HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.16.19 BAC PacketBoulder Arts Commission Meeting Agenda
January 16, 2019
Location: Boulder Creek Room, Boulder Main Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe, Boulder 80302
1. CALL TO ORDER
Approval of Agenda
2. REVIEW OF MINUTES
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
4. PUBLIC ART PROGRAM 30 minutes
A. ACTION: Donation Proposal from Mark Addison – Strength From Within by Melanie Yazzie, 16th and
Pearl Street.
5. GRANT PROGRAM 45 minutes
A. ACTION: Grant Reports
1. Public Works Theatre Company, Home, $3,000
2. John Jungerberg, 81st Annual Conference for Community Arts Education in Baltimore, Maryland,
$1,000
3. Stephen Weitz, National New Play Network Showcase in Sacramento, CA, $1,000
B. DISCUSSION: Special Facilities Grant
6. COMMISSION BUSINESS
7. MATTERS FROM STAFF 5 minutes
A. Questions about the Manager’s Memo – Matt
8. ADJOURNMENT
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CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING
MINUTES
Name of Board/ Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting: December 19, 2018 at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
Contact information preparing summary: Celia Seaton, 303-441-3206
Commission members present: Mark Villarreal, Felicia Furman, Kathleen McCormick, Devin Hughes, Erica Joos
Commission members absent: none
Library staff present:
Matt Chasansky, Office of Arts & Culture Manager
Lauren Click, Coordinator, Grants
Mary Haan, Coordinator, Programs for Artists
David Farnan, Director
Celia Seaton, Administrative Specialist
City staff present:
None
Members of the public present: Ken Wilson (Museum of Boulder), Shelly Benford (Chautauqua Association) and Sarah
Braveman (BMoCA)
Type of Meeting: Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda [0:00:15 Audio min.]
The meeting was called to order. Villarreal asked the group for any addendums or changes to the agenda. Items 4A and 4B
were tabled for a future meeting in January. Furman moved to approve the amended agenda. McCormick seconded, and all
were in favor.
Agenda Item 2: Review of Minutes [0:01:28 Audio min.]
Item 2A, Approval/Review of November 2018 Meeting Minutes
Villarreal asked the commission for changes or addendums regarding these minutes. McCormick noted needed edit from
use of her first name in the Commission Business section. McCormick moved to approve the November minutes as
amended, Villarreal seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
Agenda Item 3: Public comment [0.02.53 Audio min.]
Ken Wilson, president of the board of trustees at the Museum of Boulder (MoB), referenced his comments from the meeting
two months prior regarding larger organization funding. Several board members at the MoB lobbied for additional funding
with individual members of City Council, spurring the creation of additional $250,000 in funding to support large
organizations. Knowing that commission will be looking at how they will spend these dollars over the next couple months,
he expressed his hope that they “will keep in mind the means of the various large organizations” as some do “struggle” to
meet needs financially.
Shelly Benford, executive director of the Chautauqua Association, reiterated and supported Ken Wilson’s comments. Noted
expensive maintenance of their venue.
Agenda Item 4: Public Art Program – tabled for future meeting [N/A]
Agenda Item 5: Grant Program [0.07.00 Audio min.]
A. ACTION: Grant Reports
1. Cynthia Sliker, Alliance of Artists Communities Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, $1,000
2. Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, Midori Project, $3,000
3. Leah Quiller, American Music Therapy Association National Conference in Dallas, TX, $1,000
4. Patti Bonnet, We’re Still Here: Boulder’s Original Natives, $5,000
These reports impressed McCormick. Within the We’re Still Here report, she was dismayed to read that the grants
process had an onerous impact. She would like to gain clarification from Bonnet on whether this was due to permit
procedures with the City, or in fact involved elements of the grants process. Group asked staff to touch base with
Bonnet to clarify these issues to be sure that any barriers to grant application be lessened, possible 2019 retreat
topic. Furman made a motion to approve the reports, McCormick seconded, and all were in favor.
B. DISCUSSION: Update on the Structure of 2019 One-time Grant for Venues/Facilities – Chasansky, providing brief
history, referenced October’s commission discussion addressing City Council’s parameters for this novel funding.
