HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.16.17 BAC PacketBoulder Arts Commission Meeting Agenda
August 16, 2017
Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Studio
3022 Sterling Circle, 80301
1.CALL TO ORDER
Approval of Agenda
2.COMMISSION BUSINESS
Welcome and swearing in of the new commissioner, Erica Joos.
3.REVIEW OF MINUTES
4.PUBLIC COMMENT
Note: public comments regarding the 2018 Grants Program Blueprint will be held during agenda item 7A.
5.GRANT ACTION ITEMS
A.Professional Development Grant Applications
>Devin Patrick Hughes, Solti International Conducting Competition, Budapest, Pecs, Hungary , $1,000
>Kelley Ann Walsh, ATI Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, $883.10
B.FY17 Community Project Grant Reports
>Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, MediaLive, $10,000
C.FY16 Arts Education Grant Reports
>Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, ARTlab, $10,000
6.PUBLIC ART ACTION ITEMS
A.Finalist Approval: Civic Area 11th Street Spine Signature Artwork
Refer to Attachment 1 of the meeting packet.
7.COMMISSION BUSINESS
A.FOR DISCUSSION: 2018 Grants Program Blueprint – Lauren and Matt
Refer to Attachment 2 of the meeting packet.
>Presentation: Proposed Adjustments to the 2018 Grant Program
>Public Comment
>Commission Questions and Response
B.ACTION ITEM: BMoCA Board Appointment – Mark
C.FOR DISCUSSION: Discussion of 2018 Jury Panel – Mark
8.MATTERS FROM STAFF
A.Manager’s Update – Matt
B.FOR DISCUSSION: Library Master Plan, Future of the Canyon Theater – David
C.ACTION ITEM: Update of BRC Chapter 14-1 – Matt
Refer to Attachment 3 of the meeting packet.
9.ADJOURNMENT
Boulder Arts Commission - 1 August 16, 2017
Boulder Arts Commission Minutes
July 19, 2017
Page 1 of 3
CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING
MINUTES
Name of Board/ Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting: July 19, 2017 at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
Contact information preparing summary: Maureen Malone, 303-441-3106
Commission members present: Mark Villarreal, Felicia Furman, Tamil Maldonado, Kathleen McCormick, Devin Hughes
Jury panel members present: Alice Renouf, Cindy Sepucha, Heather Beasley
Jury panel members absent: Alan O’Hashi
Library staff present:
David Farnan, Director of Library & Arts
Matt Chasansky, Office of Arts & Culture Manager
Lauren Click, Grants Coordinator
Mandy Vink, Public Art Coordinator
Mary Haan, Creative Sector Initiatives Coordinator
Maureen Malone, Administrative Specialist II
Members of the public present: David Dadone & Amy Metier, BMoCA
Type of Meeting: Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda [6:03 p.m., 0:00:00 Audio min.]
The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m.
Villarreal moved to approve the agenda, and Maldonado seconded. All in favor.
Agenda Item 2: Review of Minutes [6:04p.m., 0:01:10 Audio min.]
Item 2A, Approval of June 21, 2017 Meeting Minutes
McCormick pointed out that Chasansky is listed as having attended the meeting, when in fact he was absent.
Furman moved to approve the minutes as amended, and McCormick seconded. Vote 5-0, unanimous.
Agenda Item 3: Public comment [6:05 p.m., 0:02:25 Audio min.]
Amy Metier and David Dadone offered to answer questions about the recent conflict at BMoCA, and Metier assured the
commission that the BMoCA board stands behind Dadone and the museum. Maldonado asked about the plan to define the
management policy where employees feel good in the space and to build trust with the community to ensure the success of
BMoCA’s expansion plan as part of the November ballot initiative. Dadone and Metier explained what steps they have
taken thus far as well as future plans, and left commission with a statement from the Board of Directors of BMoCA (see
handouts).
Agenda Item 4: Grant Program Action Items – Commission Only [6:24 p.m., 0:21:00 Audio min.]
a. FY17 Professional Development Grant Reports
1. Ana María Hernando, Women and the Ñusta; in the Andes Mountains of Peru; $1,000
2. Sarah Longpre; NonfictioNOW 2017 Conference; Reykjavík, Iceland; $1,000
3. Felice Fenwick-Smith; The Catamounts Developmental Workshop; $450
Furman moved to approve all the reports, and Maldonado seconded. Vote 5-0, unanimous.
Click shared that one of the grantees was unable to make their trip, so there is now $1,300 available in the fund.
Agenda Item 5: Public Art Action Items [6:27 p.m., 0:24:07 Audio min.]
a. Finalist Approval: Arapahoe Underpass; appx. $42,000 (see handouts for presentation)
Boulder Arts Commission - 2 August 16, 2017
Boulder Arts Commission Minutes
July 19, 2017
Page 2 of 3
McCormick asked how much of the $42,000 budget is for the artist and materials and how much is for everything
else. Vink replied that the artist will be responsible for navigating the budget , though there are specific estimates
and milestones; Sparks has requested a 15% artist fee, which is standard in the industry.
Furman moved that the commission approve this process was properly conducted and recommend that the proposal
by artist Michelle Sparks advance to the City Manager for final approval. McCormick seconded. All in favor.
Agenda Item 6: Commission Business [6:51 p.m., 0:48:50 Audio min.]
a. 2018 Grants Program Blueprint (see handouts for presentation)
Click presented a list of comments and concerns received from both applicants and jury members regarding the
2017 grants process, and explained that commission will talk through priorities and potential changes at the August
and September meetings, discuss the new budget in September, and make final decisions on any changes to the
process during the October retreat.
Villarreal wondered whether the numbers indicate that the intent behind the equity question – to fund organizations
that had never before received grants from the commission – was realized. Staff will run the numbers and bring the
results to the next meeting.
Commission agreed that jury members need to come to a com mon understanding of phrases, terminology, and
intent behind questions used in the application. Villarreal suggested analyzing a grant proposal where there was a
big disparity in scoring amongst the jury members to pick it apart and discuss why individuals voted a certain way.
Furman suggested making a list of things that imply artistic excellence to give applicants some guidance on how
they will be evaluated.
In response to a comment from applicants that the meetings are not live streamed for the public that cannot attend,
Farnan explained that the city has an official policy on televising meetings; staff would need to get approval, there
would be a big cost associated, and commission would have to meet in council chambers. Commission agreed not
to pursue this idea.
When asked for priority topics to focus on, Furman recommended working on re-writing the language in the
questions and rubrics for clarification; Sepucha suggested bringing in an outside person to help with this task.
Beasley recommended that commission determine clear criteria for what would make them decide to defund a
multi-year General Operating Support grant. Maldonado suggested focusing on the topic of equity and how it
reflects on the grants and funding. McCormick stated that she would like to see the money spread around a little
more to fund more individuals and small groups.
Click encouraged commissioners and jury panel members to get in touch with staff with any additional feedback or
suggestions. Farnan expressed his appreciation for the jury’s individual consistency in scoring applications , and
Chasansky thanked them for their time spent improving the community through these grants.
b. Unfilled Liaison Positions
Furman volunteered to work with 3rd Law Dance/Theater and Boulder Samba School. McCormick volunteered to
work with NoBo Art District and Colorado Music Festival. Click will fill the liaison position with Block 1750.
Appointment of the BMoCA board position has been postponed until the August meeting.
Agenda Item 7: Matters from Commission Members [8:55 p.m., 2:42:35 Audio min.]
a. Farewell Statement – Maldonado
Maldonado read a farewell statement (see handouts), this being her last meeting on the commission after
submitting her notice of resignation in May. Farnan thanked her for her service on the commission.
Agenda Item 8: Matters from Staff [9:00 p.m., 2:46:56 Audio min.]
a. Manager’s Update
Chasansky will send commission some possible dates for the annual retreat in October.
Malone announced that council members Jan Burton and Matt Appelbaum would like to attend a meeting again
this year; commission agreed that staff may choose a date for the visit.
Boulder Arts Commission - 3 August 16, 2017
Boulder Arts Commission Minutes
July 19, 2017
Page 3 of 3
Click announced that the next Cultural Organizations Summit will be held on August 29, and encouraged
commissioners and jury panel members to join staff for a meeting with the General Operating Support grant
recipients prior to the event.
b. Cultural Grants Ordinance Update (see handouts for presentation)
Staff will bring the revised ordinance to commission in August, once the City Attorney’s Office has reviewed it.
