Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church

Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church Meeting February 17, 2022 Virtual Meeting Minutes Members Present: Corey Price, Letty Hardi, Laura Hull, Mary Sellers, Elise Neil Bengtson, Ron Anzalone, Marybeth Connelly, Katharine Stewart, Maureen Budetti, Tim Stevens Guests: Keith Thurston (The Little City CATCH Foundation), Ariadne Autor (Falls Church City Resident), Adam Schulman (Atlantic Realty Companies), Andrew Painter (Walsh Colucci Lubeley Walsh), Kevin Tankersley, Thomas Dinney (AIA, DCS Design) Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Laura Hull at 9:34 a.m. Receipt of Public Comments  No comments were received Minutes: January 2022 minutes were approved New Business: One City Center  Presentation notes o Presentation provided and conversation facilitated by Andrew Painter o The redevelopment will take place in the commercial core area, connecting with other mix use developments already approved by the City. o The project with repurpose the George Mason Square Plaza on the corner of broad and Washington St. adding a new mixed use building, additional parking and a new City Center Park. o There is planned for a grocery store tenant as an anchor for the building o An outdoor LED Screen may provide a space to broadcast city events, advertising for retailers, and possibility for outdoor movie nights. o Drive isle can be closed off for public gathering such as street festivals o Developers plan to incorporate public art in the park and on blank facades, bringing ideas to the AHC to provide feedback on designs. o Performance space is being designed in the plaza with a concession for the CATCH Foundation to host 4 events a year in the space. o 3000 ft. conference space shared by business tenants in the building will be available for use by community groups in the city free of charge  Comments o Encouragement to incorporate local artists and AHC Feedback on the project o Falls Church Arts is always looking for more class and exhibit space and would be happy to work with One City Center if there is interest in providing space o Does the City have a need for another Grocery store? 1  o The development will be in the historic core of the City/Town of Falls Church and an interpretive sign / Art interpretation. o Examples include: Start Tavern, original Town Hall, Photos of the Old Falls Church Bank, the one stop light at wash/broad, Gas Station, Drug Store/Soda Foundation, Haley’s Corner. o Review 3D model of Star public art originally suggested for the corner of Broad and Washington by Barb Cram o LED Screen could provide an opportunity for digital art or showcase FCA student works o The City Park also could create an opportunity for historic art interpretation, interpretive sign, sensory or audio art. o The additional items could improve the use of the plaza for performances o Wifi, power access, lighting, restroom/green room/hospitality room access for performers, o Encourage further conversations about the concession for use of plaza by CATCH Foundation, Founders row offered funding to support programming. Old Business: Arts & Humanities Council Strategic Plan Review  Corey Price and Laura Hull meet with the City Clerk’s office to review last month’s SWOT conversation. We are drafting some updated roles/responsibilities for the AHC based on the SWOT to be reviewed at our March Meeting. Draft will be sent ahead of time to AHC Board Members to review.  Letty Hardi was able to connect Corey Price with the Vietnamese Literary and Artistic Club (VLAC) of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study  The City is moving forward with participation this year. Survey collection has been delayed until May due to the omicron variant.  Corey Price will be sending out by email a list of arts and cultural organizations in the City to invite to participate and is asking everyone to review for accuracy. Falls Church Art Walk  What can be done to highlight the work completed? Can we plan an Art Walk event this spring? o Corey Price will work to schedule a meeting with Mary Sellers and Scarlett Williams to learn about the City’s Special Events Guidelines and application. Roundtable Discussions  World Premiere of Girls on Madison Street took place last weekend. Tickets for the show are still available.  Friends of Cherry Hill hosted a Valentine’s Day tea last weekend and plans to reopen for tours and corn grinding in April.  Mary Beth Connelly offered to schedule a tour of the high school’s new performance and art exhibit space to arts and cultural groups in the City  Chamber is accepting nominations for the Chamber Awards Show on their website 2 Adjourn Meeting was adjourned at 11:16 AM Next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 17 Submitted: By Corey Price 3