03.22.23 BAC PacketBoulder Arts Commission Meeting Agenda
March 22, 2023 6:45 P.M.
Hybrid Meeting:
Penfield Tate Building / Online Video Meeting
Please note: the start time is later than usual to allow commission members and the community time
to attend the event commemorating the anniversary of the March 22, 2021 tragedy.
1.CALL TO ORDER
Approval of Agenda
2. MINUTES
Approval of the February 2023 Meeting Minutes
3.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4.GRANTS BUSINESS (10 min)
A.Recertification of 2022-24 General Operating Support (GOS) Grants.
i.Colorado Music Festival & Center for Musical Arts
ii.EcoArts Connections
iii.JLF Colorado
iv.Junkyard Social Club
v.NoBo Art District
vi.Band of Toughs
B.Report
i.Moon & Stars Foundation dba Kutandara, Pop-Up Parking Lot Concerts, $7,800
5.MATTERS FROM COMMISSIONERS (15 min)
A.Recognitions and Farewells to Kathleen McCormick
6.MATTERS FROM STAFF (30 min)
A.Questions about the Manager’s Memo
B.New Funding Allocations from the City Council Budget Adjustment – Lauren
7.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: February 22, 2023
Contact information preparing summary: Lisa Wuycheck, Executive Assistant
Commission members present: Maria Cole, Caroline Kert, Kathleen McCormick, Georgia Schmid (Vice Chair), Yaelaed
Whyel
Commission members absent: Bruce Borowsky (Chair)
Staff present:
Cris Jones, Interim Director of Community Vitality
Matt Chasansky, Arts & Culture Manager, Office of Arts & Culture/Community Vitality
Lauren Click, Arts Program Manager, Office of Arts & Culture/Community Vitality
Lisa Wuycheck, Executive Assistant, Community Vitality
Members of the public present: Sara Pike, Elaine Schnabel
Type of Meeting: Hybrid (Location: Penfield Tate II Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway)
Agenda Item 1: CALL TO ORDER [00:00:03 Audio min]
Item 1A: Call to order and approval of agenda
The meeting was called to order at 6:17 p.m.
First motion by Kert to approve the agenda as presented. Second by Whyel. There was no discussion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Agenda Item 2: MINUTES [00:01:57 Audio min.]
Item 2A: Approval of the January 2023 Meeting Minutes
McCormick mentioned a typo in the minutes. Kert asked that the phrase ‘for personal reasons’ be added to Eboni
Freeman’s announcement of resignation from the Commission.
First motion by Kert to approve the minutes as amended. Second by Whyel. The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 3: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION [00:04:01 Audio min.]
No members of the public were scheduled to speak.
Agenda Item 4: GRANTS PROGRAM [00:04:08 Audio min.]
Click presented a slide that listed reports from seven grant recipients.
Item 4A: Grant Reports
i.JayCee Beyale, Water is Life, $5,000
Kert commended the reporting of 11,000 visitors and asked about visitor demographics. McCormick agreed that the JayCee
Beyale report was outstanding and said it’s difficult to collect demographics from a free exhibit versus from a ticketed
exhibit.
ii.Boulder Symphony, GLOW Project, $10,000
Kert said she loved that the concert was inclusive.
iii.Celia Tewey, Bear, $5,000
Whyel said she loves the animation. Kert was impressed with their work despite the war in the Ukraine. Kert said there isn’t
a local connection without a screening in Boulder. Whyel commented that there are no Boulder animators involved. Kert
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suggested postponing the final grant payment pending information on when a screening will occur for Boulder audiences.
Whyel explained that ‘Celia Tewey, Bear’ applied to show the film at certain film festivals, so they must hold screenings at
the festivals before they’re able to show it locally.
iv.Feet Forward, “Lived Experience”, $8,175
McCormick said the exhibit in the public library was wonderful. She was pleased that the unhoused artists were excited to
participate and that all received a Visa gift card.
v.Frequent Flyers Productions, Dreamers Fly with Frequent Flyers, $3,000
Kert said she loved the diversity of the participants. She also mentioned there were transportation issues. Cole said they
delivered a great result after their requested extension.
vi.Junkyard Social Club, Lost Kid Junkyard, $10,000
Whyel said the grant report was five pages long, and it should be just one page. Kert said she was glad they were able to
complete the project, and it is a great addition to the space. Whyel commended them for surveying children about their
experiences.
vii.Street Wise Arts, Street Wise Boulder 2022, $10,000
Cole said she is impressed by the work. She said they are engaging in civic dialogue and discussing relevant social issues.