Agenda Item 9: Adjournment [9:10 p.m., 2:57:11 Audio min.]
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Date, time, and location of next meeting:
The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at the Frequent Flyers
Studio, 3022 E. Sterling Circle #150, Boulder, CO 80301 .
Boulder Arts Commission - 4 August 16, 2017
TO: Members of the Boulder Arts Commission and Jury Panel
FROM: Matt Chasansky, City of Boulder Office of Arts + Culture
DATE: August 11, 2017
SUBJECT: Manager’s Update for the Boulder Arts Commission Meeting
on August 16, 2017
1. Welcome, Erica Joos!
On behalf of the staff of the Office of Arts and Culture, I wish to welcome our new commissioner,
Erica Joos, appointed by City Council to fill the seat vacated by Tamil Maldonado. Erica Joos is the
Arts Director for the Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies, an arts integration public
elementary school in the Boulder Valley School District. Her duties with BCSIS include teaching art
and music for grades 1-5, creating and facilitating community-wide festivals and celebrations, and
working with Front Range artists and arts organizations for artist residencies and monthly
performances at the school. Outside of teaching and community organizing, she is engaged in
Boulder's art and music culture, including singing in 1000 Voices African Songs of Life group with Nii
Armah Sowah. Additionally, her experiences working with leaders of culture and arts districts
beyond Boulder give her great insight into innovative, community-wide projects. Erica is also a lover
of the outdoors and works on building the cultural-place connection.
Erica will serve out the remainder of the term of this seat, through the year 2020.
2. Notes on the August 16 agenda.
> From time to time, the Arts Commission holds off-site meetings. This helps us become
better informed about the organizations and venues that are our partners, and increases
the ability of people across the city to access the meetings. The August meeting will be held
at Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Studio, 3022 Sterling Circle, 80301.
Please consider carpooling, biking, or using public transportation to attend the meeting.
This location is served by RTD bus route 208/208F.
> 5A, Professional Development Grant Applications – Staff has received and processed two
new applications, the first for $1,000 and the second for $883.10. Available funds only
amount to $1,350.00. In addition to a review of approval for each application, the
commission will need to advise staff on the distribution of the remaining funds.
> 6A, Public Art Finalist Approval: Civic Area 11th Street Signature Artwork – In attachment 1,
please find a copy of the slideshow presentation that will be delivered by staff. The goal of
this agenda item will be to a) review that the process was properly executed for
recommendation to the City Manager, and b) to give any advice to the artist and staff on the
design and installation of the artwork. To review the public art process, please refer to the
Policy for the Acquisition and Maintenance of Public Art:
Policy for the Acquisition and Maintenance of Public Art
> 7A, 2018 Grants Program Blueprint – At the July meeting, staff gave a presentation and
received direction from the members of the Arts Commission on the areas of the grants
Boulder Arts Commission - 5 August 16, 2017
program that may be improved for the 2018 cycle. During the August meeting, staff will
present the first round of proposed changes that respond to those priorities. In attachment
2, please find a narrative of the presentation that staff will deliver. The goal of this agenda
item is to get direction and nodding-agreement on specific changes. Based on this advice,
staff can make draft changes to the content of the guidelines, applications, jury procedures,
and other documents for presentation at the October retreat and finalization of the 2018
grants cycle.
> 8B, Library Master Plan, Future of the Canyon Theater – The staff with the Library Division
are in the middle of a process to develop a master plan. Community surveys have produced
an interesting result: the use of the Canyon Theater was highly rated as a priority. The
library master plan process will respond in examining the future of the space for cultural
uses by the city and the community. During the meeting, Library & Arts Director David
Farnan will introduce the library master plan, and lead a discussion to get the opinion of the
Arts Commission on the Canyon Theater, including its value as a cultural venue, potential
improvements to the space, and full activation. The advice of the commission will inform a
feasibility study for changes that may occur as soon as 2019.
> 8C, Update of Boulder Revised Code (BRC) Chapter 14-1 – In Attachment 3, please find the
current ordinance which governs the Cultural Grants Program (also referred to as Arts
Grants Program). During the meeting, staff will be seeking discussion, advice, and approval
of a recommendation that amendments be made by City Council to this law.
The current ordinance was last updated in 1985. Since that time, the Cultural Grants
Program has undergone many changes. Following council’s adoption of the Community
Cultural Plan in 2015, the grants once again required significant changes to strategy, goals,
structures, and processes. For the 2016 and 2017 cycles, these changes were made and are
already demonstrating positive outcomes in the community. To date, the improvements
have been limited to what is permissible by the governing ordinance, BRC Chapter 14-1. The
cultural plan recommends that, once that the value of the improved grants program is
proven, action is taken to align the ordinance more precisely with the best operation of the
grants program and lay the foundations for further improvements. Staff is working with the
City Attorney’s Office on amendments in five categories:
1. Improvements to the “legislative intent,”,
2. Removing a requirement that grant recipients donate works of art to the city,
3. Improving the functionality of the review criteria,
4. Improving the approval steps, and
5. Other minor modifications.
Please review the current ordinance, found in Attachment 3, prior to the meeting. Staff will
give a presentation with detailed descriptions of each recommended change, followed by
discussion of a motion to recommend that council adopt the amendments.
3. Update on Analysis of Scoring Results in the 2017 Grants Cycle
As requested by members of the Arts Commission, below are analyses of scoring results from three
specific jury questions: Boulder Focus, Equity, and Artistic Excellence. The findings are intended to
Boulder Arts Commission - 6 August 16, 2017
best inform the discussion of changes to those jury questions. For the examples, staff analyzed the
Small / Medium GOS Grants, and the Community Project Grants:
> FY17 Small / Medium Operational Grant analyses
A. Boulder Focus:
BOULDER FOCUS POINTS REMOVED
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 SMALL/MED GOS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE
Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras 29.89
square product theatre 28.67
Boulder Samba School 28.33
Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet 28.33
3rd Law Dance/Theater 27.44
Boulder MUSE 27.11
Art Parts Creative Reuse Center 26.33
Cindy Brandle Dance Company 25.67
The Schiff Dance Collective 25.67
BaoBao Foundation 25.44
Boulder Metalsmithing Association 25.13
The Boulder Creative Collective 24.75
Natural Highs 24.44
Beyond Academia LLC 23.67
Rocky Mountain Revels 23.56
Society for Creative Aging 23.22
Seicento Baroque Ensemble 23.11
The Upstart Crow, Inc. 22.56
Truth Be Told 20.67
Boulder Arts Commission - 7 August 16, 2017
SORTED BY BOULDER FOCUS SCORE
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 SMALL/MED GOS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE Bldr Focus AVERAGE
Art Parts Creative Reuse Center 30.33 4.00
Boulder Samba School 32.22 3.89
Cindy Brandle Dance Company 29.56 3.89
The Boulder Creative Collective 28.63 3.88
Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras 33.67 3.78
3rd Law Dance/Theater 31.22 3.78
Boulder MUSE 30.89 3.78
Truth Be Told 24.44 3.78
Boulder Metalsmithing Association 28.88 3.75
Natural Highs 28.11 3.67
Rocky Mountain Revels 27.22 3.67
Society for Creative Aging 26.89 3.67
BaoBao Foundation 29.00 3.56
square product theatre 32.11 3.44
Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet 31.78 3.44
The Schiff Dance Collective 29.11 3.44
Beyond Academia LLC 27.11 3.44
Seicento Baroque Ensemble 26.22 3.11
The Upstart Crow, Inc. 25.67 3.11
In these analyses, the Boulder focus scores have been removed in the first, then the
scores are sorted by the Boulder focus scores in the second. This may imply that while
the Boulder focus score is not directly impacting the final decisions it does demonstrate
that these funds were distributed to a range of Boulder-focused groups (as scored by
the jury). The distribution implies that the grant is serving its purpose insofar as it allows
not solely Boulder-based and focused organizations to receive funds.