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Farnan and Chasansky spoke with City Council further about this, realizing that the topic warranted further
exploration. While staff had initially proposed a split in funding (to include rental assistance), after vulnerabilities
were pointed out (and understanding that this was not the grant’s purpose per City Council), it now proposed using
the full $250,000 for the facilities use grant. Organizations with increased burdens and potential community
impact were discussed. Three main criteria were initially proposed: 1) to alleviate the increase in costs to renters,
2) to help keep the cost to audiences low, and 3) ease capital costs. Further conversation with organizations
regarding lowered rent raised some “red flags” – except for The Dairy and Nomad, most do not focus on the
leasing of their space (instead, using it themselves). Efforts at encouraging collaboration may serve as a clearer
goal with this new funding – “how do we push for these larger groups to work with smaller ones?”
Villarreal noted that in his observation of the City Council discussion, the focus lit upon extra programming for the
community, increasing flexibility and events. Villarreal expressed desire to follow City Council guidance in
designing this grant since he feels this is a “test” whose success may lead to future funding. Villarreal clarified that
he feels this test will discern how well the community will benefit. McCormick, having listened to the council
meeting, spoke to her understanding that the funding was intended as program specific. Noted Council Member
Carlyle ’s concern that some groups that don’t own facilities will not benefit (e.g., BIFF). Commission asked if
council has an already fixed idea of which organizations should be funded and Farnan replied no. In his
conversation with Council Member Yates, he heard desire for an “open” competition. Joos asked staff to recall the
previously discussed parameters of applicants needing to be Boulder-based nonprofits with a certain type of facility
(no small private facilities, no CU facilities). Joos recalled the discomfort around the qualifications put on this
funding. Hughes noted the clarification he has since gained from speaking with Council Member Yates.
McCormick wondered about BIFF and the Boulder Philharmonic who both must pay large rental fees for their
space; she believes this aligns with Council Member Carlisle’s concern. Suggestion raised to honor the
organizations that offer the most benefit to the community. Joos: “so subjective.” Furman noted that she thinks
council intends to support dealing with the “hardware” of a facility (e.g., fixing a toilet). Farnan confirmed that the
funding is focused solely on facility-based groups. Need to drill down on what kind of service/discounts/free space
they offer the community. Chasansky asked the group to consider how funding could enhance programming.
McCormick emphasized outreach efforts of some larger facilities-based orgs – some are private and some public.
Villarreal asked about timeframe for a “beta version” - Chasansky hopes to bring this to the January meeting.
Joos noted the accountability piece of having money stay in Boulder and having a piece where organizations can
explain who is presenting in their space – are majority local? McCormick doesn’t agree with this; she expressed
the need to invite outside art into our “insulated” community. Joos agreed with McCormick’s thought and feels
there are a lot of venues that serve this purpose. Could serve not as hard criteria, but rather as exploration of what
percentage deals with Boulder-based groups and artists. Panel can then judge balance. Chasansky suggested a
criterion for organizations that want to begin engaging locally.
Joos- if primarily outsourcing or insourcing, how will this funding change that? McCormick asked whether the
number of grants given can be undetermined until all applications are received. Staff: yes, though we will then
have to look at partial funding for those requesting the entire amount. Hughes noted his preference for as few
restrictions as possible as well as a set number of grant awards and set amount of grant funding. Farnan does not
encourage set amounts. With indeterminate amounts it will have to be a two-step process, if only to check back in
with the group. Hughes questioned number eligible - Chasansky guessed 11.
Chasansky summarized highlights of discussed criteria: how funding would be used to emphasize collaboration,
better provide community programming, increase engagement with Boulder, and allow less barriers to access.
Villarreal desired corralling to arts and culture, “we can worry about science when they give us [that funding]”.
Hughes noted his own inclination to accept a compelling project that involves science integrating with art. Joos
reminded the group of the important voices heard at the cultural summit from those who can not meet up with City
Council for various reasons and urge for better communication and assistance between organizations. McCormick
posed a potential question: “how are you building community within the sphere of arts and culture?” Farnan: “the
reality is that this is all new money,” it will not decrease the amount given out otherwise. Joos reinforced her
desire to unite as opposed to “pit” arts organizations against each other.
Agenda Item 6: Commission Business [1.04.58 Audio min.]
A. DISCUSSION: Ideas for Changes in Application and Comment/Scoring Process- McCormick has heard some
artists’ discomfort about having their scores and comments/questions online, particularly as the application is not
online to provide “proper context.” McCormick: some large organizations would feel uncomfortable with having
financial info online and thus putting applications online would be an imperfect solution - “sounds like it is all or
nothing.” Furman asked about the feasibility of posting online information only visible to the artist him or herself.
