Cultural Arts Commission

City of Morgantown Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes for April 13, 2022 Present: Nikki Bowman Mills – Vice Chair Rick McEwuen – Secretary Treasurer Mark Downs Absent: Mark McCoy, Ron Dulaney, Josh Williamson, Brian Butcher, Jeffrey Arnett Meeting called to order by at 5:32 P.M. The meeting took place in City Council Chambers. Minutes: The February 2022 minutes were reviewed. Motion to approve minutes – Commissioner Nikki Bowman Mills 2nd – Commissioner Mark Downs *Motion passed 5-0 *Proxies sent by email for Mark McCoy and Josh Williamson Public Comment: None New Business: Woodburn Community Center Artist Selection Review & Approval Director Kitch provided a summary of the process of the Public Art Advisory Committee and the recommended artist team of Karen Gergely and Heather Rios. The Woodburn Community Mural Project is a grant funded project from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts through their Rural Youth Engagement through Public Art Program. We received a grant of $5,000 which is being matched by the City for a total of $10,000. The Public Art Advisory Committee appointed for this project included: Richard Dalton - Woodburn Neighborhood Assn, Jennifer Kahly - Mountaineer Homeschool Hub, Celia Douglass - Youth Representative - Mountaineer Homeschool Hub, Paige Heaney - Youth Representative , John Trumble - Woodburn Commission , Alison Helm - Co-Director WVU School of Art & Design, Professional Artist, Ron Dulaney - Architect, WVU, former Mayor, Arts Commission, Vincent Kitch - Director of Arts & Cultural Development, and Brian Butcher – City Council Member and Arts Commission Representative. A call for artists was issued in January and we received 14 applications. PAAC members were asked to review all the artists based on qualifications and their submissions and submit their top five candidates. Based on the outcome from that review, the Woodburn PAAC is recommending the artist team of Karen Gergely and Heather Rios for this commission. Karen Gergely is a native West Virginian who currently lives and teaches in Iowa and Heather Rios was born and raised in Morgantown and lives in Jerome Park. The Woodburn PAAC recommends the artist team of Gergely/Rios be selected for the project with artist Nichole Westfall from Charleston, WV as an alternate, should one be needed. Motion to approve Commissioner Mark Downes 2nd – Commissioner Nikki Bowman Mills *Motion passed 5-0 *Proxies sent by email for Mark McCoy and Josh Williamson 1 Westover Bridge Mural Artist Selection Review & Approval The Westover Bridge Pier Mural Project is funded and was issued as a call for artists by the City of Morgantown Arts & Cultural Development Department. The City is seeking to commission an artist and/or artist’s team to create a site-specific mural public artwork installation on the Westover Bridge Pier located adjacent to the Walnut Street Landing and the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park at the riverfront in downtown Morgantown. Director Kitch informed the commission that artist Rafael Blanco has withdrawn from the project due to timing and other commitments. Director Kitch recapped the selection process that has been followed to date, working with the Westover Bridge Pier Mural Public Art Advisory Committee. The Public Art Advisory Committee appointed for this project included: Todd Tubutis – WVU Art Museum Director, Andrew Gast-Bray – Director of Planning Mon County, resident near site, Jessica McDonald – Director of Operations WV Land Stewardship Corporation, Nikki Bowman-Mills – Publisher, Editor in Chief New South Media, Art Commission, and Vincent Kitch – Director of Arts & Cultural Development. From the initial call for artists, the city received 13 applications. PAAC members were asked to review all the artists based on qualifications and their submissions and submit their top candidates for consideration. Based on the outcome from that review, Rafael Blanco was selected. PAAC Vote Tally Blanco Votes 5 Weighted Score 25 Tarantino Votes 4 Weighted Score 14 Townes Votes 3 Weighted Score 13 The Westover Bridge Pier Mural PAAC is recommending the city engage both Tarantino and Townes to each create and submit design concepts for the mural project. The PAAC will review designs and forward a recommendation to the Arts Commission for final review based on the recommended artist and design. Motion to approve Commissioner Mark Downes 2nd – Commissioner Rick McEwuen *Motion passed 5-0 *Proxies sent by email for Mark McCoy and Josh Williamson Review and Discussion HRMP Rental Fees This item was tabled for a future meeting. Director’s Report: Vincent E. Kitch Director Kitch provided an overview of events and activities of the Arts & Cultural Development Department. MHM –The city launched a new exhibit at the MHM last week on the history of printmaking in Morgantown. MHM have also hosted a number of kids and family days and have more being planned for summer. Vincent should be able to move forward with hiring the new Museum Manager position in the next month or so. Met – The Met re opened and has had some great events. The Almost Queen show was nearly sold out and had an enthusiastic audience Full house over 700. The band Almost Queen is returning 6/3 to open 2 the Ruby Summer Concert series at HRMP. The chiller at the Met had some issues and is being repaired in advance of a total system replacement that will be in the summer. Carpet is being installed this week. HRMP - The website www.rubyampwv.gov is up and being updated weekly All the Headliners have been announced. Another new event will be the first annual Morgantown Music Festival, Saturday, May 28th from noon until 8. Current capital projects at the park include finishing out the depot and office, electrical projects for festoon lighting in the patio area, flagpole lighting, and a new digital kiosk. Another development is that BOPARC notified the city they will no longer be caring for the park. City staff are working to figure out how to coordinate landscaping and bathrooms, etc. In the area of funds development, staff have been successful. To date, in addition to the the 2 big grants from the HRMCT, Vincent has raised over $65,000 in cash through grants and donations and has pledges for another $15,000 cash. We have received $5000 in In Kind donations and have the potential for major in-kind support in marketing, that is under development. There is also another $70,000 in pending grants. Other – To date, Vincent has written 8 grants and another one with the city grant writer. The department has received all 5 of the ones Vincent submitted ($5000 Mural, $10,000 digital marquee Met, 2 HRMCT, and $50,000 from VMC CVB/Mon County). Vincent is also working as quickly as possible to hire 2 interns from WVU, event staff, the new facilities person, and eventually, the Museum Manager position. Thanks to commissioners Bowman Mills – for her work with the Public Art Advisory Committee and the Westover mural McEwuen – supporting MHM operations and activities and at the depot interior design. Williamson –pedestrian lighting enhancements for the park and on High Street as well. Dulaney and Butcher – Woodburn Community Center mural project. Updates from commissioners Mark Downs announced new investors for the Warner Theater restoration, and they are moving forward with plans for renovations. Nikki Bowman Mills would like to discuss the mission and the role and responsibilities of the Cultural Arts Commission at the next meeting. Future Business: Roles & Responsibilities, commission planning, HRMP rental fees Update from Commissioners: The next meeting will take place on May 11, 2022, Location TBD Motion to adjourn Commissioner Rick McEwuen 2nd Commissioner Nikki Bowman Mills The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 pm. Submitted by Rick McEwuen, secretary/ Treasurer 3