Boulder Arts Commission - 8 August 16, 2017
B. Artistic Excellence:
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE POINTS REMOVED
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 SMALL/MED GOS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE
Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras 26.00
Boulder Samba School 25.11
square product theatre 24.89
Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet 24.33
Art Parts Creative Reuse Center 24.22
Boulder MUSE 24.22
3rd Law Dance/Theater 24.00
Cindy Brandle Dance Company 23.00
The Schiff Dance Collective 22.56
The Boulder Creative Collective 22.50
Boulder Metalsmithing Association 22.38
BaoBao Foundation 22.33
Natural Highs 22.00
Rocky Mountain Revels 21.22
Society for Creative Aging 21.22
Beyond Academia LLC 21.11
Seicento Baroque Ensemble 19.78
The Upstart Crow, Inc. 19.44
Truth Be Told 18.67
Boulder Arts Commission - 9 August 16, 2017
SORTED BY ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE SCORE
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 SMALL/MED GOS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE Bldr Focus AVERAGE
Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras 33.67 7.67
Boulder Samba School 32.22 7.11
square product theatre 32.11 7.22
Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet 31.78 7.44
3rd Law Dance/Theater 31.22 7.22
Boulder MUSE 30.89 6.67
Art Parts Creative Reuse Center 30.33 6.11
Cindy Brandle Dance Company 29.56 6.56
The Schiff Dance Collective 29.11 6.56
BaoBao Foundation 29.00 6.67
Boulder Metalsmithing Association 28.88 6.50
The Boulder Creative Collective 28.63 6.13
Natural Highs 28.11 6.11
Rocky Mountain Revels 27.22 6.00
Beyond Academia LLC 27.11 6.00
Society for Creative Aging 26.89 5.67
Seicento Baroque Ensemble 26.22 6.44
The Upstart Crow, Inc. 25.67 6.22
Truth Be Told 24.44 5.78
In these analyses, artistic excellence has been removed in the first chart, then the
artistic excellence scores have been used to sort the document in the second. Removing
the scores shows that the Art Parts Creative Reuse Center, one of the organizations that
would have benefitted from a broader description of ‘artistic excellence’, would have
moved into the funded group.
Boulder Arts Commission - 10 August 16, 2017
> FY17 Community Project Grant analysis
A. Equity:
EQUITY SCORE REMOVED
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 COMMUNITY PROJECTS APPLICANTS OPP GRANT ELIGIBLE EQUITY AVERAGE
Motus Theater 40.78
Boulder Phil. 40.56
BMoCA 40.38
JLF Boulder 40.33
Colo Music Festival 40.11
EcoArts Connections 39.11
LOCAL Theater 39.00
Barrio E Y 38.88
Boulder Samba 38.44
Lemon Sponge Cake 38.44
Rocky Ridge Y 37.67
Bldr Dance Coalition 36.33
Boulder Taiko Hibiki Y 34.56
Lisa Mark-Fasullo Y 33.56
Museum of Boulder 33.11
Judith Landsman Y 33.11
Edica Pacha Y 32.89
Julie Maren Y 32.44
Maren Waldman Y 31.33
CU Mathematics Dept. Y 30.67
Peggy Turchette Y 29.00
Nicholas Whitaker Y 28.33
Sarai Snyder Y 25.00
Sch of Myth & Mvmt Y 24.78
David Takahashi Y 24.11
Andrew Neely Y 19.78
Boulder Arts Commission - 11 August 16, 2017
EQUITY SCORE REMOVED
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 COMMUNITY PROJECTS APPLICANTS OPP ELIGIBLE EQUITY AVG EQUITY SCR
Barrio E Y 42.75 3.88
Edica Pacha Y 36.67 3.78
Judith Landsman Y 36.67 3.56
Lisa Mark-Fasullo Y 37.11 3.56
Maren Waldman Y 34.89 3.56
EcoArts Connections 42.56 3.44
Peggy Turchette Y 32.38 3.38
Boulder Samba 41.78 3.33
David Takahashi Y 27.44 3.33
Julie Maren Y 35.78 3.33
Boulder Taiko Hibiki Y 37.78 3.22
JLF Boulder 43.56 3.22
Nicholas Whitaker Y 31.56 3.22
Rocky Ridge Y 40.89 3.22
Bldr Dance Coalition 39.44 3.11
CU Mathematics Dept. Y 33.78 3.11
Lemon Sponge Cake 41.56 3.11
Motus Theater 43.89 3.11
Museum of Boulder 36.22 3.11
Sarai Snyder Y 28.00 3.00
Sch of Myth & Mvmt Y 27.78 3.00
Boulder Phil. 43.44 2.89
Colo Music Festival 43.00 2.89
LOCAL Theater 41.89 2.89
Andrew Neely Y 22.56 2.78
BMoCA 42.75 2.38
In these analyses, the equity scores have been removed in the first, then the scores are
sorted by equity points in the second. In this case, removing the equity points would have
altered the final decision of the grants taking Barrio E’ out of the funded group. The sort
demonstrates a distribution of funding across the equity spectrum, perhaps in response to
the two elements of the question (if an organization was previously funded and / or if the
project engages with an underserved audience).
Boulder Arts Commission - 12 August 16, 2017
B. Boulder Focus:
BOULDER FOCUS POINTS REMOVED
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 COMMUNITY PROJECTS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE
Motus Theater 39.89
JLF Boulder 39.56
Boulder Phil. 39.44
Colo Music Festival 39.00
EcoArts Connections 38.89
Barrio E 38.88
BMoCA 38.75
LOCAL Theater 38.00
Boulder Samba 37.78
Lemon Sponge Cake 37.78
Rocky Ridge 37.00
Bldr Dance Coalition 35.44
Boulder Taiko Hibiki 34.00
Lisa Mark-Fasullo 33.22
Judith Landsman 32.89
Edica Pacha 32.67
Museum of Boulder 32.22
Julie Maren 31.78
Maren Waldman 30.89
CU Mathematics Dept. 30.00
Peggy Turchette 28.50
Nicholas Whitaker 28.44
Sarai Snyder 24.44
Sch of Myth & Mvmt 24.00
David Takahashi 23.67
Andrew Neely 19.56
Boulder Arts Commission - 13 August 16, 2017
SORTED BY BOULDER FOCUS SCORE
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 COMMUNITY PROJECTS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE Bldr Focus AVERAGE
Motus Theater 43.89 4.00
JLF Boulder 43.56 4.00
Boulder Phil. 43.44 4.00
Colo Music Festival 43.00 4.00
BMoCA 42.75 4.00
Boulder Samba 41.78 4.00
Bldr Dance Coalition 39.44 4.00
Edica Pacha 36.67 4.00
Museum of Boulder 36.22 4.00
Julie Maren 35.78 4.00
Maren Waldman 34.89 4.00
LOCAL Theater 41.89 3.89
Rocky Ridge 40.89 3.89
Lisa Mark-Fasullo 37.11 3.89
Barrio E 42.75 3.88
Peggy Turchette 32.38 3.88
David Takahashi 27.44 3.78
Lemon Sponge Cake 41.56 3.78
Boulder Taiko Hibiki 37.78 3.78
Judith Landsman 36.67 3.78
CU Mathematics Dept. 33.78 3.78
Sch of Myth & Mvmt 27.78 3.78
EcoArts Connections 42.56 3.67
Sarai Snyder 28.00 3.56
Nicholas Whitaker 31.56 3.11
Andrew Neely 22.56 3.00
In these analyses, the Boulder focus scores have been removed in the first, then the scores
are sorted by the Boulder focus scores in the second. This may imply, again, that
organizations are not dependent upon the Boulder focus points to be awarded the grant.
