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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.20.19 BAC Minutes CITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/Commission: Boulder Arts Commission Date of Meeting: March 20,2019 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(left at 2.42.42),Kathleen McConnick,Erica Joos Commission members absent: Devin Hughes Panel members present: Leah Brenner Clack,Sarah Bravennan,Katharine Reece Panel members absent: Bel in Yucelen Library staff present: Matt Chasansky,Office of Arts&Culture Manager Lauren Click,Coordinator,Grants Mary Haan, Coordinator, Programs for Artists MnnrivVink Coordinator Public Ari City staff present: None Members of the public present: Bruce Borowsky(newly appointed commissioner), Katie Lehman(Boulder Philharmonic),Jennifer Mabry,Dillon Kenyon(The Spark), Laura Weiss(Buddhist Arts&Film Festival), David Ortolano (Boulder International Fringe Festival), Lisa Fasullo and Philana Hutchison(Center for Transformative Movement), Rossana Longo(Noche de Pena at the Dairy Center),Joan Raderman(Circle of Care), Merlyn Holmes(Mmmwhah!), Christia Martinez(BCHHSD),Jenifer Sher and Robert Machherndl(Lemon Sponge Cake), Marcio De Sousa and Dan Curtiss(Boulder Samba School),Mary Horrocks(O Studios),Jerilyn DeCoteau and Ann Scarritt(RRB),Heather Beasley (BETC), Betsy Tobin(Now or Never Theatre),Kathy Blegen-Huntley(Dairy Arts Center),Carolyn Booth(museum of Boulder),Veronica Rodriguez, Manuela Sifuentes,and Maruto A. Mensah Type of Meeting: Regular Note: recording starts late with the Item 4B _ Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda 10:00:00 Audio min.] The meeting was called to order. Villarreal asked the group for any addendums or changes to the agenda. McCormick moved to approve the agenda. Joos seconded, and all were in favor. Agenda Item 2: Review of Minutes [0:00:00 Audio min.] Item 2A,Approval/Review of February 2019 Meeting Minutes Villarreal asked the commission for changes or addendums regarding these minutes. None were raised. McCormick moved to approve the February minutes,Joos seconded,and the motion was unanimously approved. Agenda Item 3: Public comment 10.00.00 Audio min.] Betsy Tobin requested"more funding in the project categories." Though appreciative of the current support,there are still challenges making it"much harder for individuals and small businesses/companies to get funding." Chasansky took the opportunity to introduce the newly appointed commissioner who will be taking Furman's spot after this meeting, Bruce Borowsky. His first official commission meeting will take place April 171x'. Agenda Item 4: Grant Program 10.00.00 Audio min.] A. ACTION: Grant Reports 1. General Operating Support—Boulder International Fringe Festival 2. General Operating Support—Boulder Philhannonic Orchestra 3. General Operating Support—Dairy Arts Center 4. General Operating support—eTown 5. General Operating Support—Open Studios Villarreal noted his appreciation that the groups are parlaying their funding into further funding opportunities. McCormick liked the honest discussion they provided of challenges with fundraising and board goals. McCormick moved to approve the submitted reports,Joos seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. B. ACTION: Community Project Grant for Organizations • Presentations and Rescoring(full list of applicants can be found on p. 13 of theap cket.) • Panel Discussion of Scores-staff announced top scoring applicants as: Motus Theater, Boulder Community Media, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, Dairy Arts Center, Right Relationship Boulder,and The Catamounts. Reece suggested remaining funding go to Block 1750. Chasansky: this is a possibility,though frowned upon in the CCP;organizations prefer larger amounts of support to prevent"horse trading." He does not recommend. Clarification for Braverman that the leftover funds are pooled and commission is asked what to do with funding towards the end of the grant process. Reece:"as someone who has written grants"it is an the"art of knowing how much to ask." Applicants should be informed that the totals are not being judged quantitatively,artists should feel comfortable asking for their full needed amount. Joos noted this addition for the year-end notes. Discussion of"theater-heavy"high scores. Villarreal: "highest scores win." Chasansky: "Scores are a tool to help make decisions." Joos noted that the top projects indicate necessary"cultural scope"with "diversity of modalities." Villarreal emphasized that"limited budget makes decision,"meaning those scoring about 75%get funding support—higher scores hit all the group priorities. Furman and McCormick agreed. Combination of excellent proposals and projects. Suggestion of informing council of the list of those who merited funding(30 or above with scores)but couldn't