Athens Cultural Affairs Commission

Minutes for ACAC Commissioners Meeting DATE: August 10, 2020 TIME: 6:00 to 8:00 PM PRESENT: Executive: Chair: Andrew Salinas Vice Chair: Holly Alderman Treasurer: (Absent) Secretary: Madeline Bates Members-at-Large: Donna Brumby, Melisa (Misha) Cahnmann-Taylor, Linda Ford, Patrice Green, Helen Kuykendall Ex-Officio: Jan Bush Advisory: Marc Beechuk, Didi Dunphy, Stephanie Raines, Marilyn Wolf-Ragatz Staff: Tatiana Veneruso ABSENT: Beatrice Brown, Darcie St. Onge (Treasurer), Montu Miller Approve Previous Minutes: Motion to approve July minutes: Helen, with change suggested by Holly; Linda second. Motion passed with no further discussion. Chair’s Report: No significant updates. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer not present, no updates Old Business: • Whitehall: Design was approved with one change at the August Mayor & Commission (M&C) meeting. Citing safety concerns, the M&C decided the art needs a matte finish instead of a glossy finish. This project can now move forward. Project Reports: Clayton, Greenway, Music Walk, Fire Hall #2, Cooperative Extension, Bus Shelters, Dudley Park, Firefly Trail, Poet Laureate • Play On! Pianos: o Phase 1 closure is to move the four pianos indoors. The piano at ACCA is on wheels so there is nothing to be done. For the other three pianos: 1) Career Academy expressed interest in one; 2) ACC Library likely to allow their piano to remaining outdoors for its lifespan; 3) Final one still needs a home. o Phase 2: Misha has contacted art teacher Jessica Sheldon at Clarke Central to take a piano (Grace to coordinate the mover) as Cedar Shoals had to back out. So, we need to  identify another school art program to take it on. That piano is in use until September anyway, so there is a little time to sort it out. • Bus shelters: Marc was on Athens News Matters in July to report about the program. Need to keep advertising. No other updates. • Clayton St: Contract is proceeding. No other updates. • Music Walk of Fame: Plaques should be ready and delivered at end of August. Didi and Linda have identified the plaque locations. Installation likely in September. Didi spoke with Mayor Girtz related to the “ribbon cutting” ceremony but there is nothing to move forward with yet. • Dudley Park: Updated specs on the application, which is open until August 30. No proposals received so far. We need to advertise it. • Cooperative Extension and Fire Hall #2: Tatiana to try to get progress photos of artwork installations. • Poet Laureate: Copy needs to be reviewed one more time by Andrew and Misha, but then it will be ready to go. Stephanie will submit it as an agenda item for the M&C. New Business: • Arts in Community Awards: o How to handle application shortfall?  We received 54 proposals, many from first-time applicants for ACAC opportunities and representing new artforms for ACAC opportunities. Some may not be eligible or fundable. The guidance from the city attorneys’ office is to fund what has merit/what is eligible, then open another application round to disburse remaining funds. o Reviewing applications: Tatiana will finish compiling applications by this Wednesday. Madeline will create a rubric spreadsheet based on the criteria and points defined in the Request for Proposals (RFP) and share with subcommittee. o Subcommittee: Madeline, Andrew, Darcie, Patrice, Montu; Misha joining as of this meeting. Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed, and those applications not scored by that subcommittee member. o Proposed subcommittee meeting date: Tuesday, August 25 at 5:30 PM. Stephanie will schedule a WebX meeting and send invites to subcommittee. o Assigning ACAC cohorts:  Pair up a newer ACAC member with a more senior member. Each pair will have a cohort of a few project leads to be in contact with through the completion of the projects.  Subcommittee will assign the cohort groups. Misha volunteered to help write the one-sheet re: what cohorts will do. See July minutes for working outline.  Marc, Marilyn, Jan expressed interested in participating  Marc volunteered to help write up the one-sheet related to city contacts for questions and resources for cohorts  Linda volunteered to help with projects that are downtown 2  • ACAC’s future: Need to schedule new member knowledge sharing event in future. No other updates. • Bethel proposal for old buildings: o Discussion about if and how ACAC could potentially fund a temporary exhibition project like this. Art funding opportunities must go through an official process, in response to an RFP. 1% for the Bethel Homes redevelopment project would be around $350,000, but we are unsure whether a temporary exhibition could be funded through “percent for art” money. We should review the information in the Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) about how funds can be used. ACAC would like to see more information about the proposed project. Other: • Public Art Inventory Subcommittee: Patrice, Helen, Donna, Madeline, Stephanie, Marilyn; Marc and Holly can also provide assistance. Stephanie, Marilyn, and Marc will have a preliminary discussion then set next steps via email to subcommittee prior to scheduling a meeting. Notes: Several art exhibitions are opening soon at ATHICA, tinyATH Gallery, UGA libraries, and more! Tatiana to host digital studio tour Next Meeting Date: September 14, 2020 at 6:00 PM 3