Boulder Arts Commission - 14 August 16, 2017
C. Artistic Excellence:
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE POINTS REMOVED
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 COMMUNITY PROJECTS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE
Motus Theater 33.44
JLF Boulder 32.89
BMoCA 32.75
Boulder Phil. 32.56
Colo Music Festival 32.33
Barrio E 32.13
EcoArts Connections 31.78
Boulder Samba 31.67
LOCAL Theater 31.56
Lemon Sponge Cake 30.89
Rocky Ridge 30.56
Bldr Dance Coalition 30.00
Lisa Mark-Fasullo 28.67
Museum of Boulder 28.67
Judith Landsman 27.89
Boulder Taiko Hibiki 27.22
Edica Pacha 26.78
Julie Maren 26.67
CU Mathematics Dept. 26.22
Maren Waldman 25.78
Nicholas Whitaker 24.78
Peggy Turchette 23.50
Sarai Snyder 21.56
David Takahashi 21.11
Sch of Myth & Mvmt 20.33
Andrew Neely 16.67
Boulder Arts Commission - 15 August 16, 2017
SORTED BY ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE SCORE
Grant winners are highlighted
2017 COMMUNITY PROJECTS APPLICANTS OVERALL AVERAGE Bldr Focus AVERAGE
Boulder Phil. 43.44 8.00
Colo Music Festival 43.00 7.75
Lemon Sponge Cake 41.56 7.75
BMoCA 42.75 7.71
LOCAL Theater 41.89 7.50
Rocky Ridge 40.89 7.50
Boulder Taiko Hibiki 37.78 7.50
EcoArts Connections 42.56 7.50
Motus Theater 43.89 7.38
JLF Boulder 43.56 7.38
Barrio E 42.75 7.14
Boulder Samba 41.78 7.00
Bldr Dance Coalition 39.44 6.63
Edica Pacha 36.67 6.25
Maren Waldman 34.89 5.88
Julie Maren 35.78 5.75
Peggy Turchette 32.38 5.71
Judith Landsman 36.67 5.50
Lisa Mark-Fasullo 37.11 5.13
CU Mathematics Dept. 33.78 4.63
Sch of Myth & Mvmt 27.78 4.63
Museum of Boulder 36.22 4.50
Nicholas Whitaker 31.56 3.75
Sarai Snyder 28.00 3.63
Andrew Neely 22.56 3.25
David Takahashi 27.44 3.13
In these analyses, artistic excellence has been removed in the first chart, then the artistic
excellence scores have been used to sort the document in the second. Unlike the analysis of
the General Operating Support grant, the funded organizations remain still on the top of the
scoring. However, the sorted document demonstrates some variation in where the funded
organizations are located in the ranking.
4.Commission Correspondence.
In Attachment 5, please find copies of email correspondence received by the Boulder Arts
Commission during the period between the publication of the July and August 2017 packets.
Boulder Arts Commission - 16 August 16, 2017
5.Staff Updates.
Staff continues to develop and launch communications for the Arts & Prosperity 5 report.
Work continues to support Boulder organizations and artists involved in the Biennial of the
Americas.
Work continues on the 2018 division budget. The Finance Department and the Executive Budget
Team are in the final steps of preparing the proposed budget. If the schedule continues on track,
staff will present the Arts Division draft budget to the Arts Commission for discussion or action at
the September meeting.
Staff continues to work with the Civic Area team on construction and planning.
The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan is in the final stages of approval. In the coming weeks, staff
will be supporting the Comprehensive Planning Division on rolling out the final plan, including
messaging the new components that relate to arts and culture.
Work continues on the regional cultural alliance initiative in collaboration with the Bonfils Stanton
Foundation and Denver Arts and Venues.
Work continues in support of the Central Broadway Corridor Framework, Alpine/Balsam vision plan,
and other area plans.
Work continues on the review of nonprofit lease agreements.
Staff continues to support the Boulder Arts Week team in preparing for the 2018 event.
>Grants and Programs for Organizations
Prior to the next Cultural Organizations Summit at the Boulder Creative Collective on Tuesday,
August 29 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., staff will be holding a gathering of the organizations receiving
General Operating Support at 3 p.m., including those who recently received the new grants.
This will be an opportunity for the members of the Arts Commission to meet the leaders of
these organizations, celebrate their award, and begin or renew the liaison relationships. If
possible, please hold your calendars for August 29 at 3 p.m. and RSVP with Lauren Click at
clickl@boulderlibrary.org if you have not already.
In Attachment 4 please find an updated budget for the cultural grants program.
The following Rental Assistance Grants were approved on August 1:
- FY17 Rental Assistance Grant; And Art Space; Endless Summer Art Celebration at
Boulder Creative Collective; $725
- FY17 Rental Assistance Grant; The Great Perhaps Performance Collective; The Real at
Community Dance Collective; $450
The following Rental Assistance Grant Reports were approved in June:
- FY17 Macky Auditorium and Supplemental Funds Grant; Boulder Taiko Hibiki; Taiko
Summit Colorado 2017 (June 10, 2017); Supplementary Grant $1,000
Boulder Arts Commission - 17 August 16, 2017
There are 9 free rentals still available for the Macky Auditorium.
The Cultural Field Trips Fund Grant is now open for applications. The fund provides
opportunities for children at Title 1 schools in the City of Boulder to have direct experience with
Boulder’s arts institutions and cultural destinations, while contributing to and reinforcing their
classroom learning. Please help staff to spread the news about this new opportunity!
Staff training has begun on the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager, the new grants software. It
will be in place before the fall new grants program is announced.
Work continues on updating the Cultural Asset Map.
Work continues on amending the Arts Grants Program City Ordinance Chapter 14-1. This will be
the subject of an agenda item at the August meeting.
> Public Art Program
Public Art Commissioning Updates:
- Experiments in Public Art 1.0: Installation
Michael Theodore’s areyoume is on display on the 1200 block of Pearl Street Mall
through Winter 2017, with an opportunity to extend
- Experiments in Public Art 2.0: Selection
The Selection Panel participated in an orientation meeting and are currently
building criteria for the program’s $60,000 budget
- Civic Area Temporary Commission (Dispersion): Fabrication
- Civic Area: 11th St. Spine Signature Artwork: Approval
- University Hill: Pre-Selection
- North Boulder: Selection
Staff has been participating in regular Project Management Team meetings, and
the public art component will have a project orientation and kick-off mid-
August.
- Arapahoe Underpass: Contracting
The City Manager approved the Arts Commission’s recommendation for
Michelle Sparks; contract negotiations are underway.
http://michellemsparks.com
- 30th and Colorado Underpass: Pre-selection
Staff is in the midst of scheduling a project orientation and kick-off in
September.
- Foothills Underpass: Pre-Selection
Staff is in the midst of scheduling a project orientation and kick-off in
September.
- CAGID Garage Art Public Art Program: Pre-Selection
Staff presented the draft CAGID Garage Art Master Plan to the Downtown
Management Commission Retreat on July 27, 2017 and is presenting to CAGID
Boulder Arts Commission - 18 August 16, 2017
Admin Staff on September 19th. Launch of the plan is anticipated for late
September/early October.
- Pearl Street Mall Opportunities: Pre-Selection
- Creative Neighborhoods Public Art Projects: Pre-selection
Community-Initiated Projects Updates:
- US Cycling Monument: Pre-Approval Process
- Nobel Circle Monument: Pre-Approval Process
- Arts Martin Acres: Selection Process
- CU Innovation Hub: Selection Process
Murals:
- Staff is building a roster of locations and identifying funding
- Facilities Access Maintenance building: Pre-Selection
Maintenance:
- Staff is building a comprehensive database, image database, and integrating public
artworks into a city-wide GIS mapping platform
- Staff is embarking on restoration of Robert Mangold’s Untitled and the city’s three
works by Bill Vielehr
Work continues to support city council for decisions on including the Capital Improvement Tax
Renewal (CITR) on the November ballot. The second reading of the recommendations will occur
on August 15.
Staff continues work towards a sustainable funding mix for public art commissions and
collection maintenance.
A cohesive condition report is being assembled to steward maintenance projects
> Programs for Artists and Creative Professionals
Work continues with Boulder County Arts Alliance and Boulder Arts Matrix on furthering
development of a community-wide cultural calendar.
Work continues to establish a pilot fellowship program in 2018 for Boulder artists.
Work continues on the Artist Census.
Work continues on the 2018 Dance Showcase.
Boulder Arts Commission - 19 August 16, 2017
Attachment One
Public Art Finalist Approval: Civic Area 11th Street Signature Artwork
Boulder Arts Commission - 20 August 16, 2017
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Boulder Arts Commission - 35 August 16, 2017
Attachment Two
2018 Cultural Grants Program Blueprint, Part Two
Introduction
The following document narrates the presentation that will be given to the Boulder Arts commission at the August 2017
meeting. At the July meeting, the Arts Commission reviewed the broad list of concerns and observations regarding the
Cultural Grants Program 2017 cycle and offered some priorities to be addressed by adjustments to the program. With
this direction, staff has developed the following proposals for changes to implement for the 2018 grants cycle.