be included. Villarreal suggested getting partial funding"out there into the community." • Commission Approval Furman moved that the following applicants are awarded the Community Project Grants: Motus Theater, Boulder Community Media, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, Dairy Arts Center, Right Relationship Boulder,and The Catamounts. McCormick seconded and the motion was unanimously approved. Villarreal moved to partially fund Block 1750 at half their requested amount, if accepted;Joos seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Agenda Item 5: Public Art Program 12.04.05 Audio min.] A. ACTION: Donation Proposal from Downtown Boulder Partnership—[Bear Hugs/Skye Caroselli/1427 Pearl St.] Discussion surrounded this challenging proposal. McConnick: "the sculpture is in the location"already which "feels disrespectful to our process." Villarreal asked if the process was followed. While policy was indeed followed,Vink noted that this incident exposed a potential weakness in the policy that can now be addressed (situating the art piece before acceptance). Joos feels"noncommittal"about the work—"more important part of the conversation"concerns following a sound democratic process. Furman doesn't care about the bears but agreed on the need for more specificity in the future to prevent this type of maneuver. Vink noted that these thoughts can be included in the Pearl Street Public Art Master Plan. Chasansky noted another vulnerability in the process—no guidance to the selection committee or donors. The bears approval can be commission leverage for the Pearl Street plan. Villarreal stated that the community should have more than the two options of bears or nothing—he hopes to avoid this sort of dual choice in the future. Joos: commission can strive to shape the outdated process into something workable. McCormick pondered offering suggestion of accepting donation with recommendations as part of the master plan for the Pearl Street Mall. Commission agreed to indicate their respect of the decision of the standing selection panel. The Commission views opportunity for a more in-depth discussion with the community about the program to reflect the priorities of the Cultural Plan and further commission assistance to reduce potential vulnerabilities. Joos moved that commission approve this donation process was properly conducted and thoroughly approved,and recommended the City Manager's Office accepting Bear Hugs on the condition of the development of a Pearl Street Public Art Master Plan which creates greater community involvement in the design of Boulder's urban landscape that will reflect the priorities of the Community Cultural Plan. The Arts Commission also recommended that staff addresses vulnerabilities in the Public Art Policy. Furman seconded,and the motion passed unanimously. Villarreal invited commissioners to relay their thoughts for the letter written by commission to the standing selection panel which Chasansky will circulate for final review. B. ACTION: Implementation Plan Update for University Hill Temporary Project Site for new art in this neighborhood can be found on p. 34 of theap cket. The highest voted, most feasible structure will be recommended as"The Oculus." Vink noted next steps involving an update on March 25`'to PRAB's board,April 2019 standing selection panel review,April 17`h arts commission review, and installation planned for May 2019. Joos moved that commission approve and adopt the following abstracts into the 2019 Public Art Implementation Plan: University Hill, Boulder Public Library Restroom Renovations,and the Boulder Community Hospital Fence Mural projects. Villarreal seconded,and the motion passed unanimously Agenda Item 6: Commission Business 13.00.50 Audio mina None. Agenda Item 7: Matters from Staff 13.00.51 Audio min.] A. DISCUSSION:Questions About the Manager's Memo-Chasansky welcomed questions by email. B. Final Update on the Special Facilities Grant Chasansky noted that council endorsed this grant and expressed openness to further discussion should the funding be deployed in the future with more equity. Nodding approval by all. C. Update on the Commissioner Appointment—Chasansky reported that Bruce Borowsky has been appointed by City Council as the next Arts Commissioner. He noted that council had a hard decision to make among an abundance of good candidates;lie invited commission to listen to the discussion. Council noted potentially changing the name of the commission to"cultural"instead of "arts,"as well as a suggestion to change charter and increase the number of members. Agenda Item 8: Adjournment 13.06.45 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,April 17,2019, in the Boulder Creek Room at the Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder,CO 80302. APPROVED BY: ATTESTED: Bo rd Chair Board Secretary / a 6 2©Ig - Date Date