McCormick said the festival went very well. McCormick participated in a mural tour and said they are bringing art and
activism to Boulder’s downtown and neighborhood areas. The commissioners discussed ways to support Street Wise Arts so
they may be to hold the festival next year.
The commissioners have the options to:
1. Approve all grant reports,
2.Approve individual grant reports,
3.Approve individual grant reports with outstanding questions,
4.Not approve individual grant reports and cancel the final 20% payment, and/or
5.Postpone approval to individual reports pending the answers to specific questions.
Kert suggested postponing the final 20% payment to Bear pending information about plans for a screening for Boulder
residents. There was a nod of approval from all commissioners.
The commissioners also agreed to approve payment to JayCee Beyale with outstanding questions regarding visitor
demographics.
Kert said, ‘I move that the reports by the JayCee Beyale, Boulder Symphony, Feet Forward, Frequent Flyers Productions,
Junkyard Social Club, and Street Wise Arts be approved.’ Second by Cole. The motion passed unanimously.
Chasansky said a motion is not needed when postponing approval.
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Item 4B: Recertification of 2022–24 General Operating Support Reports
The commissioners have the options to:
1.Approve all reports,
2.Approve individual reports,
3.Approve individual reports while submitting specific questions,
4.Not approve individual reports and/or
5.Postpone approval to individual reports pending the answers to specific questions.
Click said commission approval of the (32) 2022 reports will recertify the grants. Chasansky explained that recertification
keeps them in good standing but does not affect the 2023 payments.
After some discussion regarding approval of the 32 reports, Kert made the following motion.
1.Approve the reports from the ‘Colorado Shakespeare Festival’, the ‘Museum of Boulder’, and ‘The Spark, A
Performing Arts Community’ with questions regarding how they have spent their General Operating Support
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(GOS) funds to date, why they currently have a budget deficit, and how they plan to spend their GOS funds over
the next two years to remain sustainable.
2.Approve reports from the ‘3rd Law Dance/Theater, Art Parts Creative Reuse Center, Boulder Chorale, Boulder
International Film Festival, Boulder Metalsmithing Association, Boulder MUSE, Boulder Museum of
Contemporary Art, Boulder Opera, Boulder Samba School, Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado MahlerFest,
Creativity Alive, Dairy Arts Center, east window, eTown, Frequent Flyers Productions, Inc., KGNU, LOCAL
Theater Company, Motus Theater, Parlando School for the Arts, Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Sans
Souci Festival of Dance Cinema, Street Wise Arts, Studio Arts Boulder, T2 Dance Company, The Catamounts, and
NFP’.
Second by Whyel. The motion passed with 3 votes in favor and 2 against.
All commissioners agreed unanimously to postpone approval for ‘Band of Toughs’ pending questions on their incubation
years, their planned 2024 work, and how they intend to fulfill their original agreement on their grant application.
Click suggested the commissioners invite the (4) organizations that need to answer questions to the March Arts Commission
meeting. McCormick requested the ‘Colorado Shakespeare Festival’ present a simplified budget that reflects GOS spending.
Agenda Item 5: MATTERS FROM COMMISSIONERS [01:20:44 Audio min.]
Item 5A: Kert said she and Cole are moving forward with their project with the Human Rights Commission. She said they
have an action plan to focus on language for the website. She said they are also focusing on planning events and planning
experiments in public art.
Cole said Chasansky and Click have been instrumental in locating resources for artists who are experiencing harassment.
Agenda Item 6: MATTERS FROM STAFF [01:22:45 Audio min.]
Item 6A: Questions about the Manager’s Memo
Chasansky said there will be a press release tomorrow about eTown’s fee waiver program. He said he is hopeful that other
venues will participate in the program.
