Cultural Arts Commission

City of Morgantown Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes for November 16, 2022 Present: Mark McCoy – Chair Rick McEwuen – Secretary Treasurer Nikki Bowman Mills – Vice Chair Josh Williamson Ron Dulaney Mark Downs Lisa Giuliani Absent: Jeff Arnett – Mon County Commissioner, Brian Butcher, (City of Morgantown) Public: None Meeting called to order by at 5:30 P.M. Meeting took place at the Historic Depot, Hazel Ruby McQuain Park. Minutes: The August 2022 minutes were reviewed. Motion to approve minutes – Commissioner Josh Williamson 2nd – Commissioner Ron Dulaney Motion passed 5-0 with Lisa Giuliani abstaining Public Comment: None New Business: a. Welcome new member Lisa Giuliani b. Arts Commission Discussion – Planning and Brainstorming The Commission had open discussions on ideas for future programs and activities to support arts and cultural development in Morgantown. ➢ Chalk Art Festival downtown or HRMP – MSM ➢ Story walks on trail – Library ➢ Whiskey Rebellion Festival – MHM, MSM, HRMP ➢ Holiday Lights at HRMP ➢ Holiday or other regatta on river ➢ Holiday Tree lighting downtown (Met Marquee) – City, MSM ➢ Holiday Parade ➢ Decorative Parking Meters aka Berkeley Springs ➢ Santa Train 1  ➢ 2024 100 years at the Met (honor original community members who restored) ➢ 2024 Don Knotts Film Festival (Josh Knotts magician, Karen, others? ➢ 2024 Exhibition on Met at MHM ➢ Cherry Blossom Festival – HRMP and trail ➢ Arts on the River ➢ Arts After Hours aka Harrison County ➢ PRT Public Art ➢ Jackson MS Art Alive ➢ Friday High Street Closures tied to Ruby Concert ➢ WV Birthday party ➢ Greenspace activation off south high street ➢ Morgantown Community Band and Community Theater Director’s Report: Vincent E. Kitch Director Kitch provided an overview of events and activities of the Arts & Cultural Development Department. MHM – Vincent and Rick interviewed candidates for the Museum Manager position in October and offered the position, but the person declined to accept. The City has reposted and is looking for broader outreach. Vincent has received a few applications and will be reviewing. Met – We received the HVAC bid and the wait on the new chiller was going to be 50 weeks. We modified the project, and we are now looking at 20-30 weeks. The entire system will be replaced. We have a busy performance schedule. The Met is booming, lots of rentals and events planned. City has been working on festoon lighting on High Street and we are going to light the façade of the Met. HRMP – The Ruby Summer concert series was a great success. Over 28,500 people. Vendors sold over $70,000 in food sales. We are already working on next year’s lineup. The aluminum bleachers for the final 332 seats under the roof at the Amp have been installed. Chairs will be installed in March 2023. The Restrooms are closed for the season. The first tentative ticketed event of next year is on May 19 presented by Drusky Entertainment. Other – The Woodburn Community Mural project was completed. Vincent is working on sponsorships and grants related to next year’s programs and capital projects, as well as final reports for grants and sponsors from this summer’s events. City council is updating goals for next year and it is budget season. Vincent has a preliminary meeting on Monday to look at next year’s budget. Thanks to commissioners Rick McEwuen Museum interviews Josh Williamson for continuing work on lights at the park and Met façade project 2 The next meeting will take place on January 11, 2023 Motion to adjourn Commissioner Ron Dulaney 2nd Commissioner Josh Williamson The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM. Submitted by Rick McEwuen – Secretary Treasurer 3