Lawrenceville Arts Commission

LAWRENCEVILLE ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Third Floor GwMA Conference Room 6:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:05pm Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda was made by Aura-Leigh Sanders, Seconded by Commission Member Alice Stone-Collins. Voting Yea: Commission Member Wesley Brooks, Commission Member Casey Spinks, Commission Member Jennifer Hammond, Voting Abstaining: Commission Member Alicia Chitwood Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes Motion to approve prior meeting minutes was made by Commission Member Amber Walden, Seconded by Commission Member Stone-Collins. Voting Yea: Commission Member Spinks, Commission Member Sanders, Commission Member Hammond. Board Elections 2. Officer Voting Due to a tie for elected offices, the committee will vote during the February meeting. Aura- Leigh will continue to act as chairman until next meeting (February 10,2026) 3. Budget Update Jasmine Jackson provided a budget report. 4. Subcommittee Update  Amber Walden presented arts swag options, on behalf of the Branding Committee, sourced from PureButtons.com for the vending machine, including stickers, keychains, vintage hotel tags, swag bags, and potential apparel. Discussion included concerns regarding bulk pricing and the idea of incorporating items such as shirts or placing swag into themed “Easter eggs.” It was agreed that a committee should be formed prior to placing any bulk orders. Casey Spinks will further investigate which items can physically fit into the vending machine. The website lists a 10–14-day production timeframe, but Casey will contact the company directly to confirm turnaround time, shipping details, and machine dimensions. The vending machine includes a 30-day return policy from the purchase date. The committee also discussed the possibility of designing a custom faceplate for the machine. Jasmine and Mirinda will proceed with ordering vending machines so they can be presented visually at the next committee meeting. Spinks reported that no Outreach subcommittee meeting has been scheduled at this time. The first event for this subcommittee will be The Boogie on April 11. Aura-Leigh stated that a document will be distributed allowing committee members to select which subcommittee they would like to join. Other Projects 5. Project Updates  Temporary Art Task Force: o Wesley created an artist interest form, and Casey added draft questions to expand the form to include students, allowing participation even if they are not yet established artists. This expansion highlights the community impact of art initiatives. Wesley shared that his school newsletter could be an effective outreach tool for students. o Alice recommended creating separate forms to avoid confusion:  One for professional artists  One for emerging artists (students)  Additional distinction between students under 18 and over 18 Casey reported that 6–7 students have already expressed strong interest in participating in these community impact projects. Amber shared a list of top 10 potential sculptor artists (temporary and permanent), previously emailed by Jasmine to the Arts Commission. Wesley requested clarification on whether outreach to artists should begin immediately or wait until a finalized list is complete so responsibilities can be divided among committee members. Lawrenceville Blooms Mural Update A start date is needed for artist Teresa Abboud to address existing issues with the mural. Comparisons will be made of materials and methods used by other artists such as Angela or Leah. While many issues are outside of the artist’s control, Teresa was provided with a checklist to help prevent recurrence. A vote to approve covering the $6,000 cost has been postponed until the next meeting. Annual Retreat Unfortunately, Hooper Renwick is unavailable for the retreat date. Alternative locations were discussed, such as the LAC building; however, ongoing construction may prevent its use. The retreat will remain scheduled at the GwMA Conference Room at City Hall, from 4:00–7:00 PM. Other Business Artist Outreach & New Project Concepts Casey presented a new project concept tentatively titled “The Little Unexpected” where ordinary overlooked items throughout the city now become art. The targeting timeline is spring break. Additional planning is needed regarding locations, material provisions, and final approval before outreach begins. Grants & Funding  The January end-of-month grant deadline was noted. A major change in the grant focus has shifted from public art to impact and partnerships, including projects such as concert series and community murals. Grant funds cannot be used for artist fees, but may be applied toward materials, receptions, and related project costs. The committee was asked to brainstorm programming ideas connected to projects such as power boxes and other community installations.  Potential initiatives discussed included: o Supporting an artist affiliated with the symphony (introduced to Aura-Leigh). o A film-related class previously discussed by Jennifer. Stone-Collins reported discussions with her chair at GGC regarding possible sponsorship opportunities. The committee considered using grant funds to subsidize student participation costs instead of charging full fees, noting that discounts would still apply. A proposed 4-hour masterclass would include perks such as resume reviews and mock interviews. Clarification is needed regarding total cost per session based on the number of students. Aura-Leigh will follow up to clarify whether the grant distinguishes between “teaching fees” and “artist fees.” Jasmine has scheduled a phone call with Alica Hailey Daniels, the proposed masterclass instructor, to gather details on partnership structure, class size, space requirements, and costs if offered 3–4 times and GGC has the capacity to cater  lunch for these sessions. Jennifer stated she will recuse herself from any vote related to this partnership to avoid any appearance of bias. Aura-Leigh reported that GAArts.org has released a new list of program grants. She will explore opportunities where the Arts Commission may apply as a government entity. Possible grants include Art Exhibit and Vibrant Communities grants, with plans to follow up with Marcus Thorne, Grants Program Manager for the city, regarding opportunities at the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC). The Gwinnett Creativity Fund was also discussed, focusing on impact projects such as storm drains. Citizen Comments Citizen comments will be limited to two (2) minutes per person. Arts Commission members will not respond to comments. There were no citizen comments Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Commission Member Sanders, Seconded by Commission Member Walden. Voting Yea: Commission Member Hammond, Commission Member Brooks, Commission Member Spinks The meeting adjourned at 7:40pm Minutes Signature ___________________ Aura-Leigh Sanders, Chairman ___________________ Jasmine Jackson, Secretary