Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church

Page 1 MINUTES OF the Arts and Humanities Council (A&HC) of Falls Church Approved 8-17-23 PURPOSE OF MEETING: To discuss arts and humanities matters across the City of Falls Church. DATE OF MEETING: July 20, 2023 (Next Meeting: August 17, 2023 at 9:30 am) PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Room, City Hall 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Laura Connors Hull at 9:32 am 2. THOSE PRESENT: NAME Staff Member: Laura Connors Hull Name: Holly Irwin Member: Maureen Budetti Member: Elise Neil Bengtson Member: Katharine Stewart Member: Nikki Graves Henderson (virtually) Member: Ronald Anzalone Member: Ellen Gross (virtually) Member-at-Large: Ariadne Autor Member-at-Large: Russ Mardon Member-at-Large: Mary Sellers (virtually) OTHERS PRESENT: Regan Davis (FCCPS Liaison); Rachel Grooms (Meridian High School Student Liaison); Letty Hardi (City Council Liaison); Ed Henderson (Historical Commission Liaison), Jessie Labukas (Mary Riley Styles Library Liaison); and Keith Thurston (CATCH Foundation Liaison) TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: . 3. Organization Round Table Tinner Hill – They had a successful Tinner Hill Festival and Juneteenth program. Mural at the “Ace Hardware Tool” site is in progress. VPIS – July 13 is their Neighborhood Trees fundraiser. VPIS works to keep as many mature trees in the City as possible, as “green cities” and streets are more important than ever. Concerts in the Park every Thursday. Friends of Cherry Hill – Held two successful “Blast to the Past” camps and the July “Farm to Farmhouse”. One more “Farm to Farmhouse” on August 12. Laura asked about the “Volunteer Recruitment Day” at Cherry Hill on August 19. This prompted a discussion of combining the Cherry Hill effort with something at the Fall Festival/Taste of Falls Church that would be seen by potentially a larger audience. Elise volunteered the Chamber of Commerce booth where members can give out information on their specific volunteer needs. Please let Maureen or Elise know if you want to provide anything. Historical Commission – Updated members on the motion to designate the area on Tinner Hill between 200 and 600 S. Washington Street a historic district. 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 Falls Church Arts – Check out the website for details on their newest exhibit. Member-at-Large Ari Autor – Ari reported on a NEA program she attended about creative placemaking. Creative Cauldron – Summer camps are ongoing as is the summer cabaret series. They have more students through the Artes Para Todos than ever before. 4. Minutes for Approval For the June 15, 2023 meeting minutes, Regan asked that FCEF be changed to FCCPS. With that correction, Elise moved to approve the minutes; Maureen seconded. Unanimously approved. 5. Ongoing Business A. Arts & Humanities Grant Deadline: July 28th at 5pm. Funds are for projects and operations. 6. New Business A. Outreach Subcommittee Report – The Committee met and discussed the possible outreach/‘tourism’ position, the mini-tourism website that EOC and EDA want to do, and production of collaterial pieces. They discussed getting someone to update the CATCH Foundation website and making it an “evergreen” gateway type of site with hyperlinks to websites for our individual organizations so we can maintain the information. The subcommittee will work on goals and priorities and set up a communications plan to make a case for ‘tourism’/outreach position. We need to know the scope of what we need first so we don’t “overask” or “underask.” The deadline for requesting a new position in City budget is Nov 15. B. New Student Liaison – Holly introduced the new student liaison Rachel Grooms, an incoming sophomore at Meridian High School. Rachel will serve for two years. C. New Special Projects Coordinator: Art Initiatives – Holly introduced Mike Guy, the new Art Initiatives Coordinator. Mike went to school in Falls Church City and has a Masters in Exhibition and Design. He has worked at the Textile Museum and Glenstone among other places. He starts August 17 and will attend the A&HC meetings. D. City of Falls Church 75th Anniversary Commemoration – A meeting about the City’s Celebration is this afternoon at 4-5:30 pm. Holly will send everyone the link to attend. Deputy City Manager Cindy Mester is the contact person. Keith added that the year- long celebration starts this August and the Anniversary of the Falls Church City School System is in 2024. 7. Adjourn Russ Mardon moved to adjourn, Elise seconded. Unanimously approved. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 10:22 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).