Public Art Committee

Public Art Committee SUMMARY MINUTES Wednesday, April 13, 2022 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Zoom Meeting Public Meeting Zoom Link located: https://durhamnc.gov/453/Public-Art-Committee Committee Members Present Antonio Alanis Caroline Dwyer, Vice-Chair JP Trostle Marcella Camara, Chair Nicole Oxendine City/County Staff Present Summer Alston, General Mark Anthony Middleton, Fallon Thompson, General Services City Councilmember Services Alexandra Benson, General Linda Salguero, Durham Services County Public Art Rebecca Brown, General Annette Smith, General Services Services Guests Present Abijah Gattis, Upcoming PAC Beth P. Leigh Member I. Call to Order and Guest Introductions a. The meeting was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by Marcella Camara. b. Abijah Gattis is joining today as a guest while PAC awaits the final approval from Durham Cultural Advisory Board for appointment. II. Approval of Minutes – February & March 2022 a. The approval of February and March’s summary meeting minutes have been moved to the May meeting due to quorum not met. III. Adjustments to the Agenda a. N/A IV. Announcements a. Meeting Schedule Change b. Beginning during the month of April, the Public Art Committee will host monthly meetings via Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. See below for a list of the latest i. April 13, 2022 ii. May 11, 2022 iii. June 8, 2022 iv. July 13, 2022 v. August 10, 2022 vi. September 14, 2022  vii. October 12, 2022 viii. November 9, 2022 ix. December 14, 2022 c. The Artist Capacity Building Survey is open. i. https://www.durhamnc.gov/4723/Local-Artists-Survey ii. The Artist Capacity Building Survey is open for responses. The survey is intended to help PAC identify training and resources to help local and Triangle artists successfully apply for future public art commissions. iii. Once the survey is completed, PAC will receive the compiled results and determine next steps for training opportunities. V. Updates/Old Business a. Updates on PAC Student Member Process i. The drafted job descriptions for the PAC student member is in need of review from members. Feedback can be submitted to Alexandra Benson (alexandra.benson@durhamnc.gov) ii. There are three positions available. PAC recommends creating a one-pager on how youth can engage with the Public Art Committee to be sent to art departments at local high schools and colleges. b. Updates on County Public Art Projects i. https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/engineering- and-environmental-services/durham-county-public-art-program/calls-for-artists 1. Durham County has a rolling call for artists of all disciplines and backgrounds with an emphasis on artists that are based in Durham. To encourage emerging artists to apply, community recommendations are being accepted in lieu of professional recommendations. 2. These artists will qualify to lead the design and installation of public artwork in, on, or around several Durham County Buildings. This is a rolling call for multiple projects at various locations, and multiple artists and artist teams will be commissioned. The call is open until the end of June. ii. Public Art Screen Wall at Durham County Parking Deck 1. Public Art Committee members discussed the negative feedback given about the new public art installation in a news article in April. The Committee is looking for ways to better educate the community about how public art is funded in Durham. c. Updates on Current Public Art Projects i. City staff provided updates on current and upcoming public art projects: https://durhamnc.gov/450/Cultural-Public-Art-Development ii. Merrick Moore Park / Hoover Road Athletic Complex. More information here: https://durhamnc.gov/3940/Hoover-Road-Park 1. The artist selection panel is meeting to review proposals and select a finalist to move forward into contracting.  iii. Black Wall Street Gardens. More information here: https://durhamnc.gov/3912/Black-Wall-Street-Gardens 1. The sculptures by artists Stephen Hayes and David Wilson have been fully installed. City staff is coordinating signage for the two artworks at the site, working towards final acceptance of the project, and planning an opening celebration. iv. South Ellerbe Restoration Project. More information here: https://durhamnc.gov/4598/South-Ellerbe-Restoration-Project 1. The artist team consisting of Anna Wagner, Julienne Alexander, and Ben Reid have submitted their initial designs and are currently being reviewed by City staff at General Services and Public Works. v. Keep Bull City Litter-Free Public Art Project. More information here: https://www.durhamnc.gov/4464/Keep-Bull-City-Litter-Free-Public-Art-Pr 1. City Staff is in conversations with a new artist finalist to move into the contracting phase for this project. vi. Durham Station. More information here: https://durhamnc.gov/4469/Durham- Station 1. City staff have selected Theresa Arico to create a bench and set of planters using mosaics to provide public art amenities at Durham Station. Project is anticipated to be delivered by end of 2022 and is currently in the initial design phase. vii. Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods. More information here: https://durhamnc.gov/4430/Celebration-of-Black-Artistry-in-Neighbo 1. The artist selection process for Weaver Street Recreation Center for an artist-in-residence has been slightly delayed due to staff turnover at DPR. Candidates will need to go through a background check and the final selection will be made by youth in the program. viii. Participatory Budgeting Bus Shelter Public Art. More information here: https://www.durhamnc.gov/4281/Public-Art-for-Bus-Shelters 1. Three contract amendments have been issued to the artists on this project to account for an extended timeline, increase in materials cost, and changes to locations. VI. New Business and Presentations a. Member Attendance & Second Terms i. Antonio Alanis, Monet Marshall, Patricia Harris, Truitt O’Neal, and Nicole Oxendine are approaching end of term on June 30, 2022. 