Click noted that this would take some additional staff hours for each grant cycle to send individually as opposed to
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APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
_________________________________________ ________________________________________
Board Chair Board Secretary
_________________________________________ ________________________________________
Date Date
in one bulk missive. Hughes favors full transparency, feeling that public funding calls for public transparency.
Furman agreed, and does not want to overburden staff. Villarreal also has no interest in adding to staff workload
and agreed with Hughes’ sentiments. Joos noted that McCormick could follow up with these people to see what
they would need to move forward. McCormick suggested it as possible retreat topic. Panel training could help
alleviate some of these concerns with education re: proper phrasing and methodology in comment/query.
B. DISCUSSION: Ideas for changes in criteria for applicants who have an outstanding grant. McCormick has before
expressed this unease – she feels an “artist should finish something before they ask for … another piece of the pie.”
Would like a way to integrate this into the selection process. Click reminded all that commission will receive a list
of pending reports when receiving applications. Encouragement points can be affected by an outstanding late
report, and discussion can be made to argue this point among the panel. McCormick suggested putting a limit on
the extensions. Furman suggested providing benefit of the doubt and recalled that monthly reports will touch base.
Chasansky offered providing commissioners with the extension requests with reasoning into the commission
packets, group agreed that this would be informative. Chasanasky: another good retreat topic for 2019. Farnan:
this is not any issue with the grants process, but more a need to “call out” the organization in question. Further
discussion clarified that the issue had arisen with Ecoarts. McCormick asked that if there is another extension
request from this group, they should come to a commission meeting. Chasansky – requests will go in the packet
and “if you see someone you would like to discuss the issue with,” staff can request that they come to a meeting.
C. DISCUSSION: City Council discussions of Opportunity Zones. Villarreal noted his understanding that affordable
housing and affordable office space are the driving forces; he also noticed a “subtle change” where now studios are
included in the language. He encouraged the Arts Commission and artists in the community to look into these
federal opportunity zones. Villarreal noted the importance of artistic visibility and offered to attend an upcoming
City Council meeting. Chasansky: the next step will involve planning documents for the opportunity zones
through community engagement – he will relay forthcoming information to Villarreal.
Agenda Item 7: Matters from Staff [1.42.40 Audio min.]
A. DISCUSSION: Questions About the Manager’s Memo - Chasansky welcomed questions; there were none.
B. DISCUSSION: CVB Board Position – Chasansky has been sitting on this board which is typically held by a
commissioner. CVB intends to have future advocacy role with City Council, who recently cut their funding. Their
robust program includes assigning meetings and conventions, marketing Boulder for tourism, and community
engagement. When asked if anyone on the commission desires this role, Joos expressed interest; she and
Chasansky will discuss this opportunity further.
Agenda Item 8: Adjournment [1.50.00 Audio min.]
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, the meeting was adjourned.
Date, time, and location of next meeting:
The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, in the Boulder
Creek Room at the Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO 80302.
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CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
MEETING SUMMARY
APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
_________________________________________ ________________________________________
Board Chair Board Secretary
_________________________________________ ________________________________________
Date Date
Name of Board/ Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting: January 7, 2019 at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
Contact information preparing summary: Lauren Click, 720-564-2355
Commission members present: Mark Villarreal, Kathleen McCormick, Erica Joos
Commission members absent: Felicia Furman, Devin Hughes
Grants Program Panel Members Present:
Belgin Yucelen,
Leah Brenner Clack,
Sarah Braverman,
Katharine Reece
Library staff present:
Matt Chasansky, Office of Arts & Culture Manager
Lauren Click, Coordinator, Grants
City staff present:
None
Members of the public present:
Deborah Malden
Lisa Nesmith
Type of Meeting: Special: Grants Panel Training
Meeting Summary: [no audio]
The staff of the Office of Arts and Culture held a training for commissioners and panel members participating in the 2019
cycle of the cultural grants program. The Commission and panel discussed the Community Cultural Plan, 2019 cultural
grants program, applications, and the panel’s responsibilities in the decision making process. The presentations offered at
the meeting are included as Attachment One in the January 2019 meeting packet.
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TO: Members of the Boulder Arts Commission
FROM: Matt Chasansky, City of Boulder Office of Arts + Culture
DATE: January 11, 2019
SUBJECT: Manager’s Update for the Boulder Arts Commission Meeting
on January 16, 2019.