Findings
A. Application procedures
Applicants, jury panel members, and some non-applicants were confused or concerned about the questions,
procedures, and scoring system within the applications. This implies that, while the updates and improvements to
the 2017 year are serving the community very well, there may be smaller modifications that can still improve the
grants system.
a. Jury and staff asked that the Equity rubric be reconsidered. While vastly improved from the previous years,
some lack of clarity for the jury and Arts Commission members remains. The Arts Commission will review the
equity statement across all rubrics and questions, but these updates are specifically regarding the equity jury
question.
i. The Commission may choose to separate the equity jury question into two questions – the first aligned
to an applicant’s funding history and the second aligned to the organization and/or project’s impact on
cultural equity.
ii. Conversely, there was a recommendation to keep the questions as they are but adjust the rubric
language (for example, to remove words like ‘occasionally’), but the staff does not recommend this
strategy.
iii. In either case it is recommended that additional training with both jury members and applicants can
improve the concerns around this question.
iv. There was a recommendation to add blackouts times for applicants that had received previous funding
but the staff does not recommend this strategy.
b. Jury and staff asked that the Boulder Focus rubrics be reconsidered. While vastly improved from the previous
years, some lack of clarity for the jury and Arts Commission members remains.
i. It is recommended that the rubric be adjusted to better clarify the intended purpose of the question.
ii. It is also recommended that additional training and communication with both jury members and
applicants can improve the concerns around this question.
iii. There was a recommendation to ask applicants for a budget specifically reflecting Boulder-based
activities but staff does not recommend this strategy.
c. Applicants asked that the Community Priorities question be reconsidered as they were unsure how to respond
to the question in a way that the jury members would find satisfactory.
i. It is recommended that applicants receive additional training to improve the concerns around this
question.
Boulder Arts Commission - 36 August 16, 2017
d. Jury, applicants, and non-applicants pointed out that the Risk Capital Fund had an LOI process which all other
grants did not include. This additional step ultimately saved time for organizations and jury members by
reducing the full number of full applications submitted. As the Arts Commission reflects on the process in full
it is important to consider the Community Cultural Plan’s guiding principles and the balance of applicant ease
with the standards of a publicly stewarded and high-quality grants program.
i. It was recommended to include an LOI process for some of the grant cycles that are longer and more
involved. The presentation at the August meeting will include the timing concerns initially described by
staff at the July meeting. Staff will consider the advice of the Commission to weigh the pros and cons of
an extended grant processing period and decide the best direction for the good of the community.
e. Jury and applicants questioned the lack of standard budget criteria. Without consistent budget line items to
review, the jury found it challenging to equitably consider the information in this section across applications.
At the same time, some applicants pointed out that they would prefer firm line items to ensure they are
fulfilling the needs of the jury panel members. Asking the applicants for specific budget line item responses
can either make the process more challenging or ease the process depending on a variety of circumstances, so
it would be important to work with the community on reasonable figures to require.
i. Per the discussion at the July Arts Commission meeting, it is recommended to add specific line items to
each grant that are very strategic to ensure that they are both reasonable and useful for all parties
involved.
ii. It was proposed to add a budget narrative section, and that it would be informational for the jury panel
and not scored.
iii. It is proposed by staff to add a budget analysis step aligned to the Grantmakers in the Arts tiers (see
presentation for details). This step would offer a means of budget analysis and comparison, and help the
jury members thoughtfully consider the state of the budgets.
f. As in previous years, the validity of the Artistic Excellence jury question arose again through discussions with
staff and applicants. Flaws noted with the category include: a lack of opportunity for applicants to properly
present their qualifications as artistically excellent, unclear criterion in relation to cultural and heritage
institutions, and misalignment with the Community Cultural Plan. Additionally, staff notes that by the very
nature of an evaluative question on artistic excellence, the grants program risks two key vulnerabilities: a)
structural issues such as producing “false positives” and the inhibition of artistic risk in the community, and b)
equity issues such as the inadvertent setting of a counter-criterion to cultural equity, justice and fairness.
i. The Commission may advise staff to either remove the question entirely or;
ii. Make adjustments to the question and scoring rubric. If that is the case the, it is recommended that the
rubric be adjusted to better clarify the intended purpose of the question, including addressing the
unclear criterion in relation to cultural and heritage institutions and misalignment with the Community
Cultural Plan.
iii. It is also recommended that additional training and communication with both jury members and
applicants can improve the concerns around this question. This can include, to start, a list of
recommended example documents for applicants.
g. The Opportunity Grants may not be fulfilling their intended goal of offering a leg up for new applicants. There
is concern about the execution of the grant within the current grants system; jury and staff wonder if it is
accomplishing its ultimate objective of creating some equity amongst applicants.
i. The Commission may either improve communication for jury members to ensure consistency when
finalizing decisions or;
ii. Integrate this category with the equity questions and responses, since it aligns to the part of the equity
question relating to previously funded organizations.
Boulder Arts Commission - 37 August 16, 2017
B. General Operating Support Grants
The General Operating Support system may be creating inequity for certain applicants.
a. Applicants and community members pointed out that small and mid-size organizations remain in the same
category, while large organizations are separated into another category. It was suggested that separating out
the two categories was may offer more equitable applicant contenders for organizations with smaller staff
and less resources to participate in the grants process.
i. It was proposed to separate the small and mid-sized organizations into separate categories.
b. Both jury and applicants expressed concern for the character length of the application. Applicants and non-
applicants were particularly concerned for the 20,000 word description section, hoping for more guidance on
content, so perhaps more questions to respond to directly, and less writing to do overall. Jury members
raised the point that a good description should fit into less space. Both parties hope to spend less time on the
process (see below). We are reminded, though, that it is vital to balance vigorous and reputable processes
with compassion for the time and energy of our jury and applicants.
i. It is recommended to reduce the character count in the description section and perhaps others as the
Arts Commission sees fit.
C. Community Project Grants
There are concerns for the equitable distribution of the Community Project Grant. Jury, staff, and applicants raised a
concern that there is only one category for both individuals and organizations, and thus individuals may be at a
disadvantage in the grant writing process.
a. It is proposed to make separate categories for individuals and organizations to improve equitable
distribution of funds to a diversity of projects. Should the Arts Commission divide the category it would be
important to discuss the best division of funds to remain equitable across the two.
D. Risk Capital Fund
The Fund may not be serving its purpose, per questions raised by the jury, staff, and applicants alike. As stated in the
grant preamble, “The goal of the Risk Capital Fund is to provide risk capital: the bump in funding needed for taking
bold moves on organizational management and strategic planning, new ways of using technology, and projects that
open doors to untapped resources and audiences.” While the grant is in in clear alignment to the goal of the art
grants program, and following renaming and adjustments in 2016, it is not clear that the fund is serving its purpose
of supporting initiatives that could not be funded by the project grant or other such monies.
a. Either the Commission may advise staff to remove the grant entirely consider ways to support risk capital in
other ways, or;
b. Rewrite the grant guidelines and application to more clearly articulate priorities, adjusting the rubric,
improving training with applicants on the grant, and improve jury member training and communications to
ensure decisions align to the grant’s intended purpose.
E. Professional Development Grants
Funding for the Professional Development Grants are generally paid out early in the year while some opportunities
and conferences are not finalized until later in the year. This has made it hard for applicants to access funds for the
events. Also, it is rare that the grants are declined after Commission review. This may be an opportunity to lighten
the Arts Commission workload.
a. It is recommended to offer two open seasons or cycles of the grants; one in the early months of the year
and one later in the year.
Boulder Arts Commission - 38 August 16, 2017
b. It is recommended to move the applications to administrative approval by staff to lighten the jury’s
workload.
F. Panel Methods
Applicants are concerned about the practices during the panel and jury process.
a. Applicants inquired about the jury members’ specific scores in advance of the meeting and contend that it
left them at a disadvantage to not have the full, individual scores while preparing their presentations.
Detailed preliminary scores are not posted publicly in advance of the Arts Commission meetings, but
comments are posted. Thus, applicants felt they were not able to tailor their short 3 minute presentations
sufficiently to address the lowest scores.
i. It is recommended that the Commission release the complete jury scores together with the comments.
b. Second, they were concerned that jury members were not offering comments on lower scores, making it
even more challenging to address the jury’s concerns in their presentations.
i. It is recommended that it be required for jury members to comment on lower scores.
c. The question and answer section (Q&A section) was recently removed from the jury process by the Arts
Commission. There are dissonant opinions from all parties on the topic of the Q&A section, raising concerns
about the equitable treatment of applicants and best practices for scoring the written and verbal
presentations.
i. The Commission may advise staff to either formally remove the Q&A period following the three minute
presentations or;
ii. Put a time limit on the Q&A period to allow for equity across applicants.