1. Quorum was not met during the April meeting and this action will be rescheduled to the May PAC meeting. 2. An email will be sent out to all members with a second term beginning July 1, 2022. A written confirmation of interest in serving a second term  is required to be considered. Durham Cultural Advisory Board will reappoint those members. b. 2022 Goal Discussion i. Task Forces Team will report out based on current status. ii. Goals were discussed and workshopped through an online Whiteboard platform. Below are the notes taken for each goal 1. Project Cultivation: implement public art projects in neighborhoods outside of downtown a. Include prior locations for public art (outside of downtown) in the next Arts & Culture Plan and identify funding (city and outside) to support these projects b. Determine ways that PAC can support more programs like the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhood Public Art Projects c. Is there a community point person to connect with in cultivating new projects? d. Identify opportunities for public art outside of private buildings, housing projects, etc. e. Identify community liaisons by working with the City of Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Community Engagement (www.durhamcommunityengagement.org) f. Identify opportunities for public art that support other community goals like traffic calming, placemaking, community identity, etc. g. Engage in art projects in neighborhoods outside of downtown to create community conversations and connect residents to public spaces, with an emphasis on robust, authentic, and equitable community engagement h. Task Force Members: i. Molly Matlock ii. Laura Ritchie 2. Capacity Building for Local Artists a. How can we expand our reach in media and make it more engaging? How should we broaden our communication assets online and in real life? b. Provide technical assistance for preparing a competitive proposal, project budgeting, etc. c. Are there ways for us to do more direct funding for local artists? d. Hosting Q&A or open houses programming inviting people to learn more about opportunities? e. Help educate/inform community by bringing them into the process and building their capacity to advocate for themselves f. Mentor match program for emerging artists  g. Iterative process to support artists’ proposals and adapt our process to support the artist h. Inviting the residents and community members to Public Art Committee retreats i. Digital and physical zine of best practices and local arts info j. Workshop for emerging and local artists on how to get these kinds of jobs k. Quarterly drop-in session for Q&As for emerging artists l. Partner with Momentum 360 for artist capacity building m. Task Force Members: i. Antonio Alanis ii. Mya Castillo-Marte iii. JP Trostle 3. Identify and address where implicit and explicit bias may impact or affect arts and culture in Durham a. Mapping and analysis of public art investments and neighborhood demographic characteristics – identify and mitigate disparities b. Identify who has been awarded art contracts in Durham for past projects – do the artists reflect the community where the art will be located? c. How can we more deeply explore how we can push the boundaries of the committee as an equitable, diverse, and communal space for its members and larger community d. Valuation of (all) community art, but especially art that centers joy, happiness, etc. of Black and Brown community members e. Subject matter; telling local stories f. Participating in a committee-wide equity training and mapping each year g. Task Force Members i. Caroline Dwyer ii. Patricia Harris iii. Nicole Oxendine 4. Governance Committee a. Do we need more governance positions? Are there other ways for PAC members to engage? b. Student members (3) positions launched c. Task Force Members i. Marcella Camara ii. Caroline Dwyer  iii. PAC’s 2021 Goals. 1. Develop and implement public art projects in neighborhoods outside of downtown to create community conversations and connect residents to public spaces, with an emphasis on robust, authentic and equitable community engagement and considerations for COVID-19. (approved 10/21/20) 2. Identify capacity building solutions for local artists based on community conversations and survey(s) in order to develop mentor and mentee guidelines/opportunities and other artist resources to address local artists' needs. (approved 10/21/20) 3. Define advocacy for the Public Art Committee and develop a roadmap for community advocacy priorities. (approved 10/21/20) 4. The Public Art Committee will develop the skills needed to assess, identify and address where implicit and explicit bias may impact or affect arts and culture in Durham, in order to develop a set of best practices for public art with a focus on anti-racism, community accountability and equity, and to uplift intergenerational, gender diverse, racially diverse, and LGBTQIA+ artists. (approval pending) a. Conversations about 2022 goals will be revisited at the next meeting. iv. Group Discussion Question 1. The PAC task forces to review the 2022 PAC Goals by discussing the following questions: Is this the right goal? When you determine what the right goal is, what are the steps you recommend PAC takes to achieve this goal? What bias do you expect to occur in this process and what suggestions do you have to counteract bias? a. These questions guided DCAB’s goal setting v. Goal Concepts and Goal Adoption 1. Review and adoption of goal themes/ideas. 2. Subcommittee to refine goal wording. 3. Final goal adoption at May meeting. VII. Public Questions a. No questions were submitted by the public. VIII. Adjournment a. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m. by Marcella Camara. b. Final Thoughts and other reminders by Chair/Vice Chair. c. Next Meeting:  i. 2022 Goals for the Public Art Committee Adoption ii. 2022 Calendar of Meeting Development by Task Forces iii. In May or June, PB Bus Shelter Public Art design concept(s) will be reviewed. iv. Task Force Check-ins will be added as a recurring agenda item. Submitted respectively, Alexandra Benson