Chasansky thanked everyone for attending ‘The Year Ahead’ event. He thanked Lauren for planning the event and for
organizing grant training.
Item 6B: Follow-Up on Budget Adjustment from City Council
Chasansky said the public hearing and second reading of the recommendations for ARPA Funding will occur during the
March 2 City Council meeting. He said staff recommended a total of $250,000 be assigned to the cultural grants program
with a focus on venues and artists. He added that the Arts Commission asked for an additional $92,000 for grant operating
support.
Chasansky said Art Commissioners can attend the meeting and can speak at the meeting, but he reminded the
commissioners they should state they are on the Arts Commission but are speaking as an individual. McCormick
encouraged commissioners to also email Council members.
Item 6C: Update on the Commission Appointment Process
Chasansky said one interview for a commissioner was already conducted, and another is planned for tomorrow. He said
Council will approve the appointments in March. McCormick said the commissioner applications are public and accessible.
Jones said if there are empty seats on a commission, a current commissioner can extend their term.
Chasansky spoke to the commissioners about reaching out to artists in the community and encouraging them to apply to
serve on the Arts Commission.
Cole asked about the status of hiring a public arts program manager. Chasansky said final interviews will go through mid-
March.
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APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
____________________________________________________________________________
Board Chair Board Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
Date Date
Chasansky said the first review for grant awards was sent to the commissioners today.
Agenda Item 7: ADJOURNMENT [01:35.16 Audio min.]
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Date, time, and location of next meeting:
The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. This is a hybrid
meeting with staff attending at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building and the public attending remotely via a Zoom
webinar link.
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TO: Members of the Boulder Arts Commission
FROM: Matt Chasansky, City of Boulder Office of Arts + Culture
DATE: March 17, 2023
SUBJECT: Manager’s Update for the Boulder Arts Commission Meeting
on March 22, 2023
1.To maximize access, the March 2023 meeting of the Arts Commission will be held as a hybrid in-person / video
meeting:
>Members of the Arts Commission and staff may attend by either in person or by video.
>Members of the public are encouraged to join the meeting by video only for observation and comment. To join
the video conference, members of the community must make a request by email to rsvp@bouldercolorado.gov
by Wednesday, March 22 at 12:00 P.M.
>Future hybrid meetings may include an opportunity for members of the public to attend in person.
2.Notes on the March Meeting Agenda
>4A, Recertification of 2022-24 General Operating Support (GOS) Grants.
SUMMARY: Staff will ask commissioners to vote on a motion to approve the 2022 GOS grant reports. The sole
criterion in deciding on approving and recertifying GOS reports is to confirm that the organization continues to
be able to fulfil the objectives that they described in their grant application.
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION
“I move that we approve the following reports for the 2022 GOS Grants: Band of Toughs, Colorado Music
Festival & Center for Musical Arts, EcoArts Connections, JLF Colorado, Junkyard Social Club, and NoBo Art
District.”
DETAILS: The purpose of recertification is to align the triennial timeline of the GOS grants to the City’s budget
cycle; funding appropriations like this are made for each calendar year.
At the meeting Commission members will vote on the approval of the reports. Commissioners have the options
to:
a.Approve all reports,
b.Approve individual reports,
c.Approve individual reports while submitting specific questions,
c.Not approve individual reports, and/or
d.Postpone approval of individual reports pending the answers to specific questions.
>6B, New Funding Allocations from the City Council Budget Adjustment.
SUMMARY: At the March 2, 2023, meeting, City Council approved additional an additional $250,000 in Arts
funding from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to best address the significant needs in the arts sector of
the economy. It is necessary for members of the Arts Commission to approve the distribution of those funds.
The staff recommendation below divides the $250,000 between the Venue Affordability and Online Event Fund
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and two more rounds of Artist Hiring Grants to be distributed in the next two grant cycles. A chart describing
the staff recommended funding distribution is below.