1. In Attachment One, please find copies of presentations from the grants panel training on January 7, 2019. Staff wishes to thank
the commissioners who could attend as well as the volunteers serving on our community panel this year: Leah Brenner Clack,
Sarah Braverman, Katharine Reece, and Belgin Yucelen.
2. Notes on the January Agenda
> 4B, Donation Proposal from Mark Addison – Note: this item was postponed from the December 2018 meeting. In
Attachment Two, please find the donation proposal submittal which will be the subject of review and approval during the
meeting. Also, commissioners may want to revisit the donation proposal procedures found in the Public Art Policy, which
can be downloaded using this link, or at boulderarts.org/public-art.
> 5B, Special Facilities Grant – In Attachment Three, please find a draft of the Special Facilities Grant application. This was
developed by staff in response to the conversations in meetings of the Arts Commission, as well as input from some
community partners and by councilperson Bob Yates. At the meeting staff will ask commissioners these questions:
- Do the panel evaluation questions align with the criteria that City Council and the Arts Commission established?
- What advice does the Arts Commission have for the scoring and rubric?
- Is there anything else that the Commission would like to add or remove from the application?
3. Commission Correspondence
In Attachment Four, please find copies of email correspondence received by the Boulder Arts Commission during the period
between the publication of the December 2018 and January 2019 packets.
4. Staff Updates
Staff is working with a leadership team from the Boulder Chamber of Commerce and the Boulder County Arts Alliance on this
year’s Boulder Arts Week, March 29 through April 6. Beyond showcasing the full scope of the arts in Boulder, the 6th Boulder
Arts Week will emphasize free and discounted arts and culture events at venues throughout the city. Please help spread the
word and guide interested people to the website at boulderartsweek.org.
With much support from the department’s e-services office, an update to the Office of Arts and Culture website is complete.
Staff will be participating in the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Council annual convening January 24-28, 2019 in
Seattle, WA.
Work continues with other city departments on regulation improvements.
Staff continues to support the team coordinating the Community, Culture, and Safety Tax.
> Grants and Programs for Organizations
The 2019 applications, apart from the new Special Facilities Grants applications, are available at boulderarts.org.
Applications are now also translated into Spanish. Please spread the word!
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The following Rental Assistance Grant reports were approved prior to the meeting:
- Maji Safi, Celebrate Health – Maji Safi Group, December 2, 2018, Venue – eTown Hall, $1,000
The following Rental Assistance Grants were approved prior to the meeting:
- Boulder Ballet, Cinderella, Dairy Arts Center, $1,000
- Cindy Brandle Dance Company, A World On Fire, Dairy Arts Center, $1,000
- Danse Etoile Ballet, Arabian Nights, Dairy Arts Center, $1,000
- Flatirons Food Film Festival, Canyon Theater at the Boulder Public Library, $1,000
- Joanna Rotkin, The Sky Inside, Dairy Arts Center, $1,000
- square product theater, Celebration, Florida by Greg Wohead, Dairy Arts Center, $1,000
- The Catamounts, United Flight 232, Dairy Arts Center, $1,000
Presentations on final reports to the Human Relations Commission by the Indigenous Peoples Day has been moved to
January 28, 2019. During the meeting, the HRC will discuss a second cycle of partnership with the Arts Commission.
Monday, January 28, 2019
West Senior Center
Creekside Room
909 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, CO 80302
Meeting begins promptly at 6 p.m.
> Public Art Program
Applications to the mural artist roster will be open March 1 – April 2, 2019. Artists on roster will be encouraged to
reapply.
Public Art Commissioning Updates:
- Diagonal Highway (Christian Muller/Totems): Fabrication. This project was initiated through Transportation
prior to the new Public Art Policy and received contingency funds from CCSv1 for completion.
- Civic Area Temporary Commission (Parisa Tashakori/Hello Boulder): complete
- Civic Area Temporary Commission (Collin Parson/ Stele and Ostium): Installation complete. This work will
remain on display through Spring 2019 and received unanimous approval for loan via the Standing Selection
Panel https://boulderarts.org/public-art/temporary/
- Civic Area: 11th St. Spine Signature Artwork (Adam Kuby): Final Design. www.adamkuby.com
- University Hill: Selection. SAVE THE DATE: University Hill Community Engagement Open House, Friday,
February 1, 5-7pm, Canyon Gallery. CU’s Environmental Design Program will be presenting findings from the
community engagement component of this project. The Selection Panel will be meeting with the
Environmental Design students who will be developing project concepts, fabricating and installing the project.
