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05.24.23 BAC MinutesCITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/ Commission: Boulder Arts Commission Date of Meeting: May 24, 2023 Contact information preparing summary: Lisa Wuycheck, Executive Assistant Commission members present: Bruce Borowsky (Chair), Sheryl Cardozo, Jeffery Kash, Maria Cole, Caroline Kert, Georgia Schmid (Vice-Chair), Yaelaed Whyel Commission members absent: Staff present: Cris Jones, 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 Brendan Picker-Mahoney, Arts Program Manager Lisa Wuycheck, Executive Assistant, Community Vitality Members of the public present: Rick Dallago, Kate Gipson, Sarah Goodroad, Ana Maria Hernando, Cynthia Katsarelis Type of Meeting: Hybrid (Location: Penfield Tate II Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway) Agenda Item 1: CALL TO ORDER [00:00:06 Audio min.] Item 1A: Call to order and approval of agenda [00:00:50 Audio min.] The meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m. First motion by Kash to approve the agenda as presented in the meeting packet. Second by Cardozo. With the addition of Item 6A, the motion passed unanimously. Agenda Item 2: MINUTES [00:01:20 Audio min.] Item 2A: Approval of the April 24, 2023 Meeting Minutes First motion by Kert to approve the minutes as presented in the meeting packet. Second by Whyel. There was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Borowsky congratulated Cris Jones on being hired as the Director of Community Vitality. Chasansky introduced Brendan Picker-Mahoney, the newly appointed Arts Program Manager. Picker-Mahoney spoke about his professional background and expressed that he is excited to be working for the City of Boulder. Agenda Item 3: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION [00:03:29 Audio min.] Item 3A. In Person Participation No members of the public attended the meeting in-person. Item 3B. Video Participation No members of the public signed-up to speak at the meeting. Five members of the public were scheduled to join the meeting remotely. These attendees were Rick Dallago, Kate Gipson, Sarah Goodroad, Ana Maria Hernando, and Cynthia Katsarelis. Agenda Item 4: GUEST [00:03:55 Audio min.] Item 4A: Boulder Arts Week Click presented the statistics and successes of Boulder Arts Week (BAW). She said 145 programs and 359 unique listings comprised BAW, and an estimated 18,000 people attended the events. Click explained that the student banner project, in collaboration with the Downtown Boulder Partnership, was titled “What brings you joy?”. She said approximately 100 students were involved with the project. Click announced that 16 awards of $500 each were awarded through the Office of Arts and Culture’s Artist Sponsorships. Click said a detailed insert of BAW appeared in Boulder Weekly, and she said it was very successful. Feedback from the BAW presenters is as follows. • The first weekend attendance was better, and the marketing efforts were stronger the first week. • There is a preference for BAW not to conflict with Easter. • The marketing was more significant and robust. • There was a record turnout. • The venues should distribute surveys to the attendees. • The volunteers were great. • More BAW presented events Kert asked how many volunteers were involved. Click said there were 75 business champions and 28 volunteers. Click said this was the most business champions ever involved. The 2024 BAW recommendations are as follows. • Expand marketing with the implementation of strategic social media paid campaign and targeted outreach/advertising to Boulder County (i.e. Longmont, Louisville, etc.). • Continue community collaborations and expand them (i.e. DBP and Streetwise Arts). • Plan an Arts Awards event in 2024. Borowsky suggested the Arts Awards event be in a digital realm. He also suggested all events be listed on newsprint. Chasansky requested the commissioners send recommendations to Click and himself. Agenda Item 5: GRANTS PROGRAM BUSINESS [00:14:39 Audio min.] Item 5A: Community Projects for Individual Grants Decision Click presented the ‘Grant Decisions on the Community Projects for Individuals’. Commissioners have the options to: a. Approve the staff recommendation for the highest-scoring grants, b. Approve individual grants, or c. Postpone approval of individual grants pending the answers to specific questions. Click listed the organizations’ scores and highlighted the top 5 scores. Whyel requested that the organizations’ names be listed along with the scores in the future. Borowsky asked Click what happens to leftover grant funds that were not awarded. Click said recommendations will be collected from the commissioners in November. She said the recommendations for 2024 budget rollover will be a part of the Adjustment to Base (ATB). Kert said, ‘I move that Samuel Tomatz, Amanda Berg Wilson, Betsy Tobin, Wing Wong, and Ana Maria Hernando be awarded grants in the Community Projects for Individuals category.’ Second by Whyel and Cole. There was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Item 5B: Reports Click said commissioners will vote on the approval of the following grant reports. i. Arts Education Grant, T2 Dance Company, The Color Wheel Project, $3,000 ii. Community Project Grant, Cynthia Kneen, Two Ladies Walk Into a Bar, $5,000 Commissioners have the options to: • Approve all reports, • Approve individual reports, • Approve individual reports while submitting specific questions, • Postpone approval of individual reports pending the answers to specific questions, and/or • Not approve individual reports and cancel the final 20% payment. Cole said she was impressed with the artists’ cross-disciplinary projects and artwork. She said the graphics were fantastic. Whyel said, ‘I move that we approve the grant reports from the T2 Dance Company and Cynthia Kneen.’ Second by Kert. The motion passed unanimously. Item 5C: Extension Request: Arts Education, Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Diverse Voices: Performance and coaching with Boulder MUSE, $3,000 Click said, for the extension request, the commissioners have the options to: a. Approve the extension request, b. Not approve the extension request and cancel the 20% payment, and/or c. Postpone approval of the extension pending answers to specific questions. Cynthia Katsarelis (Pro Musica) attended the meeting remotely. Kert referred to a piece in the report which mentioned a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ in the fall of 2023. Kert asked Katsarelis what is planned for that time. Katsarelis said scheduling has been challenging due to the students’ schedules, and a plan will be executed in the fall. Cardozo said, ‘I move that the extension request by Pro Musica Colorado by approved as the final extension, and Pro Musica will provide a schedule by September 1, 2023, and adhere to a schedule of the program completion by December 31, 2023.’ Second by Kash. There was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Item 5D: Leadership Pipeline Fund Click explained that the Leadership Pipeline Fund merges two grant funds which are the equity project fund and the scholarship to the CU Arts Administration Certificate Program. Click said the Fund addresses goals in the Culture Plan including supporting creative professional, promoting the ability for young arts professionals to perceive Boulder as a good place to build a career, and addressing systemic barriers and social inequities. Click said there are two $8,000 grants which will be awarded as broad scholarships. She added that the Fund is for young art leaders who intend to focus their career on improving the cultural resources for communities of color, fighting discrimination and inequities, and increasing access for the arts for all. Click said staff recommendations involve an interview process. Click asked the commissioners for feedback on the two $8,000 grants for young arts leaders. Borowsky asked how the grant process works. Click explained the process and said the funds will be applied towards the artists’ needs. Whyel asked if the applicant must be a college student, if the applicant must use the money towards formal education, and what the age requirements are for applicants. Chasansky said applicants must be college-aged and below and are not required to be in college. He said applicants must describe how they will build a career around building equity in the arts community. Schmid said since the grant money is coming from the City, the art should be focused on the City of Boulder. Chasansky discussed having a question on the application addressing the artist’s contribution to Boulder and how the artists’ education will directly contribute to Boulder’s culture. Chasansky discussed not being restrictive with the use of funds so the grantee can use the funds for various needs. He said the Fund’s language abides by non-discrimination practices. Kash said he likes the flexibility of the grant applications and the merging of the funds. Cardozo asked about the possibility of including a mentorship. Chasansky said that is part of the Cultural Plan, but the Arts and Culture budget must fund it. Whyel asked if recipients would be required to report to staff and to the Arts Commission. Click confirmed. The commissioners agreed to continue this discussion at the June Arts Commission Meeting. Click said she will present application questions based on the commissioners’ feedback. Whyel and Borowsky volunteered to help with the Fund language prior to the June meeting. Schmid asked if applicants must be in school. Click suggested keeping eligibility more open to be able to narrow down and identify needs in the future. Click said applicants do not have to be in school, but they must indicate that they’ll use the grant funds for arts education