Grant Category # of Grants Grant Amount Category Budget
2023
Venue and Online Event Affordability 35 $1,000 $70,000
Artist Hiring Incentive 30 $3,000 $90,000
2024
Venue and Online Event Affordability 35 $1,000 $70,000
Artist Hiring Incentive 30 $3,000 $90,000
TOTAL: $250,000
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION
“I move to approve the distribution of funds as follows: $140,000 assigned to the Venue and Online Event
Affordability Fund and $180,000 for the Artist Hiring Incentive to be evenly distributed in the 2023 and 2024
grant cycles.”
DETAILS: At the December 1, 2022, meeting, staff recommended $150,000 in remaining ARPA funds for used to
enhance the cultural grants program in support of artists and nonprofits still lagging in the recovery following
the pandemic. At that time, Council asked that this amount be increased to $250,000.
Noted as priorities of Council during that conversation were the challenges of affordability of arts venues and
the lagging recovery for professional artists in our community. There was also compelling public testimony and a
few statements from Council about the need for more operating support for arts nonprofits.
Staff also committed to consulting with the Arts Commission on the use of the additional funding prior to the
special adjustment of the budget which serves to approve the funding. At the January 25 Arts Commission
meeting, the commission members wanted to foremost convey their appreciation to Council for the thoughtful
consideration of these critical community needs. They also discussed the three priorities expressed by Council:
venues, artists, and operating support. It was the Commission’s primary recommendation that the original staff
recommendation from the December 1 City Council meeting be supported, with $150,000 to be divided
between additional budget for the Venue and Online Event Affordability Fund and another round of the Artist
Hiring Incentive. Also recommended by the Commission was additional funding of $92,000, to allow for grants to
five organizations that, in last year’s cycle of General Operating Support (GOS), scored well but were unable to
be funded. This amount will be sufficient for two years of the multi-year GOS grant to align with the current
cycle of GOS grants.
At their first and second readings of the special adjustment to the budget in March 2023, Council approved a
total of $250,000 for the arts grants.
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3. Commission Correspondence
The transparency practices of the Boulder Arts Commission requires that emails to three or more members of the
Commission be published in the public record.
There was no commission correspondence received between the February and March 2023 meeting packets that is
required to be published as public record.
4. Staff Updates
Work continues to hire an Arts Program Manager to lead the for the Public Art and Creative Neighborhoods
programs.
> Grants and Programs for Organizations
$800 back to Professional Development
Work continues to support applicants and panelists for the current grant categories and 2023 Grant Program.
The following Professional Development Scholarships were awarded in advance of the meeting:
- Alex Milewski, Functional Anatomy: Internal Strength Seminar, Boston, MA, $500
- Ellen Allen, Colorado Creative Industries Summit, Crested Butte, CO, $500
- Leah Woods, 10 Month Fighting Monkey Mentorship Opportunity, Online, $500
- Melinda Laz, American Alliance of Museums Annual Conference, Denver, CO, $500
- Parisa Tashakori, Bienal del Cartel Bolivia BICeBé 2023, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, $1,000
- Sara Pike, American Alliance of Museums Annual Conference, Denver, CO, $500
- Stephen Bott, Modern Band Summit 2023, Fort Collins, CO, $500
The following Venue and Online Event Affordability Fund Grants, Macky Fee Waivers, and eTown Fee Waivers
were approved in advance of the meeting:
- Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Ravel and Rachmaninoff, Macky Auditorium, Macky Fee Waive r
- Boulder County Film Commission, Creative Industry Nights, eTown Hall, eTown Hall Fee Waiver
- Moon & Stars Foundation dba Kutandara, Under One Sky Concert Series - 2023 Winter Concert: Dance with
the Moon, eTown Hall, eTown Hall Fee Waiver
The following Artist Hiring Incentive Grant reports were approved in advance of the meeting:
- LOCAL Theater Company, RAISED ON RONSTADT and POP THE HOLIDAYS, $3,000
The following Cultural Field Trip Fund reports were approved in advance of the meeting:
- Columbine Elementary (4th grade classroom of Jeanette Scotti), to the Dairy Arts Center for Hansel and
Gretel by the Boulder Opera, $1,025
- Columbine Elementary (5th grade classroom of Jeanette Scotti), to the Dairy Arts Center for Hansel and
Gretel by the Boulder Opera, $1,250
- Columbine Elementary (4th grade classroom of Stephanie Fida), to Macky Auditorium for the Boulder
Philharmonic’s Discovery Concert, $661
The following grant extensions were approved in advance of the meeting:
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In Attachment One, please find a current grants program budget.
