Dear Friends of the Arts, 

For those who were able, thank you for joining us for today’s Town Hall. 

Your presence, your questions, and your support matter deeply—not just to RAC, but to the entire arts community across St. Louis. This moment is about more than one organization—it’s about protecting what makes St. Louis vibrant, connected, and alive. 

As we move forward together, there are a few simple but powerful ways you can help: 

Share the information
Please share relevant excerpts or the full Town Hall recording with your friends, family, and colleagues so they can stay informed and understand what’s at stake. 

See the full recording of the town hall here. 

Speak up
Contact your state and local elected officials and tell them to keep RAC independent and fully funded. Your voice matters—and they need to hear it!

St. Louis City | St. Louis County | State of Missouri 

Show your love for the arts
Throughout the year, share photos of yourself at your favorite arts experiences—performances, exhibitions, festivals, classes—and use the support badge in your posts.Let’s make the impact of the arts visible across all social media platforms. We’ve included examples below. 

Download RAC Badges 

At the end of the day, this is about all of us. 

The arts are the heartbeat of our St. Louis culture. Let’s protect the HeART—together. 

With gratitude,
Tino Ochoa RAC Commission Board Chair 
Vanessa Cooksey, RAC President & CEO 

The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis has received notice from the Missouri State Auditor’s Office that it will initiate a formal audit following a preliminary review of complaints submitted through its statewide public Whistleblower Hotline. The Auditor’s letter says that it intends to examine administrative costs and our grant evaluation process. These topics involve technical compliance and documentation standards, and we are confident the findings from the state will mirror the success we have come to expect at the local level.    

Every year, RAC participates in an audit of our financial practices with an independent firm selected by the Offices of the Mayor and County Executive. Upon completion, RAC shares the audit findings with leaders in the City, County, and State, as well as the public. RAC has longstanding financial oversight structures, including monthly cash management reports and quarterly financial reports, with oversight from the Finance Committee and the full Board of Commissioners. We will cooperate fully with the State Auditor’s Office to ensure a thorough and accurate understanding of our policies, procedures, and expenditures.  

We take this matter seriously. For 40 years, RAC has served the St. Louis arts and culture community by awarding grants vetted through efficient and rigorous processes and marshalling resources for public benefit. This is our purpose and why we exist, a responsibility that requires a commitment to transparency and accountability. We are proud to serve as stewards of public funds dedicated to arts and culture. We welcome the opportunity to provide documentation and context regarding our financial practices and grantmaking processes.  

As always, RAC will continue to focus on serving the St. Louis region’s arts and cultural community and maintaining the public’s trust.