- North Broadway (Sharon Dowell): Preliminary Design. http://sharondowell.com
- Arapahoe Underpass (Michelle Sparks): Final Design/Wetlands Variance. http://michellemsparks.com
- 30th and Colorado Underpass (Rosie Fivian and Ransom Beegles): Contracting.
- Foothills Underpass (Carolyn Braaksma): Preliminary Design
- NoBo Library: Selection
- Main Library Restroom Renovations: Pre-Selection
- Scott Carpenter Park: Pre-Selection
- Fire Station 3: Pre-Selection
- BCH/Alpine Balsam: Pre-Selection
- CAGID Garage Art Public Art Program: On Hold
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Community-Initiated Projects Updates:
- Bear Hugs Downtown Boulder Partnership Donation: Approval Process
- Strength from Within Melanie Yazzie donation proposal: Approval Process
- Nobel Circle Monument: Pre-Approval Process
- Staff is working with Boulder Housing Partners for potential public art projects at 30th and Pearl.
Maintenance and Conservation:
- Explorations for relocating John King’s Dragonfly Giraffe to Growing Gardens are underway.
- Bids are out for the 2019 Public Art Collection Condition Report.
Staff is exploring possible integrated opportunities with Open Space.
Staff is exploring possible commissions for the deconstruction/reconstruction of the BCH complex.
Staff is building self-guided tours and docent-led tours for Summer 2019.
In Attachment Five, please find a current five-year program budget for public art commissioning.
> Creative Neighborhoods
The Office of Arts and Culture is sponsoring the NoBo Art District for a new mural commissioning program. Based on
the success of the sponsored mural at 4455 Broadway as well as the neighborhood murals, a minimum of 3 artists will
be commissioned in NoBo for commercial spaces over the course of 2019.
Staff is planning for another round of neighborhood murals anticipated for 2020.
> Programs for Artists
Staff met with Amanda Berg Wilson of The Catamounts to begin discussions on a genre-specific theater artist forum in
March of 2019.
Staff met with new CU Theatre/Dance Outreach Coordinator, Ondine Geary, to establish a relationship moving forward
with questions on how the university community of artists and the general Boulder community might interface.
Staff is in contact with BCAA, the Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library at Denver Universiaty, and Presenting Denver (a
dance service organization), as we set a date in February for a dance specific artist forum.
Staff continues work on the final report of the artist census and focus groups.
Staff continues to update the Dance Bridge webpage and send e-newsletters twice monthly.
> Creative Workforce and the NoBo Art District
Staff met with the the NoBo Art District team working on a business improvement district and the City Manager.
Staff continues to explore a First Friday shuttle with community partners.
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Attachment One
Copies of Presentations from the Grant Panel Training on January 7, 2019
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Attachment Two
Donation Proposal, Mark Addison
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The above document has been truncated. The full 42-page CV is available for download using this link.
Additional information is available on the artist’s information page at the University of Colorado website.
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Attachment Three
Draft Application Documents, Special Facilities Grant
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Attachment Four
Commission Correspondence
From: Shelly Benford <shelly.benford@chautauqua.com>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 6:46 PM To: flynvartranch@comcast.net; F Furman; fonthead1@gmail.com; devin@devinpatrickhughes.com;
ekrjoos@gmail.com
Cc: Chasansky, Matthew
Subject: Facilities Based Culture and Education Funding
Dear Boulder Arts Commission Board Members,
In anticipation of your discussion on this matter at the December 19th board meeting, I am writing to and to
share my thoughts about the structure of the Facilities Based Culture and Education (FBC&E) funding
recently approved by City Council. Specifically, I would like to address (i) the notion of “general” operating
support versus “focused” operational support; and (ii) the distribution of the funding.
General Operating Support versus Focused Operational Support
I understand the purpose of providing focused support is to ensure funding will support the organizations
who need a venue, and not just the venues themselves. As I understand it, one of the arguments in support
of this notion is that the cost of operating a facility is being passed on to smaller arts organizations who rent
the venue, so smaller organizations are truly the ones in need of support. I think it is important for BAC to
understand that this is not always, or even mostly, the case. The Colorado Chautauqua Association (CCA), as
well as other facility-based organizations in Boulder, often heavily subsidize venue fees, office space and
operational costs incurred by smaller organizations.