Boulder Arts Commission - 39 August 16, 2017
Attachment Three
Boulder Revised Code Chapter 14-1: Arts Grants Program
TITLE 14 – ARTS
Ordinance No. 4954 (1985)
Chapter 1 - Arts Grant Program
14-1-1. - Legislative Intent.
a) An arts grant program is hereby created, whose purpose is to stimulate and promote the visual, literary and
performing arts in the city for the benefit of the people of the city by providing encouragement and finance
support for local arts programs and artists.
14-1-2. - Eligible Programs and Projects.
a) Artists and arts organizations are eligible to apply for grants from the city for programs and projects that
stimulate or promote the availability of visual, literary or performing arts for the people of the city. Such
programs and projects may include, without limitation:
1) Musical productions and performances;
2) Lectures and classes;
3) Theater productions and performances;
4) Poetry readings;
5) Radio and television programs;
6) Dance productions and performances;
7) Visual art, craft and photographic festivals and exhibitions;
8) Visual artwork for public buildings, facilities and spaces; and
9) Film productions and performances.
b) Any performance, production, lecture, class, reading, exhibition, festival, film or other program funded in
whole or in part by a grant under this chapter shall be held or shown within the Boulder Valley as defined by
the then current version of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan; but any such program funded jointly by
the city hereunder and by another political subdivision of the State of Colorado may be held or shown in such
other political subdivision, as long as at least one performance of any such program is held within the Boulder
Valley.
c) All visual artwork, crafts and photographs funded in whole or in part by grants under this chapter shall
become the property of the city or shall be made available to the city for public display for a period of time
and at a cost to be determined by the City of Boulder Arts Commission and the grantee at the time the grant
is awarded.
14-1-3. - Application for Arts Grants.
a) An applicant for grants under this chapter shall file an application with the commission upon forms prescribed
by the commission for that purpose, including information that the commission deems necessary in order to
perform its functions set forth in section 14-1-4, "Review by Boulder Arts Commission," B.R.C. 1981.
b) An applicant shall verify its application as to the truth and correctness of all facts and information presented.
Boulder Arts Commission - 40 August 16, 2017
14-1-4. - Review by Boulder Arts Commission.
a) The commission shall review and evaluate all applications for arts grants and, except as otherwise provided in
section 14-1-6, "Certain Grants Not Requiring Express Approval," B.R.C. 1981, shall refer to the city council a
listing of and report concerning applications it recommends for approval.
b) In determining whether to recommend approval of an application for a grant for any particular project, the
commission shall consider the following:
1) Whether the application conforms to the requirements set forth in sections 14-1-2, "Eligible Programs
and Projects," and 14-1-3, "Application for Arts Grants," B.R.C. 1981;
2) Whether the proposed project is likely to result in enjoyment of the arts by a substantial number of or
diverse groups of people of the city;
3) Whether the project is of overall artistic and aesthetic merit and quality;
4) With respect to visual art, whether the project is appropriate as art in a public place and is compatible
in scale, material, form and content with its proposed surroundings;
5) Whether there are adequate funds available to pay the cost of the proposed project in light of other
proposals and the limited funds available to the arts grant program;
6) Whether the project would promote diversity and innovation in the overall arts grant program in view
of other projects that have received or requested grant funding;
7) With respect to visual art, whether the proposed disposition of the project when completed would
result in a long term benefit to the people of the city; and
8) With respect to the performing arts, whether the production is appropriate for and is available for
audio or visual recording to be retained by the city.
c) The commission shall consult with advisors in reviewing and evaluating grant applications. Advisors shall be
visual, performing or literary artists or any other persons deemed by the commission to have special
knowledge or expertise in the arts or humanities.
14-1-5. - Referral to the City Council for Approval.
a) Upon receipt of recommendations from the commission, the city council shall hold a hearing, which shall be
quasi-legislative in nature, on the proposed grant awards.
b) At such hearing, the city council shall by motion either approve or disapprove the grants recommended by
the commission.
14-1-6. - Certain Grants Not Requiring Express Approval.
a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Mini-grant means an arts grant that does not exceed a specific dollar amount designated in the annual budget
documents adopted by the city council.
Rental assistance grant means an arts grant that has as its purpose the provision of rental space for class
rooms, exhibitions or performance.
b) Anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, if the city council, in adopting the annual arts
budget, designates in the budget documents a specific maximum dollar amount for individual mini-grants and
a maximum cumulative total for all such mini-grants for such year, the commission may award mini-grants
within such dollar limitations during such year without receiving further council approval. Such maximum
cumulative total may be set forth in the budget documents either separately from or in combination with any
maximum cumulative amount set forth for rental assistance grants under subsection (c) of this section.
Boulder Arts Commission - 41 August 16, 2017
c) Anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, if the city council, in adopting the annual arts
budget, designates in the budget documents, a maximum cumulative total for rental assistance grants for the
year, the commission may award rental assistance grants within such dollar limitation during such year
without receiving further council approval. Such dollar limitation may be set forth in the budget documents
either separately from or in combination with any maximum cumulative amount set forth for mini-grants
under subsection (b) of this section.
d) Except as provided in this section, the application procedure and criteria for award of mini-grants and rental
assistance grants are the same as those applicable to other grants under this chapter.
Boulder Arts Commission - 42 August 16, 2017
Attachment Four
Current Cultural Grants Program Budget as of August 11, 2017
GRANT
CATEGORY
ASSIGNED
BUDGET
GRANTS
AWARDED
FUNDS
DISTRIBUTED BALANCE
Operational Grants Large FY2016 280,000 280,000 280,000 0
Operational Grants Large FY2017 60,000 60,000 60,000 0
Operational Grants Sm FY2016 100,000 100,000 100,000 0
Operational Grants Sm FY2017 60,000 60,000 60,000 0
Community Projects 70,000 70,000 70,000 0
Arts Education 30,000 30,000 30,000 0
Risk Capital Fund 30,000 30,000 30,000 0
Rental Assistance 18,000 16,843 16,843 1,158
Scholarships 10,000 8,650 8,650 1,350
Cultural Field Trips 14,000 0 0 14,000
Admin / Admission Fund 7,325 26 26 7,299
TOTAL 679,325 654,344 655,519 23,807
Boulder Arts Commission - 43 August 16, 2017
Attachment Five
Correspondence
Below are copies of emails received by the Commission during the period of time between the distribution of the
previous meeting packet and the date on this packet. All emails that were received by more than 3 commissioners are
considered public record, and are included here. To the degree possible, the content has been consolidated by the
category of each email chains and conversations.
Boulder Arts Commission - 44 August 16, 2017
1
Malone, Maureen
From:Alan O'Hashi <adoecos@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 18, 2017 10:40 PM
To:Malone, Maureen; Vink, Mandy; Chasansky, Matthew; Click, Lauren; Devin Hughes (tumbled5
@gmail.com); Farnan, David; F Furman; Kathleen McCormick; Mark Villarreal; Tamil Maldonado
Cc:Alice Renouf; Cindy Sepucha; Heather Beasley
Subject:Re: July Arts Commission Packet
bac-ers - i'm out of town shooting a project and will be
absent on wednesday. i have some random thoughts about
the review process:
- community priorities: i was surprised, generally, about the
lack of clarity that applicants showed with regards to these
huge criteria. i thought it was a matter of grants-person-
ship, but even those groups that i thought had a high level of
expertise glossed over these or didn't respond directly to
them. i'm not one to 'spoon feed' people, but it may be good
to give them a hint that they should take a peek at the
cultural plan and pick up to three priorities that their project
meets. the savvy grant writer will spend way too much effort
explaining how their project meets all of the priorities.
- evaluation: i'm big on evaluation and it seemed to me that
applicants knew what they should be evaluating, but didn't
have much idea about how to go about that. i don't recall
seeing one sample audience survey form, as an example.
applicants cut and pasted their goals and objectives for their
organizations, including criteria for change, but did not
include how their project would help their organization meet
their organizational goals and objectives.
Boulder Arts Commission - 45 August 16, 2017
2
- equity: this is a confusing criterium that tries to measure
at least three definitions and applicants were very confused.
i suggest that they be separated rather than lumped into one
criterium.