> Public Art Program
Staff continues to work with the Budget Office on public art funding allocation procedures in the Capital
Improvement Program and from the Community Culture Resilience and Safety Tax (CCRS) allocations. This
includes the development of draft 2023 – 2028 percent for art budgets and projects with colleagues across
departments.
Staff continues to support colleagues in the Planning and Development Services division on improvements to the
permitting of public art.
Public Art Commissioning Updates:
- North Broadway (Sharon Dowell): Final Design.
This project is on hold at the request of the artist. Work on the design is expected to continue in 2023.
- Experiments in Public Art, Farm to Spaceship: Design Development.
Participants in the cohort are developing proposals and sites. On Feb 16 Experiments in Public Art will meet
to share their progress. On March 1 they will completed project pitches. These projects are planned to be
completed in Spring 2023. Permitting process to begin soon on projects that require it.
- Urban Design - 30th and Colorado Underpass (Rosie Fivian and Ransom Beegles): Construction.
http://www.architectista.com/ http://www.rdesignstudios.com/
https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/30th-and-colorado-underpass
- NoBo Library (Daily tous les jours): Final Design.
The anticipated parent project construction schedule is Winter 2023 – Winter 2024.
www.dailytouslesjours.com
- Fire Station 3 (Michael Clapper): Final Design.
https://www.michaelclapperstudios.com/ https://bouldercolorado.gov/planning/fire-station-3-relocation-4
- Urban Design - 19th and Upland (Anthony Garcia): Final Design.
The anticipated parent project construction schedule is Winter 2023 – Spring 2024.
- Valmont Rain Garden: Selection.
The selection panel identified 7 semifinalists at their meeting on Oct 28. A virtual site visit was completed
on Jan 11. Semifinalists submitted a preliminary proposals by Feb 24. Community engagement will be
completed April 15th. Finalist is expected to be announced at the May commission meeting.
- Art in Parking Garages: 11th and Spruce (David Franklin): Final Design. Staff participated in a site visit with
the artists on Feb 16.
- 30th Protected Lanes: Pre-approval.
- 28th and Colorado: Pre-approval.
- Alpine Balsam: Pre-approval. Staff participated in a kick-off meeting to review preliminary architectural
plans, project scope, and a tentative construction timeline. Conversations with other departments will
begin to prepare the approval of an amendment to the Public Art Implementation Plan at an Arts
Commission meeting later this year.
Community-Initiated and Donation Projects Updates:
- Temple of Tranquility: Permitting.
- Los Seis de Boulder/El movimiento sigue: Permitting.
The sculpture was removed from temporary display at BMoCA on Feb 1. It is being temporarily stored while
discussions continue with CU Boulder for a temporary site.
- Nobel Circle Donation: Pre-approval.
Maintenance and Conservation:
- Accessible Signage: On hold.
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Murals/Paint the Pavement Projects:
− George Reynolds Branch Mural (Marco Garcia): Mural completed. Planning signage and celebratory event.
In Attachment Two, please find the status of the five-year public art commissioning budget.
> Creative Neighborhoods
A public workshop for the Valmont Park West Social Infrastructure study to take place and Visionquest occurred
on March 1, 2023. Staff will alert commission members when details are finalized.
Staff is supporting colleagues in the district support offic e of the Community Vitality Department on the
permitting of continued outdoor dining in the pedestrian right-of-way and parking spaces.
> Venues
Staff is working with multiple departments to negotiate and complete a new lease with The Dairy Arts Center.
Staff is supporting Create Boulder in a consulting project about the feasibility of a performing arts center.
Work continues in support of the Finance Department on the proposal from the Boulder Museum of
Contemporary Art (BMoCA) to relocate their facility to a new location in the NoBo Art District.
