Cultural Arts Commission

MINUTES OF THE GALVESTON CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022, 2:00 PM HYBRID MEETING IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM I. DECLARATION OF QUORUM AND CALL MEETING TO ORDER a. With a quorum present the meeting was called to order at 2:10 PM by Chair Kathleen DiNatale. Present: Pat Jakobi, Sherrill Hilton, Nick Barbee, Jan Collier, Ken Shelton, Mary Longoria, Trey Click. Absent: Michael Woody. For the City: Megan Pierce, Barbara Sanderson, Legal. Guests: Jean Shon. b. Review of Minutes: Minutes for May regular meeting were reviewed. Nick moved they be approved; Ken seconded. Approval was unanimous. c. Word on the Street: Pat announced a retrospective exhibit of Galveston resident Erma Phillip’ artwork at the Galveston Art League Gallery. It will be available by Juneteenth and will continue to July 23. Nick said that the Galveston Historic Foundation will be opening an interactive experience of And Still We Rise at the Ashton Villa carriage house this coming Sunday. The exhibit will be free through June. Also there is a residents’ exhibit at the Artists’ Residency. Megan announced that the Juneteenth parade will be held this Saturday, also an event at Menard Park on over the weekend and NIA Cultural Center is holding an Absolute Equality celebration. Sherrill said that Reedy Chapel will be reopening for services this Sunday d. Public Comments: There were no public comments. II. REPORTS a. Chair’ s Update: The Chair’ s Update was delayed until after the Discussion and Action Items to give Jean Shon an opportunity to respond to comments and questions regarding her application for Public Art funds for a project comparing old Galveston to what it is like today. b. Kathleen reported that she had met with Dennis Sheehan and representatives from other organizations about the Seawall revitalization project. Sheehan will be forming a steering committee. She made it clear that the Commission was not spearheading this project, but is a participant in trying to get interested people together. In a similar vein, she mentioned the Cultural Connection arts mapping project. There was a lengthy discussion about future plans for finalizing the project, upcoming meetings, public relations, and accessibility and parking logistics. Nick suggested we have someone from the group come to our next meeting. III. Discussion and Action Items a. Jean Shon presented a summary of her project and answered questions from the members of the Commission. A discussion of her proposal followed. Nick moved that we accept the project as proposed. Sherrill seconded. A discussion followed and the motion failed 2-3 with two abstentions. Nick proposed we fund it without the third component of the project and with the necessary budget revision to $5,400. Mary seconded. No vote was taken on the motion. b. Derek Anderson’ s withdrawal letter needs to be submitted to the Council. Doug Heiser has withdrawn his application for the turtles on the water tower. c. Eepi Chaad, who has completed her project related to her proposal approved last year, has returned with another proposal for new funding. She has received permission to keep the sculpture at Sea Wolf Park. She would like to add an interpretive dance performance and is requesting $ 1,200 to supplement other funding of $1,300. Nick made a motion that we fund it; Trey seconded. Approval was unanimous. Nick added that, with her permission, we should use Eepi’ s original application as a sample for future applicants. d. Megan has suggested the Commission develop a system to track our art projects as they progress, open, and close. There are projects coming towards their close and the Commission needs to have a connection with the artists and have an event for them when they launch. Kathleen would like to develop a timeline format prior to the next meeting that will be shared with the Park Board and the City’ s public relations staff. Megan recommended that the format be a one page form that would be emailed to the artists at periodic intervals. Kathleen suggested that we could have an event to introduce the artists to the community. She will work with Nick and Pat in putting together the timeline for the form and give to Megan to design. e. The question of payment for Eepi Chaad’ s project came up and legal suggested the Commission take a vote indicating that the project is complete so that a paper trail is initiated. Trey so moved; Sherrill seconded. Approval was unanimous. f. The Commission needs to send the list of grants they are recommending, along with Derek Anderson’ s withdrawal, to the Council for their approval. Legal will write a staff report prior to the Council meeting. He recommended that at least one member be present on July 28th at 5:00 p.m. Kathleen will be there with Sherrill as backup. Sherrill moved that the Commission recognize the suspension of Anderson’ s proposal, that the second round of funding will not be released to  him and that he will not be asked to return the monies already released to him. Trey seconded. Approval was unanimous. g. Nick moved and Trey seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was accepted unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 3:22. IV. MEETING ADJOURNED Minutes approved July 12, 2022 CAC chair Kathleen DiNatale