HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.19.21 BAC MinutesCITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING
MINUTES
Name of Board/ Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting: May 19, 2021
Contact information preparing summary: Celia Seaton
Commission members present: Kathleen McCormick, Devin Hughes, Bruce Borowsky, Georgia Schmid, Eboni Freeman,
Maria Cole, Caroline Kert
Commission members absent: none
Panel members present: Kari Palazzari, Shanna Shelby, Benita Duran, Katharine Reece
Panel members absent: none
Library staff present:
Matt Chasansky, Office of Arts & Culture Manager
Lauren Click, Coordinator, Grants
Mandy Vink, Coordinator, Public Art
David Farnan, Director
Celia Seaton, Administrative Specialist
City staff present:
None
Members of the public present: Leah Brenner Clack, Andy Bingle (CO Agrivoltaic), Mary Wohl Haan, Edica Pacha,
Chris Romaine and Annie Booth (CO Conservatory)
Type of Meeting: Regular|Remote
Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda [0:00:32 Audio min.]
The meeting was called to order. McCormick provided an introductory orientation around the virtual procedure, as this
meeting was held through Zoom videoconference. She made an addition: Item 6B under Matters from Commissioners will
update the community benefits project for city planning and development that will be reviewed by City Council in the
upcoming month. There was a nod of approval for the agenda as amended.
Agenda Item 2: Review of Minutes [0:03:56 Audio min.]
Item 2A, Approval/Review of April 2021 Meeting Minutes
McCormick asked the commission for changes or addendums regarding these minutes; she had submitted one brief change.
Kert moved to approve the minutes as amended, Freeman seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
Agenda Item 3: Public Participation [0:04:58 Audio min.]
Wohl Haan, previously with the Office of Arts and Culture, shared her new perspective as a now retired member of the
public after “17+ years being on the ‘inside.’” She spoke to her sense that “it is hard to know what actually is going on,”
although acknowledging that it is now “on her” to seek out the information. “Keep up the good work.”
Commission thanked Wohl Haan for attending. Borowsky and Kert asked her to reach out to him with any ideas she might
have regarding outreach.
Click will send links to the social media networks to commission, inviting interaction.
Agenda Item 4: Grant Program [00.12.40 Audio min.]
A. Declined Community Project Funds, Colorado Indigenous Peoples Day – the funds were declined due to poor
health of the organizer. Click relayed the staff recommendation to use the $10,000 to fund the next-highest scoring
organization in that category. Kert felt inclined to follow the staff recommendation, and the rest of commission
concurred.
Borowsky moved that the “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County be awarded Community Project
Grants in the Organizations category. Freeman seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Reece: “Speaking now as an applicant and not as a panelist, I have to express “I Have A Dream’s” gratitude for
these funds. We were about to meet with the CMA to pare down the project and scope of lessons/ensembles, and
now we will not have to do that. Thank you very much.”
B. Third Reporting Extension Request by Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts – during the meeting staff will ask
commissioners for their recommendation on approval of the request by the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz
Arts. Booth was present to explain need for the extension.
Commissioners provided a nod of approval for this third extension request.
C. ACTION: Arts Education Grant Application Eligibility: Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center – Click’s concern
was that the location is not in the city of Boulder. However, she understands that there is partnership with Boulder
schools. McCormick clarified that the location is Longmont, CO. Click explained that commission has the options
to: 1)recommend that we accept the application as eligible, 2)recommend that we decline the application as
ineligible, or 3)postpone the decision until specific questions are answered by staff or the applicant.
Andy Bingle of Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center was present to respond to commissioner query. Bingle
confirmed that the location is indeed outside of Boulder, but the intention is to involve as many non-binary female
identifying participants throughout the Boulder Valley School District as possible. He explained that the
curriculum involves the “cool opportunity” to engage with farmland acreage, which is located outside the
boundaries. Borowsky asked from where the participants will be pulled. Bingle hopes to involve 12-15 young
women non-binary students and allies primarily from Boulder city limits (e.g., Casey, Boulder High, New Vista).
Freeman wondered why nonbinary women from Boulder might be best poised to benefit from this program.
Bingle responded that the organizers have some strong connections in the area and so there is effort to leverage
some of the relationships through nonprofits.
Borowsky wondered if the applicant would be willing to adjust the language to define the participants as only
residents of Boulder. Bingle expressed openness to this idea but will need to confer with his collaborators. Schmid
noted that dancing organizations often don’t apply for Boulder grants because these grants often do not cover the
cost of the Boulder performance space – she feels this is a “cut and dry” issue whereby a Boulder location is
mandatory. Click responded that she does point to the guidelines often in response to applicants from outside the
city of Boulder. Freeman suggested that future applicants call out any divergence from the guidelines to ensure
review.
