Arts and Humanities Committee

801 NW Ferris Ave PO Box 522 Lawton, OK 73502 580-581-3472 Fax 580-581-3473 www.lawtonok.gov : Arts and Humanities Committee Minutes Monthly Meeting Teresa Abram Arts and Humanities Committee (Chair) a committee of the Alison Offield McMahon Auditorium Authority (Vice Chair) September 3, 2025 – 4:00 p.m. Melissa Beck Carnegie Library Town Hall Leah Chaffins Natalie McCabe Indie Michaels CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL – 4:03 pm Darius Monroe Dr. Charles Owens PRESENT: Abram, Offield, Beck, McCabe, Monroe, Ramey Reginald Ramey Max Sasseen ABSENT: Chaffins, Owens, Michaels, Sasseen Jason Poudrier STAFF: Moore, Phillips Arts & Humanities VERIFY POSTING OF MEETING Administrator Action: Verification of posting time, place, and date Andrea Morman Deputy Arts & CONSENT AGENDA Humanities Administrator The following items are considered to be routine by the Arts and Humanities Committee and will be enacted with one motion. Should discussion be desired on an item, that item will be removed from Michell Rosario Arts & Humanities the Consent Agenda prior to action and considered separately. Community Events & Outreach Coordinator 1. Consider approving minutes from August 6, 2025. Haley Moore 2. Consider approving financial report for August 2025. Arts & Humanities Motion by Ramey to accept the minutes from August 6, 2025 and the bank reconciliation from Digital Media & Records Specialist August 2025. Second by McCabe. Reagan Phillips Offield, Beck, McCabe, Monroe, and Ramey voted yes. Motion carried. Arts & Humanities Administrative CHAIR’S REPORT Assistant 3. General announcements and updates Nicholas Sasseen none Arts & Humanities Technical Coordinator COMMITTEE REPORTS: Receive reports and take action as necessary. 4. Sub Committees Phillips updated the committee on the progress of the Arts and Humanities Cultural Awards and Art Purchase Competition. She updated the committee that one nomination has been received and no art purchase competition entries have been received. Discussion ensued about how to spread the word about the awards and the art purchase competition and the deadlines. Abram reported on the status on the Naturalization Ceremony Reception that is set to take place at the Hilton Garden Inn on September 26, 2025, before the Opening Ceremony for the 46th Annual International Festival. BUSINESS ITEMS 5. Review draft of Fall Art Class Schedule and make recommendations and take action as necessary. Phillips reported that there was not a schedule made in time and so the item needed to be tabled. Offield asked about the Media Literacy class that was set with David Stringer as the instructor. Discussion ensued about the class and when it is to meet. Motion by Ramey to table this item. Second by McCabe. Offield, Beck, McCabe, Monroe, and Ramey voted yes. Motion carried. 6. Encourage submissions of nominations for arts and humanities awards and take action as necessary. Abram encouraged committee members to go out into the community and spread the word about the Arts and Humanities Cultural Awards and Art Purchase Competition. 7. Review International Festival Volunteer Opportunities and take action as necessary. Phillips reviewed the International Festival volunteer opportunities and encouraged the committee members to volunteer their time to help support the festival. OLD BUSINESS – none NEW BUSINESS – none ANNOUNCEMENTS Abram announced the Opening of the Lawton Community Theatre production of Chicago on September 12, 2025, the Cops and Kids event on September 13, 2025, the Let’s Talk About It Book Discussion on September 18, 2025, the Jerrod Nieman Concert on Fort Silll on September 19, 2025, the Open Streets event, the 5th Annual Praise Party in the Park, and the Buffalo Soldiers Annual Heritage Banquet all on September 20, 2025, the 46th Annual International Festival on September 26-28, 2025, and the opening of the Cameron University Production of Unity 1918 on October 2, 2025. ADJOURNMENT – 4:34 pm