Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

URBANA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING DATE: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 TIME: 4:30 P.M PLACE: Online Zoom Webinar (Web ID: 856 9514 2204) MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara Hedlund, Gonzalo Pinilla, Lori Fuller, Frank Modica MEMBERS EXCUSED: There were none. MEMBERS ABSENT: There were none. STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Storm, Arts & Culture Coordinator; HeatherAnn Layman, Office Specialist; Jason Liggett, UPTV Station Manager; Stepheny McMahon, Economic Development Supervisor; Darius White, Economic Development Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Sydney Gardner, Frances Ivy-Barrett, Jaclyn Lowenstein, Paulina Camacho 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Arts and Culture Commission was called to order at 4:30 P.M by Hedlund. Storm took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Pinilla moved to approve minutes from July 13 th, 2021. Hedlund seconded. With no changes, all present were in favor and minutes were approved. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA There were none. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 5. PRESENTATIONS a. Staff Report Storm reported that the Arts and Culture program has been working in a hybrid format with masked and socially distanced in-person events when appropriate. Storm welcomed Lori Fuller, a new addition to the board, and read her letter of interest in joining the commission. Storm shared updates on staffing. The Part-Time or Temporary Program Specialist Position has been put on hold. The Office Support Specialist, HeatherAnn Layman, is leaving her position. Layman said goodbye to the council. Storm announced that three new interns from the Community Learning Lab at the University of Illinois and  and one intern from Urbana High School’s Executive Internship Program will be working with the program. Storm provided updates on completed and ongoing Arts and Culture programs, including Juxtapositioned, Cinema & Sound, The Great ARTdoors, United for Peace, Thriving Together, Young Artist’s Studios, Urbana Utility Box Mural Program, Murals on Glass, Art Show & Tell, Pandemics as a Portal to Change, and collaboration with Imagine Urbana. Storm also gave updates regarding Poet Laureate Ashanti Files’s recent activities. Storm then shared a list of upcoming festival dates. Storm also shared information about her presentation at the Dennis H. May. Conference on Diversity Issues regarding incorporating arts into social work and therapeutic practices. Storm concluded her presentation with information about the COVID-19 Relief Guide. Storm introduced summer Arts and Culture Interns Sydney Gardner and Frances Ivy- Barrett. Gardner and Ivy-Barrett presented a reflection on their summer internship. b. Grant Presentations i. Paulina Camacho presented the final report for the 2019 Urbana Arts Grant, Mobile Street Art Cart. ii. Jaclyn Lowenstein of the Celebration Company at the Station Theatre presented the final report for the 2021 Urbana Arts Grant, Teen Spotlight: A Summer Theatre Workshop for Teen Artists of Color. All final reports presented at this meeting will be made available on the Urbana Arts and Culture Commission meeting page for Tuesday, September 14, 2021: www.urbanaillinois.us/node/9497 c. Urbana Arts and Culture Commission Service Storm recognized Commissioner Miller, whose term is ending. Storm also reviewed the process for board appointments. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none. 8. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Hedlund declared the meeting adjourned at 5:53 P.M. Submitted, Emily Luna, Arts and Culture Intern.