For example, for over 40 years CCA has hosted the Colorado Music Festival (CMF) in our Auditorium. While
CMF is not small by BAC’s standards, they are a good example of an organization that simply could not make
it without CCA’s support. For many, many years, CCA has been subsidizing CMF’s operations. Last year
alone, CCA absorbed over $110k in operating costs to support CMF’s 6-week festival.
CCA also offers support to many smaller arts organizations, nonprofit groups, governmental entities and
educational organizations, as well as offering a host of cultural events at no charge, including our award-
winning 3rd Grade Field trip, which we make available to Title 1 schools in BVSD, as well as our history tours
and history lectures. Over the course of the last year, CCA provided reduced rates or free rentals to over
150 events in support of our mission, incurring a total loss on public events of well over $400k.
Meanwhile, we will spend over $35k to replace the Community House roof this year and over $200k to
replace the Auditorium roof CCA next year, money we must either earn or seek funding for because the City
of Boulder does not financially contribute to the preservation or maintenance of our buildings. In total, the
cost of maintaining our buildings and grounds totals over $1m each year.
CCA, like and other venue-based organizations in Boulder, takes pride in our support of Boulder’s cultural
community and we hope BAC understands that many of us are doing so at great cost. Because we have such
high operating costs and so many places for our programming dollars to go, we would appreciate as much
flexibility as you can offer in structuring this new funding for facilities-based organizations.
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Funding Distribution
As you well know, there are fairly significant differences in the facilities-based organizations in Boulder, not
just in the size of their operating budgets, but also in the types of programming they do and their impact on
the surrounding community. When considering how to allocate this new funding, CCA asks that you
consider these differences and allocate the funding in ways that will have the most impact and that will best
meet the objectives of the City of Boulder and BAC.
Thank you so much for letting us voice our opinion and for your support of arts and culture in Boulder.
However you decide to structure these and other grants, please know that we are deeply grateful for any
support you can provide and we know you are doing your best to make these decisions with limited funding
and the best intentions.
Sincerely,
Shelly Benford
Executive Director
Colorado Chautauqua Association
303.952.1617
From: Chasansky, Matthew Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 12:28 PM To: Devin Hughes; Erica Joos; Felicia Furman; flynvartranch@comcast.net; Kathleen McCormick
(fonthead1@gmail.com)
Cc: Seaton, Celia; Farnan, David; Ange, Tanya; Click, Lauren
Subject: Input on Facilities Grants
Importance: High
Commissioners—
On the agenda for our December meeting will be another discussion of the special funding for cultural
venues provided by City Council. Following our conversation at the October retreat, staff has been talking
with nonprofits that may be applying to the grant and reviewed the Council discussion on this item. I’ve also
received feedback from Bob Yates and the City Manager’s Office about some refinements we can make to
align with City Council goals. I want to share some of these thoughts with you to give you plenty of
consideration before our conversation next Wednesday:
1. The criterion of helping keep down venue rental costs may be of limited help only to places like
the Dairy and the Nomad. It leaves out organizations that primarily program their facilities with their
own exhibitions or performances. A better principle would be to focus on collaboration.
2. Similarly, the $10k in funding that has been set aside for venue rental assistance does not serve
facilities that present their own work. Maybe this funding should be incorporated back into the
grant.
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3. The program should be competitive, with no upper or lower limits, and no minimum number of
eligible organizations. This way, some grant applications may be denied entirely if they don't meet
the criteria or if it is felt that other proposals may be deemed more worthy; others may be made in
large amounts for programs, performances, or exhibits that are particularly impactful to the
community. If our goal is to urge our facilities-based organizations to use their facilities to the
incremental benefit of the community, providing some sort of guaranteed minimum grant or setting
a minimum number of receiving organizations may discourage creativity and innovation.
4. In their meeting, members of council set forth some priorities for this funding. Some of these
ideas may have been underappreciated in the discussion of details over the past three months. We
should revisit how to best align Council’s goals. I suggest you take fifteen minutes to re-listen to
Council’s discussion from their meeting on October 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLB84283F9D1453EF3&v=xMq3gosvZqY
The conversation begins at about 3:45.