Kert recommended this issue be added to the list of retreat topics for October. Borowsky favors further “vetting
done before the start of scoring.” Farnan emphasized that he does not want to put staff in the position of
interpreting ambiguous rules that could deny access to a grant.
McCormick agreed that commission guidelines around eligibility need to be better defined. She felt inclined to
recommend that we decline the application as ineligible, as the program’s location is sited outside Boulder.
Borowsky agreed.
Kert made a motion to decline the application from Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center as ineligible. Cole
seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.
D. ACTION: Community Projects for Individuals Grant Decisions
Borowsky made a motion that JayCee Beyale, Ellen Allen, Celia Tewey, Heather Shulte, and Cynthia Kneen be
awarded Community Project Grants in the Individual category. Freeman seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously.
Agenda Item 5: Public Art Program [1.08.50 Audio min.]
A. DISCUSSION: 19th and Upland Project – Vink has explored many possibilities, but the final staff recommendation
to propose a direct commission to Anthony Garcia, Sr. of Birdseed Collective. This artist is currently engaged in
two nearby projects (both temporary). He has experience with community water projects, and works primarily as a
2-D artist (which meets the needs of the floodplain site).
Freeman suggested putting out a “limited call” for a selection of artists in order to provide a diversity of
opportunity. Vink spoke to the “honoring of commitment of the community” in building this relationship with an
artist. Vink also noted the appeal of a potentially harmonious aesthetic flow among the pieces all done by the same
artist in this corridor of the city. Additionally, this call for requests would not fit well in the accelerated timeline.
The idea of a cohesive and continued artist presence along the corridor appeals to Schmid.
Freeman recommended a motion that commission move forward with the proposed process for 19th and Upland
Underpass public art opportunity with the top two artists of the other selection on 19th using the language in the
public art policy for a limited invitational process. Vink clarified that opening the opportunity up to other artists
would require review by standing selection panel and the technical review committee, as well as commission,
before going to the city manager for final approval. This means that the artists would be contacted immediately
and requests for qualifications from said artists would be needed before the July meeting where the commission
recommendation would be sought. McCormick liked the idea of an artist leader doing all three adjacent projects,
as long as the element of diversity was somehow incorporated (e.g., partner artists, local mentorship).
Freeman withdrew her motion after further clarification around the time-consuming steps that opening up the
opportunity would entail.
Kert recommended that we move forward with this proposed process for the 19th and Upland Underpass public art
opportunity, acknowledging provisions included in the public art policy for unique circumstances like this one,
with a recommendation for the involvement of other local artists and community members with the goal of
working toward diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cole seconded, and the recommended motion passed 6-1 with
Freeman voting no.
Agenda Item 6: Matters from Commissioners [2.22.50 Audio min.]
A. Return to In-person Meetings – McCormick asked staff for direction on when the meetings may return to an in-
person setting. Staff relayed that City Council will be considering in-person meeting for itself in July.
Commission typically follows council’s practice, and the recommendation from council plans to bring in-person or
hybrid of remote and in-person meeting options for boards and commissions by October 2021. McCormick and
Borowsky both favor in-person meeting.
B. McCormick brought up the city’s Planning and Development Community Benefits project as discussed by Karl
Guiler at a previous meeting which will allow for arts and culture spaces in new development. She encouraged
other commissioners to attend or send emails to council regarding this plan, and noted the relevant June 3rd
Planning Board and June 15th City Council meetings.
Agenda Item 7: Matters from Staff [0.00.00 Audio min.]
A. Manager’s Memo: see packet. Chasansky welcomed questions.
B. Update on Temporary Vigil Project at the Boulder Strong Memorial Fence – Vink relayed that managing the fence
will involve cross-departmental cooperation. As King Soopers moves into renovation, Museum of Boulder will be
preserving the artifacts. Artists will have the opportunity to request and use non-personalized objects from the
fence for their projects, diverting material otherwise destined for the landfills.
Vink noted the understanding from Kroger (parent company of King Soopers) and the city that the community
needs an ongoing temporary vigil space for healing and grieving. Considerations include the fact that this is an
active construction site, in the floodplain as well as a high wind area. Kroger endorsed the idea of using
construction mesh that can incorporate a community component. A community event will take place at the site on
June 2nd.
APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
_________________________________________ ________________________________________
Board Chair Board Secretary
_________________________________________ ________________________________________
Date Date
Agenda Item 8: Adjournment [2.38.35 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, June 16, 2021, on Zoom.
6/23/2021