HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.18.26 BAC MinutesCITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
Name of Board/ Commission: Boulder Arts Commission
Date of Meeting: February 18, 2026
Contact information preparing summary: Melissa Mazany, (303) 441-3254
Commission members present: Sheryl Cardozo, Maria Cole, Jeffrey Kash (Vice Chair), Caroline Kert (Chair), Gaya
Vinay
Commission members absent: Yaelaed Whyel, Jill Katzenberger
Staff present:
Lauren Click, Arts and Culture Manager
Melissa Mazany, Senior Operations Specialist
Sarah Harrison, Arts/ Grants Program Manager
Matthew Beutler, Arts and Culture Specialist
Guests present:
No guests were present at this meeting.
Members of the public present:
Pat Lehman, Ivan Espinosa, Lynn Segal
Type of Meeting: Hybrid (Location: 1777 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302)
Agenda Item 1: ROLL CALL
Melissa Mazany, Senior Operations Specialist took roll call; all commissioners were present except Yaelead Whyel
and Jill Katzenberger
Agenda Item 2: CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m.
First motion by Maria Cole. to approve the agenda as presented in the meeting packet. Second by Caroline Kert. There
was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 3: MINUTES
Approval of the November 2025 Meeting Minutes
First motion by Kert to approve the minutes as presented in the meeting packet. Second by Cole. There was no
discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 4: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION [00:12:08 Audio min.]
Lynn Segal shared her thoughts on the arts in Boulder and commuting.
Ivan Espinosa explained that they would like to make an appeal to the Boulder Arts Commission (BAC) to not
postpone the approval of their remaining grant funds. Espinosa also brought up misunderstandings about the upload of
the BAC logo, mention of BAC on the website, and the change of venue.
Kert asked for further clarification about updates about the performance being added to the report. Kert wanted an
update on items such as, “How many people attended, how did it go, what did [Espinosa] learn?” Gaya Vinay offered
additional perspective, noting that the website currently only includes a basic description. She observed that other
applicants invest considerable time and effort in their reports, with content that genuinely showcases the work
completed. She encouraged Espinosa to speak more fully to the grant and their partnership with the City of Boulder.
Kert also stated that The Dairy provides all of the necessary information to add details. Jeffrey Kash added that that he
would like to see the numbers, learning opportunities and areas of improvement. Kash then suggested if those missing
items were added that the commission could vote before the next meeting. Kert had an additional follow-up question to
the report asking about costs.
Agenda Item 5: MATTERS FROM COMMISSIONERS [00:32:37 Audio min.]
Item 5A: Liaison Updates
Cole shared
- Colorado Music Festival is planning their 50th year anniversary.
- Mahlerfest is coming up as well.
- BMoCA’s work on the North Boulder Campus is ongoing and they are in the schematic design phase.
Kert shared
- Boulder Chamber Orchestra has a concert on February 28 at the Boulder Advent Church.
- Catamounts have a production on February 21st, including a violinist and pianist.
- Mariposa Collective has the production “Reminiscences” March 6 and 7. This production includes theater,
dance and shadow puppetry.
Sheryl Cardozo shared
- She met with Todd from East Window. They are working on centering voices that are not usually centered
and photography.
- She also met with Boulder JCC and discussed scheduling with Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
Kash added that the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater will be reopening in June.
Vinay shared
- Local Theater Company is trying to relaunch their school program. The program helps create the curriculum
for students to create their own play. Vinay has been helping connect them with private schools.
- Roots is gearing up for the Roots Music Festival in August this year.
Item 5B: Commission Work Items
i. Arts Education
a. Moving forward on launching the website and mapping out all of the youth organizations. Another
meeting is coming up as well.
ii. Artificial Intelligence
a. Click shared that they have met and discussed having a city staff member that is the city’s leader for
Artificial Intelligence to come and speak with the group. They are hoping to do a series, summit,
forum and collaboration with Boulder County Arts Alliance.
iii. Sustainability and Climate Adaptation
a. Meeting is scheduled for February 23rd.
iv. Accessibility
a. Meeting is scheduled.
Agenda Item 6: Grants Program [00:41:43 Audio min.]
Item 6A: Macky Agreement Update
Cole motioned to approve the requested addition to the Macky Fee waiver eligibility requirements. Second by Kash.
There was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 6B: Grant Reports
i. General Operating Support Reports
a. Sarah Harrison shared that all reports were received. The commissioners have the option to approve
all reports, approve individual reports while submitting specific questions, postpone approval of
individual reports pending the answers to specific questions and/or not approve the reports. Kert
APPROVED ON:
APPROVED BY: ATTESTED:
_________________________________________ ___________________________________
Board Chair Board Secretary
________________________________________ ___________________________________
Date Date
recused herself from Moon and Stars Foundation. Vinay recused herself from Roots Music Project
and Dairy Art Center. Kash Recused himself from Colorado Shakespeare Co.
b. Vinay motioned to approve the reports from the organizations, adding EcoArts Connections and JLF
Colorado with the exception of Moon and Stars Foundation, Dairy Art Center, Roots Music Project,
and Colorado Shakespeare Co. Second by Cardozo. Vinay shared her concerns about the variation in
financial stability amongst the applicants and suggested providing training. Kert shared that she was
encouraged that fewer organizations mentioned the pandemic, her thoughts on the impact of
partnering with the Sundance Festival and highlighted the growing number of world class arts and
education providers. The motion passed unanimously.
c. Kash motioned to approve the reports for the 2022-2026 GOS Grants for Moon and Stars Foundation
(Kutandara). Second by Cole. Four in favor, Kert was recused.
d. Kash motioned to approve the reports for the 2022-2026 GOS Grants for Dairy Art Center and Roots
Music Project. Second by Cole. Four in favor, Vinay was recused.
e. Cole motioned to approve the reports for the 2022-2026 GOS Grants for Colorado Shakespeare Co.
Second by Cardozo. Four in favor, Kash was recused.
ii. Community Grant Project
a. Cole motioned that Ivan-Daniel Espinosa, MycoMorphosis: Dancing with Fungi (a multimedia Bio-
Art installation), be approved for payment of the remaining $900 of funds contingent on providing
the missing information from the report on March 25, 2026. Filing this report is required to stay in
good standing in future grant eligibility. Second by Kert. Four in favor, Vinay against.
Harrison gave Grants Program updates including, the FAQ workshop went well, she is currently planning an Artificial
Intelligence and Accessibility Summit. 65 new general operating support grant applications were received and 32 are
Bedrock applicants. There is a panel meeting on March 25 from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Cardozo is the liaison. She also
shared some upcoming deadlines, the Grant Writing Find Round Two is on Monday, March 2. The next deadline is for
the Boulder Vision, the pre-application for the organization is due on March 16. The full application is due March 23,
and the individual versions are due in April.
Agenda Item 7: MATTERS FROM STAFF [01:05:05 Audio min.]
Item 7A: Questions about the Manager’s Memo
There were no questions about the Manager’s Memo.
Agenda Item 8: ADJOURNMENT [01:05:42Audio min.]
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, Cole adjourned the meeting at 7:06 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 25, 2026. This is a hybrid
meeting to be held at The City of Boulder’s City Manager’s Office at Penfield Tate II and via a Zoom webinar link.
05.14.26May 15, 2026