* one definition is about the frequency of applications
separating those who haven't applied or haven't applied
within five years. that should be an 'in fact' criteria that isn't
defined as equity this should be automatically defined.
* equity also is a definition of inclusion or diversity and has
to to do with involvement of marginalized or disadvantaged
communities based on protected classes (although i think a
case can be made that certain sectors of the dominant
culture could be included as marginalized - he says in jest).
providing free tickets for less popular performance times isn't
really providing equity. free tickets to prime time
performances would be more equitable.
* a technical definition of equity also has to do with
americans with disabilities act - type criteria, which i believe
the nea requires applicant meet about venue accessibility,
etc. equity also means diversity in art disciplines which
should be a separate criteria, albeit, very subjective.
- artistic excellence: from what i gather, this is a point
of diverse perspectives among the commission and panel. as
for myself, the purpose of the government money is to 'level
the playing field'.
* groups that have sophisticated audiences provide their
activities primarily to a paid ticket buyers are different than
groups that give run-of-the-mill people opportunities to
make their own art. organizations that empower those who
Boulder Arts Commission - 46 August 16, 2017
3
may not be artists are as important or maybe more
important, in my way of thinking. my comments also relate
to my equity discussion.
* artistic excellence in my way of thinking isn't always
including more professional outside of boulder artists but
including the best who are boulder people.
* if the bac continues to accept applications from
organizations that are more humanities related, artistic
excellence should be called something else.
- general thoughts: about the length of responses, in the
olden days, grants used to be measured by the density of
applications, hard copy thickness of binders, the most
attachments, the prettiest pictures. that changed when
approvals were migrated from staff to volunteers who had
limited time to read and pass judgement. excellent grants tell
good stories in the shortest amount of space. applicants
should be told in no uncertain terms that less is better than
more when it comes to grants. in fact, i'm open to talking
with applicants not just about the process, but about the
content of their proposals and how, in my estimation, the
structure of their proposals can be improved. i don't believe
this ex parte communication is out of bounds, since all
applicants would be free to ask for advice. i think staff is, for
good reason, limited to talking to applicants about process
and rules. as for the oral presentations, i'm okay with doing
away with them.
- succession: i can't remember the jury panel terms. if they
are one year at time, i'd say it takes one year just to get the
Boulder Arts Commission - 47 August 16, 2017
4
hang of the process. applicant's may not want to put up with
me for more than one year, but i suggest terms be two years
with terms staggered. maybe for the current panel members,
lots could be drawn for one or two year terms. two would go
off after this cycle and two would remain and two new people
selected for the following year.
thanks and break a leg,
alan o.
*******************************************
Alan O'Hashi - ECOS
EnviroCultural Organization Systems
http://www.alanohashi.com/ecos
Colorado 303-910-5782
Wyoming 307-274-1910
Nebraska 402-327-1652
*******************************************
From: "Malone, Maureen" <MaloneM@boulderlibrary.org>
To: "Vink, Mandy" <VinkM@boulderlibrary.org>; "Chasansky, Matthew" <ChasanskyM@boulderlibrary.org>; "Click,
Lauren" <ClickL@boulderlibrary.org>; "Devin Hughes (tumbled5@gmail.com)" <tumbled5@gmail.com>; "Farnan, David"
<FarnanD@boulderlibrary.org>; F Furman <ffurman@ecentral.com>; Kathleen McCormick <fonthead1@gmail.com>;
Mark Villarreal <flynvartranch@comcast.net>; Tamil Maldonado <tamilbac@gmail.com>
Cc: "O'Hashi, Alan" <adoecos@yahoo.com>; Alice Renouf <a.renouf1@gmail.com>; Cindy Sepucha
<cindy@openstudios.org>; Heather Beasley <protobeasley@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2017 1:47 PM
Subject: July Arts Commission Packet
Hi all,
The July meeting packet is attached. See you all next week!
Mo
Boulder Arts Commission - 48 August 16, 2017
1
Malone, Maureen
From:Chasansky, Matthew
Sent:Wednesday, July 19, 2017 9:06 AM
To:Devin Hughes; F Furman; flynvartranch@comcast.net; Kathleen McCormick (fonthead1@gmail.com);
Tamil Maldonado
Cc:David Dadone; Farnan, David; Ron McMahan; Jaye Zola; Amy Metier; Malone, Maureen; Erica Joos
Subject:FW: BMoCA
David—
Thanks for your email. Per your request, I have cc’d the Arts Commission members to this response.
Please note that, per the commission’s transparency rules, this email will be published in the next packet ahead of the
August meeting. Also, you may get individual responses from commissioners. However, the commission as a body will
only be able to respond in a public meeting.
Let me know if you have any questions.
–Matt
Matt Chasansky
Manager,
Office of Arts and Culture
303-441-4113
chasanskym@boulderlibrary.org
boulderarts.org
Library & Arts Department
1001 Arapahoe Avenue | Boulder, CO 80302
bouldercolorado.gov
From: David Dadone [mailto:david@bmoca.org]
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 11:03 PM
To: Farnan, David <FarnanD@boulderlibrary.org>; Chasansky, Matthew <ChasanskyM@boulderlibrary.org>; Ron
McMahan <rlmcmahan@gmail.com>; Jaye Zola <jaye.zola@gmail.com>; Amy Metier <amymetier4@gmail.com>
Subject: BMoCA
Dear Matt and David
Amy Metier(Board member and artist) and I will be there for the public comments
section of the BAC meeting to address commissioners.
Boulder Arts Commission - 49 August 16, 2017
2
We would like to share this letter with them and you from the President of the
Board. I hope you can forward it to them
Dear Friends,
As BMoCA has worked through recent difficult staffing challenges, many of you have reached out to ask what you can do to
support the museum. As you know, a community-founded organization like BMoCA doesn’t succeed for long without the ongoing
support from community members like you to keep propelling it forward. And we need you now, as we work to weather some
rough waters.
After many investigations initiated by the Board of Directors, it has become clear that the museum is the well run, healthy and
financially ethical organization you think it is. But we need your help to usher our organization into the next phase of our
community’s vision for its growth. We have outlined the path forward in our report Vision 2022: A Future BMoCA, which expand
our reach in the Boulder community and its civic center. Now we need you to act to show that the community stands behind the
vision and the organization. You can do that by:
Showing community support and visiting BMoCA’s exhibits;
Emailing City Council Members (council@bouldercolorado.gov) and telling them what BMoCA means to you and why you
support its planned expansion through inclusion in the Boulder bond issue this November. Council will be making a final
decision by July 25; and
Marking Sept. 15 on your calendar to help us turn our annual ARTMIX event into a physical show of support for BMoCA.
Our future-looking strategy anticipates an organization that doubles its attendance, greatly expands its educational and
community programing and creates an even larger hub of cultural activity in the City of Boulder’s civic center.
Today, BMoCA is experiencing record attendance, including more than 47,000 unique visitors in 2016, a record, driven by the
museum’s deep commitment to presenting the forefront of contemporary art on the local, national and international arts stage.
The museum’s commitment to community outreach has also expanded with more than 11,000 young people from all seven
Denver metro area counties gaining access to enriching arts programming. All of this was accomplished while keeping free and
reduced admission to allow the greatest possible access for all.
We don’t take lightly the current challenges we face. You can read more about those and the facts surrounding them in our open
letter to the community published in the Boulder Daily Camera. We are following the steps outlined in the article in support of our
executive director as he uses this opportunity to build an even stronger staff. We have already filled the positions of Operations
and Education with experienced, highly qualified individuals, and we have initiated a national search for the position of Deputy
Director. Additional external human resources help will also be added, so any staff member at any time can always get the help
and support they need.
We know there is much work ahead for BMoCA and the Board and leadership are highly focused on the task. We thank you for
your faithful support of the organization and appreciate your willingness to act on its behalf. Together, we’ll continue to make
contemporary art a centerpiece of our community.
Sincerely,
Boulder Arts Commission - 50 August 16, 2017
3
Jaye Zola
President of the Board of BMoCA
David Dadone
Executive Director + Chief Curator
1750 13th St
Boulder, CO 80302
303.443.2122
www.bmoca.org
Boulder Arts Commission - 51 August 16, 2017
From: Click, Lauren
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2017 9:28 AM
Subject: Important: waiving semi-annual report requirement for General Operating Support awardees
Dear General Operating Support awardees,
The Boulder Arts Commission has decided to waive the September semi-annual report requirement for
General Operating Support awardees. The Arts Commission will require only one, annual report in
February. I will be sending out individual letters to each of you that you’ll keep with your agreement for
official verification. Your liaisons will still be in touch throughout the year and office staff is always
available to answer questions you may have.
