Athens Cultural Affairs Commission

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Athens Cultural Affairs Commission Meeting Name: Regular Monthly Meeting & Orientation Meeting Date: 2/12/2024 Meeting Called to Order: 6:00* ☐ a.m. / ☒ p.m. Location: Lyndon House Arts Center (211 Hoyt St. Athens, GA 30601) Virtual? ☐ Yes / ☒ No Public Input Requested or Received? ☐ Yes / ☒ No Voting Member Attendees: ☒ Mark Mobley ☒ Esra Santesso ☒ Jessica Smith ☒ Francis Oliver ☐ Sally Kimmel- ☒ Madeline Blankenship Shepherd ☐ Darcie St. Onge ☒ Marissa Chastain ☒ Victoria Prevatt ☒ Kimberly Davis ☒ Montu Miller Voting Members Absent: Sally Kimmel-Shepherd, Darcie St. Onge Voting Members Leaving Before End of Meeting & Time of Departure (if applicable): Staff / Ex-Officio Attendees: ☒ Tatiana Veneruso ☐ Kent Kilpatrick ☒ Stephanie Raines ☐ Helen Kuykendall ☐ Jan Bush Items Discussed:  Minutes – Kimberly motioned to approve the minutes, Mark seconded. Madeline abstained and quorum was not met so minutes will be formally approved at the next meeting.  Officer Roles & Member Renewals:  o It is time for renewals so there will be vacant leadership positions. o Victoria and Kimberly will be stepping down so Chair and Vice Chair roles will be vacant. o Marissa expressed interest in secretary role. o We are waiting to hear from Darcie on her commitment to treasurer moving forward. o We will have extended conversation about this during the March meeting. Victoria will email between now and then with more role responsibilities calling for interest in leadership roles.  Staff Reports: o Tatiana:  BAC Training – Many have finished, if you have not please do so as soon as possible. If you do not complete it within 90 days you will have to reset your account.  ACC Gov Emails – We will be phasing out the Google Drive so let Tatiana know if you are not able to access your ACC Gov email.  Members – Tatiana will release a new member call to ask for three new members and will share that with current members to share with their networks. Will be about a month-long call.  Project Updates:  New poet laureate contract is being processed. Will be announced within the next month.  Lantern Parade – Have gotten two proposals for temporary lantern art. We were looking for four and both met the requirements so they were both selected without a full selection process. Expect to see more submission next year.  Small greenway mural artist was announced. We do not have an install date yet due to issues with permitting. Local artist won this national call!  One of the firefly trail sculpture project contracts is done so the announcement will be coming soon and the artist will be able to start working.  Community Center Murals (Lay Park & Aaron Heard Centers) – We have written a call for these murals but are looking into different ways to create and install them. Getting multiple quotes for ways to use commercial means to recreate it on large panels. Will create more accessibility for local artists less familiar with the process. Will be similar to the process for Athens Music Walk of Fame plaques. Will be purchasing the design and reproducing it with a fabricator. They are fairly inexpensive to produce and have about a 5 year life span before fading.  Finalizing agreement with Triangle Artworks which will be teaching the 6 week course on public art. Part of the course will be  applying for local calls and we have several that will be going out around this time.  Classic Center Arena – We have had some things come up with the exterior mural site. There is a private development going in that area that would block that mural. The material being used on the exterior of the arena would void the warranty on the finish of the panels. We will need to find another site for this mural due to these constraints. The only viable option is on the front of the parking deck adjacent to the Arena (off Foundry St), which will also face the plaza where the large sculpture will go. The new site will go back to Mayor and Commission for approval on the March/April cycle.  TSPLOST 2023 Public Art Project List & Planning o Individual project pages with more details can be found on the ACC website. o Overview of TSPLOST presentation o Goals of project selection list: identify suitable projects for ACAC recommendation from the eligible projects. We will submit a letter from our Chair that will be included in how we move forward with the entire body of projects. Consider grouping project types for calls and incorporating professional development for local artists. o Some TSPLOST projects will have user groups and some will not. ACAC may act as the user group to select site and type of project for some of these. o ACAC could recommend to add budget from the SPLOST 2011 fund. o Project Types:  Art Bus Shelters – Widely loved. Last batch installed in 2020. Type 1 or Type 2 shelters allow for a range of skill levels. Recommended for larger budget projects.  Asphalt Art – Popular type of project. Budget depends on individual project. Could utilize commercial products/application.  Utility Box Art – Popular nationally. Also could utilize a wide range of skill levels. Ideal for smaller budgets.  Trail Projects – More space. Could consider adding to a smaller budget for these. Ideal for Firefly Trail/Greenway. o Next step is to vote on the recommended list and present to the manager’s office.  o Asphalt Art has been met with resistance in the past, but there is well documented research that these types of installations make roadways safer. Example of successful Asphalt Art: Bloomberg Asphalt Initiative. ACACommission can help to advocate for this type of art. o Kimberly motioned to approve all these projects with the understanding that some of the projects will be grouped thematically. Victoria seconded. Unanimously approved.  Discussion: o Frances asked about Community Outreach Committee. There has been no activity since Madeline resigned as chair during Summer 2023. Frances and Jessica will take this on. This role does not require a vote per our bylaws. o Next Meeting: March 11th Votes Taken with Motion / Second / Results (Unanimous or Number of Yes / No Votes and names) (if applicable):  Kimberly motioned to approve all 18 eligible TSPLOST projects with the understanding that some of the projects will be grouped thematically. Victoria seconded. Unanimously approved. Announcements:  February 13th o Lamar Dodd screenprinting and jewelry students will be selling Valentine’s gifts o Open Mic at Hendershots with Montu  Lyndon House is working with Economic Development on a series of free professional development opportunities for artists/small businesses. March 21st – Tatiana will be presenting about public art.  Children & Adult Lantern Making workshops 10-1 on March 9th. Lantern Parade on March 16th.  March 15th – Morton Theatre Corporation hosting film screening and discussion Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting  April 12th – Linnentown the Musical Motion to Adjourn made by: Kimbelry Seconded by: Jessica Result: Unanimous Meeting Adjourned at: 7:00* ☐ a.m. / ☒ p.m. Minutes Drafted By: Marissa Chastain