I have also encouraged some of the nonprofits to email in their ideas. You have heard from the Museum of
Boulder and Chautauqua, there may be more before our meeting. The plan is to get your thoughts on
further refinements at our December meeting. Then, staff will come back with draft application and scoring
documents in January. At the October retreat, you gave direction to staff that the program should address
our principles for the cultural grants program while demonstrating to City Council that their commitment
to Boulder’s cultural destinations is a well-placed priority. I am excited to have the discussion at the next
meeting on what will be an easy alignment of these two concepts.
Thanks so much!
–Matt
Matt Chasansky
Manager,
Office of Arts and Culture
303-441-4113
chasanskym@boulderlibrary.org
he/him/his
boulderarts.org
Library & Arts Department
1001 Arapahoe Avenue | Boulder, CO 80302
bouldercolorado.gov
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Attachment Five
Current Public Art Program 5 Year Budget as of January 11, 2019
FUNDING
SOURCE PROJECT/ARTIST TOTAL
APPROPRIATED
AMOUNT PAID
TO DATE
BALANCE
REMAINING
2019 PROJECTED
SPENDING
Gen. Fund Civic Area Temp. / Dispersion $ 36,200 $36,200 --- $1,810
Gen. Fund Civic Area Temp. / Tashakori $ 10,000 $ 9,000 $1,000 $1,000
Gen. Fund Civic Area Temp. / Parson $ 7,000 $ 5,400 $ 1,600 $600
Gen. Fund Civic Area Permanent / Kuby* $ 45,000 $16,250 $28,750 $28,750
Gen. Fund NoBo Mural / in selection $ 9,500 --- $ 9,500 $9,500
CCS v1 Civic Area Permanent / Kuby* $325,000 $39,000 $286,000 $286,000
CCS v1 North Broadway / Dowell $165,000 $ 8,250 $156,750 $50,000
CCS v1 Univ. Hill / in selection $ 95,000 --- $95,000 $95,000
CCS v1 Diagonal Gateway / Muller* $ 81,500 $40,750 $40,750 $40,750
CCS v2 NoBo Library / pre-selection* ~$260,000 --- ~$260,000 $91,000
CCS v2 Creative Neighborhoods / various* ~$ 25,000 --- ~$ 25,000 ---
CCS v2 Scott Carpenter Pool / pre-selection ~$100,000 --- ~$100,000 ---
CCS v2 Fire Station #3 / pre-selection ~$ 75,000 --- ~$ 75,000 ---
% for Art Arapahoe Underpass / Sparks $ 42,000 $ 6,300 $35,700 $ 35,700
% for Art Foothills Underpass / Braaksma $ 35,000 --- $35,000 $35,000
% for Art 30th & Colo Underpass / Fivian &
Beegles $ 22,500 --- $ 22,500 $ 22,500
% for Art BPL Main Restroom Renovations $ 6,500 --- $ 6,500 $ 6,500
% for Art BCH Deconstruction Project tbd --- tbd
% for Art CAGID / on hold $ 50,000 $25,000 $25,000 ---
TOTAL $1,390,200 $186,150 $1,204,050 $704,110
CCS: Community Culture and Safety Tax. *Multiple funding sources. Additional maintenance projects are not represented.
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Attachment Six
Current Cultural Grants Program Budget as of January 11, 2018
GRANT
CATEGORY
ASSIGNED
BUDGET
GRANTS
AWARDED
FUNDS
DISTRIBUTED
BALANCE
(TO BE AWARDED)
GOS: Extra Large Orgs
502,000.00 1
502,000.00 1 GOS: Large Orgs
GOS: Mid Orgs
GOS: Small Orgs
Community Projects: Indv. 20,000.00 20,000.00
Community Projects: Orgs. 60,000.00 60,000.00
Arts Education 30,000.00 30,000.00
Rental Assistance 18,000.00 6,515.00 6,515.00 11,485.00
Professional Dev. Scholarships 17,000.00 17,000.00
Certificate Scholarships 8,000.00 8,000.00
Cultural Field Trips 10,000.00 10,000.00
Equity Grant 10,000.00 10,000.00
TOTAL 675,000.00 6,515.00 6,515.00 668,485.00
[1] General Operating Support Grants will be organized on a sliding scale. The quantity of grants will vary depending on
the number of applicants. See boulderarts.org/2019-grants-program for more details.
There are 5 free rentals still available for the Macky Auditorium.
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