Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

URBANA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING DATE: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 TIME: 4:31 P.M PLACE: Online Zoom Webinar (Web ID: 886 0841 7002) MEMBERS PRESENT: Patricia Sammann, Barbara Hedlund, Jared Miller, Jenelle Orcherton, Gonzalo Pinilla, Courtney Becks (joined after roll call), Stacey Robinson (joined after roll call) MEMBERS EXCUSED: There were none. MEMBERS ABSENT: Frank Modica STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Storm, Arts & Culture Coordinator; HeatherAnn Hicks- Layman, Office Specialist; Jason Liggett, UPTV Station Manager; Stepheny McMahon, Economic Development Supervisor; Darius White, Economic Development Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Terrance Stevenson, Karen Medina, Ashanti Files, Leo Wiltfong, Lorena Falcon, Madison Willcoxen, nancy Rodriguez, Natalie Wess, Tia Radanavong, Emilie Butt 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Arts and Culture Commission was called to order at 4:31 P.M by Sammann. Hicks-Layman took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Sammann moved to approve minutes from April 13th, 2021. Miller seconded. With no changes, all present were in favor and minutes were approved. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Sammann announced that Kelsey Langley of KOOP Adventure Play would not be presenting their final grant report. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 5. PRESENTATIONS a. Staff Report Storm reported that the program is still very much impacted by COVID-19. The program has suspended the majority of in-person events, staff are following guidelines set forth by the Restore Illinois Plan and local public health guidance, and staff has been sharing updated health guidelines with grantees as they are received. Storm reported that her interns would be presenting later in the evening, and highlighted the partnerships that the Urbana Arts and Culture Program shares with WeCU (University of Illinois, School of Social Work), Urbana School District #116 Executive Internship Program, and Communications class 292 at Parkland College.  Storm then announced that the Arts and Culture Program is now accepting applications for their Summer Arts & Culture Internship. Storm expects to hire 3 high- school students this summer. Storm’s report offered updates on current and ongoing initiatives. These included: the 2021 Urbana Arts and Culture Grant Cycle, the Great ARTdoors, Art Inspired in Urbana, the Poet Laureate, Youth Poet Laureate Program, Young Artist’s Studio (including the debut of a monthly Art Show & Tell), the Arts and Culture Program’s involvement in the Boneyard Arts Festival, Public Art League sculptures that are staying as well as a new sculpture hopefully being installed by the next meeting, Pandemics as a Portal to Change, and collaboration with the planning of Imagine Urbana. Additional updates for the program include a quarterly Creative Placemaking and Activation Meeting, a survey to local venues and businesses regarding Downtown activation, grant applications submitted for CO+RE and AARP, involvement in a committee for Interim Use Planning for City-owned Parcels to include public art. Lastly, Storm highlighted upcoming key City-wide Festival Dates. b. Urbana Arts and Culture Interns’ End-of-Semester Presentation The Urbana Arts and Culture Interns presented an end-of-semester presentation highlighting their achievements with the Urbana Arts and Culture program. Initiatives and work accomplished included hosting/planning Young Artist’s Studio, community art planning, professional development, production of social media marketing materials, website updates, as well as opportunities to shadow and interview City and Urbana Free Library professionals. c. Grant Presentations i. Karen Medina of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center presented the final report for their 2020 Urbana Arts Grant, Celebrating 20 Years of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. ii. Emilie Butt of Community Fab Lab presented their final report for the 2020 Urbana Arts Grant, Teen Art Council. iii. Terrance Stevenson of Dance Music Therapy presented their report for the 2020 Urbana Arts Grant, Dance Music Therapy. iv. Ashanti Files presented their report for the 2020 Urbana Arts Grant, Writers of Oya. All final reports presented at this meeting will be made available on the Urbana Arts and Culture Commission meeting page for Tuesday, April 13, 2021: https://www.urbanaillinois.us/node/9253 d. Strategic Visioning for Urbana Arts and Culture Due to the time, Storm suggested this agenda item be moved to the next meeting. She mentioned that by that time she should have more information to share regarding the Bridge to Phase 5 Plan, as well as updates on local health guidelines and how they affect the Urbana Arts and Culture Program. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none. 8. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 6:04 P.M. Submitted, HeatherAnn Hicks-Layman, Office Specialist Minutes approved June 8, 2021