Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church

Page 1 MINUTES OF the Arts and Humanities Council (A&HC) of Falls Church Approved 6-15-2023 PURPOSE OF MEETING: To discuss arts and humanities matters across the City of Falls Church. DATE OF MEETING: May 18, 2023 (Next Meeting: June 15, 2023 at 9:30 am) PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Room, City Hall 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Laura Connors Hull at 9:34 am 2. THOSE PRESENT: NAME Staff Member: Maureen Budetti Name: Holly Irwin (virtually) Member: Laura Connors Hull Name: Kate Walker Member: Elise Neil Bengtson Member: Ronald Anzalone Member: Ellen Gross Member: Katharine Stewart (virtually) Member: Nikki Graves Henderson Member-at-Large: Mary Sellers Member-at-Large: Ariadne Autor Member-at-Large: Russ Mardon ABSENT Liaison: Jacqueline Connors CATCH Fndn: Keith Thurston OTHERS PRESENT: Regan Davis (FCEF Liaison), Jessie Labukas (Library Liaison), Letty Hardi (City Council Liaison), Shannon Guss (guest), Lapha Havan from the Vietnamese Literary & Artistic Club. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: 3. Organization Round Table Members representing Falls Church Arts, VPIS, Mary Riley Styles Library, the Chamber of Commerce, Victorian Society, Friends of Cherry Hill, Creative Cauldron, City Council, the Art Walk, FCEF, and the Vietnamese Literary & Artistic Club gave updates on their organization and upcoming events. We welcomed new member-at-large Russ Mardon and Lapha Havan representing the Vietnamese Literary & Artistic Club. 4. Minutes for Approval: Postponed to later in meeting. For the April 20, 2023 meeting minutes, no changes were submitted. Elise Neil Bengston moved to approve the minutes; Ron Anzalone seconded. Unanimously approved. 5. Ongoing Business: A. Art Wrap Update Holly reported that recruitment for Art Wrap Project Manager is still pending. It is temporary full-time, with $20,000 allotted. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711). Page 2 B. Eden Center Update Mary Sellers had contacted the founder of the Vietnamese Literary & Artistic Club (VLAC), Long Hoang, to invite them to become a “Member” organization of A&HC. He was not able to attend but Lapha Havan came and thanked the Council for reaching out. She spoke about the history of the organization, and its educational outreach and programs and expressed their appreciation to the Council. They look forward to participating once it becomes official. Holly will contact the City Clerk’s office to let them know that the Vietnamese Literary & Artistic Club wants to become a member of the A&HC. Holly added that we still have 1 more member spot on the Council. C. A&HC Volunteer Event Maureen reported that she is working with Keith Thurston on the event discussed at last month’s meeting to recruit volunteers for all the A&HC organizations. They are focusing their efforts on doing this at the Fall Festival, September 23, at the VPIS booth. The Council discussed ideas for reaching out to younger audiences in particular (people in their 20s-40s), such as using social media, posting more information on the A&HC website and websites for the member orgs., and printing QRC codes as a quick way to connect a prospective volunteer with our organizations, to name a few. There were various suggestions as well for printed flyers and materials. D. Ari reported on the subcommittee for Outreach/Communication. Keith, Mary Sellers, and Laura volunteered to serve on the Committee and Susan Hillson of Falls Church Arts agreed to join. They haven’t met yet. 6. New Business: There were not any new items to discuss. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 10:33 am SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: Katharine Stewart The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).