opportunities. Agenda Item 6: MATTERS FROM COMMISSIONERS [01:07:41 Audio min.] Kert explained that two grantees from last year reported experiencing harassment. She said a drag show advertisement and immigration-focused art were defaced. Kert said she and Cole created language for the Cultural Plan to address intolerance towards artist harassment. She said the statement will be posted on the website. The commissioners made suggestions and edits. The final statement reads as follows. CREATIVITY HAS THE POWER TO INSPIRE AND UNITE HUMANITY The Boulder Arts Commission is aware that artists in our local community have been bullied and had their artwork defaced. We believe in and work to support the following tenants of a thriving arts environment. - Protection of freedom of expression - Acknowledging a variety of perspectives from the community while still honoring our Statement on Cultural Equity (insert link), and - That the fabric of expression that we all weave makes us a stronger and more vibrant community when it includes diversity of expression. These tenets form the cornerstones of the City of Boulder’s Cultural Plan. The Boulder Arts Commission stands with our artists from all backgrounds including, but not limited to, the LGBTQ+, immigrant, PIPOC, Indigenous, Latine, disability, unhoused, faith-based, and other communities. If you find yourself, your organization, or your art as the target of harassment, bullying, or threats, the below local resources are here to help you. APPROVED BY: ATTESTED: _________________________________________ ___________________________________ Board Chair Board Secretary ________________________________________ ___________________________________ Date Date As part of our commitment to your expression, you can reach a staff member of Arts & Culture to discuss resources here (insert link). The commissioners discussed providing resources to artists who have experienced harassment. Chasansky said staff will share the statement with the City of Boulder’s Communications Department. Chasansky discussed planning a gathering of the arts community to address harassment and to reinforce courage. Cole suggested experiments in public art be included in the gathering. Agenda Item 6: MATTERS FROM STAFF [01:31:18 Audio min.] Item 6A: Questions about the Manager’s Memo Chasansky said Boulder Arts Week (BAW) started in 2015, and it’s been growing in great ways. He recognized Click’s work and said the goals of BAW are audience sharing and elevating the conversation about arts in the community. Chasansky said the 2024 budget will focus on performance management outcomes and key performance indicators. He said the Arts Commission will examine the goals and successes of the Cultural Plan. Chasansky asked the Commission for help measuring qualitative/quantitative data to determine the success of the Cultural Plan. Kert discussed examining how applicant scores have changed. Chasansky said, over time, more organizations are receiving higher scores. Borowsky suggested examining how grants have helped organizations to grow. Kash suggested examining employee growth and volunteer statistics. Chasansky said the Social Infrastructure Study for Valmont Park is complete. He said the purpose of the study is to protect social and cultural infrastructure and to create a tool to assign value through indexing. He said studies show that social infrastructure investments improve public health, mental health, and promote social cohesion. Chasansky said these spaces to meet people and make connections include libraries and parks, plazas, public arts, farmer’s markets, coffee shops, art venues, clubs, childcare centers, and things as simple as park benches. He will share the study with the Commission. Agenda Item 7: ADJOURNMENT [01:48:07 Audio min.] There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:54 p.m. Date, time, and location of next meeting: The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. This is a hybrid meeting to be held at The City of Boulder’s Community Vitality Department and via a Zoom webinar link. 6/29/23 Bruce Borowsky (Jun 29, 2023 15:56 MDT) Bruce Borowsky Jun 29, 2023 05.24.23 Arts Commission Minutes - APPROVED Final Audit Report 2023-06-29 Created:2023-06-29 By:Lisa Wuycheck (wuycheckl@bouldercolorado.gov) Status:Signed Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAvsy_vMFjUtnmRXOJkpG4a6W31sfwPgbN "05.24.23 Arts Commission Minutes - APPROVED" History Document created by Lisa Wuycheck (wuycheckl@bouldercolorado.gov) 2023-06-29 - 6:16:20 PM GMT Document emailed to Bruce Borowsky (bruce@pixelmillstudios.com) for signature 2023-06-29 - 6:16:51 PM GMT Email viewed by Bruce Borowsky (bruce@pixelmillstudios.com) 2023-06-29 - 6:25:14 PM GMT Document e-signed by Bruce Borowsky (bruce@pixelmillstudios.com) Signature Date: 2023-06-29 - 9:56:53 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2023-06-29 - 9:56:53 PM GMT