City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the National Park Service Maritime Heritage Education Program to Fund a World War I Commemoration Exhibition at the Lyceum.
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Consideration of approval for the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) to apply for a grant and to accept funds from the National Park Service Maritime Heritage Education Program toward the fabrication of an exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of American entry into World War I. $30,000 is being requested from the National Park Service Maritime Heritage Education Program and will be matched with $30,000 from The Lyceum’s general fund budget.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorize the City Manager to:
1) Ratify the prior submission of the application to the National Park Service Maritime Heritage Education Program for a $30,000 matching grant.
2) Approve the acceptance of funds from the National Park Service Maritime Heritage Program for $30,000, once the grant is approved.
3) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: Over 100,000 Virginians served in World War I and more than 4,000 died from disease, combat, and training accidents. In preparation for the April 6, 2017 Centennial of the United States' entry into the war, a Virginia World War I Centennial Committee has been established by the Virginia General Assembly to coordinate events and commemorations to honor the efforts and sacrifices of soldiers and citizens on the Homefront. The City of Alexandria is part of this state-wide commemoration and the Office of Historic Alexandria is planning a two year series of public programs and exhibits to highlight Alexandria’s role in the World War I effort, including an exhibition at The Lyceum.
The Lyceum’s public exhibition, “Alexandrians Fight the Great War,” will share and discuss the experiences of Alexandrians during the First World War. Among the exhibit highlights will be sections on maritime-related war industries such as shipbuilding, the Naval Torpedo Station, and seaplane construction. Details of early 20th-century steel shipbuilding will be examined through the use of archival video, the display of period artifacts and the use of scale models.
DISCUSSION: In FY 2016 one of OHA's major objectives was to begin planning for the commemoration of the centennial of World War I and its impact on the City of Alexandria. In July 2016, OHA became aware of a National Park Service grant program that provides matching funds for exhibits, publications and educational programming for projects related to maritime heritage. As City Council did not meet over the summer, OHA submitted a grant application requesting $30,000 in funding to support a major exhibit and programming on the subject at The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum. If not ratified by Council, the application will be withdrawn.
FISCAL IMPACT: This grant will provide a $30,000 match for the proposed exhibition. The granting period is January 9, 2017 through November 18, 2019. City funding towards the match is already included in The Lyceum's FY 2017 budget, and no further City funding is necessary.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
J. Lance Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria
Gretchen Bulova, Deputy Director, Office of Historic Alexandria
James C. Mackay, Director, The Lyceum
Francine Bromberg, City Archaeologist