts.
(Ord. 09-15 § 2)
A. 
Each member of the arts and culture commission shall have a demonstrated interest in promoting and sustaining the arts and cultural community of poetry, literacy, performing arts, music, theater, dance, film, visual arts, and cultural events.
B. 
At least one member shall be an artist or shall represent the visual arts community.
C. 
At least one member shall represent the cultural and/or performing arts community.
D. 
Members shall not be on other city boards or commissions nor board members of other organized art or cultural groups.
(Ord. 09-15 § 2)
A. 
The commission may assist and cooperate with any existing agency or group, which has as its object the development or improvement of art and culture activities and programs.
B. 
The commission may plan for the development of arts and culture activities and make recommendations to the city council.
C. 
The commission may accept gifts and grants from any source to assist it in the performance of its functions. These gifts and grants operate to augment any appropriation made for the support of the commission.
D. 
The commission may establish working committees as necessary to carry out the work of the commission. Examples of these include: the publicity committee, the grants committee, the events committee, and the annual report committee.
E. 
The commission will have the power to coordinate fundraising activities for arts and culture activities.
(Ord. 09-15 § 2; Ord. 11-10 § 1)
The commission shall:
A. 
Work cooperatively with city boards and commissions and other public and private organizations in creating and promoting art and cultural programs and activities within the city;
B. 
Make recommendations to the city council regarding the funding of community art projects, including the search for private and public grants, and regarding the disbursement of funds to arts and cultural organizations consistent with the needs of the community. The commission shall develop and adopt procedures for evaluating grant requests from the community prior to making recommendations on the requests to city council;
C. 
Provide information, including a community calendar of events, regarding performing arts, music, theater, dance, film, visual arts, nonpermanent exhibits and cultural events, such as celebrations of different cultures and culinary arts;
D. 
Encourage community involvement in the cultural arts by providing opportunities for local and area events and performances on behalf of the arts community;
E. 
Have the option to coordinate fundraising projects to augment city funding and to raise funds to be used to stimulate arts and culture activities, events and projects in the community;
F. 
Send to the city council annually a written report of its activities and recommendations for improvements and additions to existing art and culture programs;
G. 
Develop recommendations in which the city may encourage and promote related programs;
H. 
Advise the planning commission or the city council, as the case may be, on any required public art dedications pursuant to BMC § 16.20.070; and
I. 
Work closely with the assigned department director and other departments and agencies of the city so that the resources of the city are used as effectively and efficiently as possible on behalf of art and culture entities within the city.
(Ord. 09-15 § 2; Ord. 11-10 § 2)