RSVP to the virtual town hall here. 

As part of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis’s ongoing commitment to transparency, stewardship, and service to the St. Louis arts community, Commission Chair Tino Ochoa and President & CEO Vanessa Cooksey will provide an update on recent developments during a virtual town hall on Thursday, March 19 at 10:00am CST.

RAC recently received notice from the Missouri State Auditor’s Office that it will initiate a formal audit of RAC.

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 invite you to join us for a brief virtual town hall to receive information additional to this statement.

We are cooperating fully with the State Auditor’s Office and are confident the findings will mirror the success we have come to expect at the local level. As always, RAC will continue to focus on serving the St. Louis region’s arts and cultural community and maintaining the public’s trust.

Please CLICK HERE to RSVP. If you cannot attend, we will provide a recording of this session on our website following the session.

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.