At the meeting of General Operating Support awardees on Tuesday, August 29 at 3 p.m. we will discuss
the February reporting obligation in detail. More information on this meeting below; RSVP with me if
you’ll be attending. If you’re not able to attend please assign this important meeting to another person
on your team.
Tuesday, August 29
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Immediately before the Cultural Organizations Summit (4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Boulder Creative Collective
2500 47th Street Unit 10
Boulder, CO 80301
At this meeting staff will walk General Operating Support awardees through basic reminders and
information on reporting requirements, introduce awardees to their Committee or staff liaisons, and
allowing for some time for the group to mingle with colleagues.
I can send you a calendar invitation and reminder as well if you’d like.
Cheers, Lauren
Lauren Click
Grants Coordinator
720-564-2355
clickl@boulderlibrary.org
www.boulderarts.org
Library & Arts Department
1001 Arapahoe Avenue | Boulder, CO | 80302
www.bouldercolorado.gov
Boulder Arts Commission - 52 August 16, 2017
1
Malone, Maureen
From:Chasansky, Matthew
Sent:Friday, July 28, 2017 4:39 PM
To:Marcio De Sousa
Cc:Click, Lauren; Greg LaLiberte; Dan Curtiss; tamilbac@gmail.com; flynvartranch@comcast.net;
fonthead1@gmail.com; devin@devinpatrickhughes.com; F Furman; Malone, Maureen
Subject:RE: Invitation to Colorado Brazil Fest (Aug 3-6)
Marcio—
Thanks so much for your email.
This is a staff response: you may also get emails from individual Commissioners. However, please be aware that due to
the transparency rules adopted by the Arts Commission, there will not be a group response. Also, this email will be
included in the next meeting packet as a record of commissioner correspondence.
Also, please note that we do not encourage the offer of free tickets to commissioners in order to maintain the
impartiality of the grants process. I will encourage them to take advantage of the ticket fund we have set aside, should
any of the commissioners choose to attend.
Again, thanks for getting in touch!
–Matt
Matt Chasansky
Manager,
Office of Arts and Culture
303-441-4113
chasanskym@boulderlibrary.org
boulderarts.org
Library & Arts Department
1001 Arapahoe Avenue | Boulder, CO 80302
bouldercolorado.gov
Boulder Arts Commission - 53 August 16, 2017
2
From: Marcio De Sousa [mailto:marcio_desousa@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2017 3:50 PM
To: tamilbac@gmail.com; flynvartranch@comcast.net; fonthead1@gmail.com; devin@devinpatrickhughes.com; F
Furman <ffurman@ecentral.com>
Cc: Click, Lauren <ClickL@boulderlibrary.org>; Chasansky, Matthew <ChasanskyM@boulderlibrary.org>; Greg LaLiberte
<lalibertegreg@gmail.com>; Dan Curtiss <decurtiss@gmail.com>
Subject: Invitation to Colorado Brazil Fest (Aug 3‐6)
Dear commissioners,
The Boulder Samba School would like to invite you to attend Colorado Brazil
Fest happening on Aug 3-6.
The main events that involve most groups in the community are:
Friday, August 4, 7:00PM (Free event)
Samba Percussion and Dance Performances on Pearl Street Mall: Bateria Alegria,
Dandha da Hora, Samba Colorado, Bella Diva, and Capoeira Canavial
Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall (between 13th and 14th St, in front of Court House),
Boulder
Saturday August 5, 7:30PM
Colorado Brazil Fest's Sambalegria
Featuring Ginga, Ronaldo Andrade, Dandha da Hora, Bateria Alegria, Bella
Diva, Samba Colorado, and Capoeira Canavial
Fox Theater, Boulder
For the festival schedule and information please visit:
http://coloradobrazilfest.org
Also see info below.
We would like to offer 2 tickets for each commissioner to attend the main
show at the Fox Theater on August 5th. Please reply to this email
confirming so we can add your name to the guest list.
Thank you so much for the amazing work you do for the city.
Marcio de Sousa
Boulder Samba School
Colorado Brazil Fest 2017 Schedule Posted
Boulder Arts Commission - 54 August 16, 2017
3
Colorado Brazil Fest is back, August 3-6! Once again we will thrill you with 4 days of
Brazilian music, dance, and culture, all right here in Boulder, Colorado!
We are excited to share our performance and workshop schedule with you:
Workshops in Music and Dance
As always, we will host workshops in music and dance, this year featuring samba
masters Ronaldo Andrade and Francisco Marques (samba and pagode), master dancer
Dandha da Hora (Afro-Brazilian, Orixás and Samba Reggae), and BSS director Carl Dixon
(Intro to Bateria percussion). Most workshops are beginner/intermediate level, and select
workshops are available for kids.
Workshop descriptions and instructor bios can be found
at: http://coloradobrazilfest.org/workshops/
Passes for all workshops can be found at Evenbrite
Show and Performance Schedule
Thursday August 3, 7:30PM
Brazilian Jazz Night with Dexter Payne Quintet and Michele Castro Quartet
Boulder Arts Commission - 55 August 16, 2017
4
Dazzle at Baur's, Denver
Tickets ($15/$20) available at Dazzle
Friday, August 4, 7:00PM (Free event)
Samba Percussion and Dance Performances on Pearl Street Mall: Bateria Alegria, Dandha da
Hora, Samba Colorado, Bella Diva, and Capoeira Canavial
Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall (between 13th and 14th St.), Boulder
Friday August 4, 9:00PM
Choro and Forró Night with Ronaldo Andrade and Ginga
Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place, Boulder
Tickets ($15) available at Eventbrite
Saturday August 5, 7:30PM
Colorado Brazil Fest's Sambalegria
Featuring Ginga, Ronaldo Andrade, Dandha da Hora, Bateria Alegria, Bella Diva, Samba
Colorado, and Capoeira Canavial
Fox Theater, Boulder
Tickets ($15/$22 + service fee) available at Fox Theater
Paper tickets ($22 no service fee; cash or check only) available at Little Brazil (Wheat Ridge)
and Two Hands Paperie (Boulder Downtown)
Sunday August 6, 1:00PM-5:00PM (Doors open at 12pm)
Outdoor BBQ and Samba Jam with Ronaldo Andrade and Ginga
With traditional Brazilian food (BBQ, feijoada) for sale by Brazilian Catering
Boulder Beer Pub, Boulder
Tickets ($5/$10) available at Eventbrite
For festival schedule and information please visit:
http://coloradobrazilfest.org
https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoBrazilFest/
For festival passes, workshop passes, and show tickets please visit:
http://coloradobrazilfest.org
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colorado-brazil-fest-2017-tickets-36229610741
Até Logo!
Thank you and Obrigado!
The Colorado Brazil Fest Team
Boulder Arts Commission - 56 August 16, 2017
5
Boulder Arts Commission - 57 August 16, 2017
1
Malone, Maureen
From:info@squareproducttheatre.org
Sent:Monday, July 31, 2017 1:24 PM
To:flynvartranch@comcast.net; fonthead1@gmail.com; devin@devinpatrickhughes.com; F Furman
Cc:Chasansky, Matthew; Click, Lauren; Haan, Mary Wohl; Vink, Mandy; Malone, Maureen
Subject:House of Gold: Please Join Us.
Dear Boulder Arts Commissioners and City of Boulder Office of Arts & Culture Staff -
I am writing to invite you to attend a performance of the Regional Premiere of Gregory S. Moss' House of
Gold, produced by square product theatre in the ATLAS Black Box. We opened this past weekend, and
have 8 more performances through August 12.
For the full performance schedule, as well as information about the associated programming we're hosting
as part of our Risk Capital grant proposal, please visit our website, squareproducttheatre.org/upcoming
As we articulated in our grant application, this piece is truly one of the most challenging pieces we've ever
produced. We do hope you'll be able to join us for a performance and engage in some of the associated
programming we've organized in support of community dialogue around the event.
Best,
Emily K. Harrison
Producing Artistic Director
square product theatre
Boulder's collaborative theatre
squareproducttheatre.org
Boulder Arts Commission - 58 August 16, 2017