Douglas County Distributes $537,129 in Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Funds

Thirty-one organizations and Douglas County’s Art Encounters Public Art program receive funds

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On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners, the Douglas County Cultural Council (DCCC) and the Scientific Cultural and Facilities District (SCFD) distributed a total of $455,552 to 31 organizations for 37 grants that will bring cultural activities, programs and events to Douglas County. Another $26,101 carried over from last year will be distributed this fall for the 2008-2009 Art Encounters Public Art program that is a collaborative effort between Douglas County, the Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association, the City of Lone Tree, the Town of Parker and the Town of Castle Rock (which will not receive any SCFD funding as they are not in the district). In addition, $29,275, plus any remaining funds from the $26,101 will go toward the 2009-2010 Art Encounters program year.

Out of the 31 organizations that were funded, 13 are Douglas County based: Castle Rock Players, Cherokee Ranch and Castle, Christian Youth Theater, Douglas/Elbert Music Teachers Association, Douglas County Children’s Chorus, HawkQuest, Highlands Ranch Concert Band, Highlands Ranch Community Chorus, Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association, City of Lone Tree Arts Commission, Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra, Parker Arts Council and the Parker Cultural Commission.

The other 18 organizations are not based in Douglas County, but they bring programs and performances to Douglas County and/or Douglas County schools take field trips to their facilities.

“SCFD funds allow Douglas County citizens of all ages to experience arts, culture, science and history programming or performances that would otherwise not be offered without this funding,” said Douglas County Commissioner Melanie Worley.

Since 1989, SCFD has distributed funds from a 1/10 of a 1 percent sales and use tax to cultural facilities throughout the seven-county Denver metropolitan area. The funds support cultural facilities whose primary purpose is to enlighten and entertain the public through the production, presentation, exhibition, advancement and preservation of art, music, theatre, dance, zoology, botany, natural history and cultural history.