> Civic Dialog, Boulder Arts Week
Work continues on Boulder Arts Week 2023 taking place April 7 to 15. Events may be added to the 2023
calendar at boulderartsweek.org.
This sponsorship was approved in advance of the meeting:
- Museum of Boulder, Sponsorship of the Dushanbe Teahouse Exhibit (April 7 - June 18, 2023), $2,000
(remaining $3,000 sponsored from the City Manager’s Office)
Work continues on the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study. We have exceeded our required 800 surveys and
will continue to gather through May 31. The second part of the study, a survey sent to organizations, has been
sent out. Staff will be following up with the non-respondents at the end of March.
Work continues on the Cultural Asset Map project. The initial review has been completed.
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Attachment One
Current Cultural Grants Program Budget as of March 15, 2023
GRANT
CATEGORY
ASSIGNED
BUDGET
ACTUAL
BUDGET GRANTS AWARDED BALANCE
GOS: Extra Large Orgs $400,000 $400,000 $350,000 $50,000
GOS: Large Orgs $180,000 $180,000 $140,000 $40,000
GOS: Mid Orgs $80,000 $80,000 $70,000 $10,000
GOS: Small Orgs $96,000 $96,000 $80,000 $16,000
Community Projects: Indv. $25,000 $25,000 $0.00 $25,000
Community Projects: Orgs. $60,000 $60,000 $0.00 $60,000
Arts Education $30,000 $30,000 $0.00 $30,000
Venue and Event Affordability Fund $16,000 $16,000 $16,000 $0.00
Equity Fund $10,000 $10,000 $0.00 $10,000
Prof. Dev. Scholarships $8,000 $8,800 $4,000 $4,800
Leadership Pipeline Fund $6,000 $6,000 $0.00 $6,000
Cultural Field Trips $10,000 $10,000 $0.00 $10,000
Assistance for Grant Writing $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $0.00
TOTAL $925,000 $925,800* $664,000 $261,800*
There are 9 free rentals still available for the Macky Auditorium.
There are 10 free rentals still available from eTown Hall.
*$800 was returned from a Professional Development grantee.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS (2022)
GRANT
CATEGORY
ASSIGNED
BUDGET
ACTUAL
BUDGET GRANTS AWARDED BALANCE
Arts Administration Rehiring Grants $879,000 $879,000 $879,000* $0*
Artist Hiring Incentive Grants $36,000 $36,000 $36,000 $0
TOTAL $915,000 $915,000 $915,000 $0
*The total funds committed is $879,000 which will be paid over three years. The zero-dollar balance does not show an
amount of funds being held for future disbursements.
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Attachment Two
Current Public Art Program 5 Year Budget as of March 17, 2023
FUNDING
SOURCE PROJECT/ARTIST TOTAL
APPROPRIATED
AMOUNT PAID
TO DATE
BALANCE
REMAINING
2023
PROJECTED
SPENDING
Gen. Fund Los Seis de Boulder Donation $3000 $0 $0 $3,000
Multiple Art and Parking Garages $122,500 $6125 $116,375 $85,760
CCS v1 North Broadway / Dowell $165,000 $41,250 $123,750 On Hold
Multiple NoBo Library / Daily T.L.J. $260,000 $122,500 $137,500 $75,000
CCS v2 Fire Station 3 (2021) $80,000 $23,750 $56,250 $56,250
Multiple Rain Gardens $20,000 $0 $20,000 $20,000
Gen. Fund GRB Mural / Marco Garcia $2,000 $0 $2,000 $2,000
% for Art 19th and Upland (2021) $51,700 $2,585 $49,115 $15,000
% for Art 30&Colo / Fivian & Beegles $39,764.02 $39,764.02 $0 $0
% for Art Transportation (2023) $330,000 $0 $330,000 tbd
% for Art Valmont City Park (2023) $144,000 $0 $144,000 tbd
TOTAL $1,217,964.02 $235,974.02 $978,990.00 $257,010*
CCS: Community Culture and Safety Tax
CCRS: Community Culture Resiliency and Safety Tax
Additional maintenance projects are not represented.
*Please note, this figure is expected to increase significantly in the coming months as project planning develops.
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