Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

URBANA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING DATE: June 14, 2022 TIME: 4:30 P.M. PLACE: City Council Chambers, 400 S Vine St., Urbana, IL 61801 MEMBERS PRESENT: Lori Fuller, Barbara Hedlund, Sarah Buckman, Gonzalo Pinilla, Marc- Anthony Macon MEMBERS EXCUSED: MEMBERS ABSENT: Heather Rose, Howard Schein, Frank Modica STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Storm, Arts & Culture Coordinator; Bourema Ouedraogo, UPTV Station Manager; Stepheny McMahon, Economic Development Supervisor OTHERS PRESENT: Jean Mendoza, Jim O’Brien, Patricia Leon Quecan 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 Rachel Storm noted to move the minutes from the previous meeting to the next meeting for better Quorum, and give the board some more time to review them. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Jim O’Brien will be presenting the 2020 Arts Grant, the Urbana Poetry Walk. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 5. PRESENTATIONS a. Grant Presentations i.Jean Mendoza presented the final report for the 2021 Urbana Arts Grant, Juxtapositioned: The Life and Words of Durango Mendoza ii.Lori Fuller presented the final report for the 2021 Urbana Arts Grant, ARTMade iii.Patricia Leon Quecan presented the final report for the 2021 Urbana Arts Grant, Enacting Hope and Togetherness Mural iv.Jim O’Brien on behalf of CU Poetry Group presented the final report for the 2020 Urbana Arts Grant, Urbana Poetry Walk b. Staff Report  Due to the Arts and Culture Coordinator, Rachel Storm, being unable to attend in- person for a medical issue, Stepheny McMahon advanced slides for Rachel Storm, who was attending the meeting by phone. Storm reported that the coordinator continues a hybrid schedule to limit the number of staff working in the office working at one time. Applications for the part-time Program Specialist have been received, but the hiring process has been delayed. The Urbana Arts and Culture Program received the Illinois Arts Council Summer Youth Employment Grant received ($4,500) allowing for hiring two high school students to work part time over the summer. Outgoing commissioner, Frank Monica be recognized at the next meeting in July for his services on the Arts and Culture Commission. Two vacancies are remaining for the Arts Commission full time seats and the newly-created youth seat remains vacant. Updates on current projects included Neighborly software for grant tracking starting 2021 and forward. In 2022, the program funded 30 projects spanning theater, dance, film public murals, visual arts and festivals which will be in downtown Urbana. Orientations offered for grant recipients with the Arts coordinator covered reporting expectations, program support, marketing efforts, and increased accessibility with best practices. Recipients from 2020 and 2021 who had received extensions due to Covid- 19 have been able to complete projects in recent months. Many 2022 projects have been underway which include; Urbana Pops Orchestra, Fiddle Weekend and Poems Across Urbana. The Rose Bowl Tavern in downtown continues to offer free concerts after the Market on weekends. The Urbana Sculpture Project has moved to renew several sculptures; Peek Between the Trees, Ice Pops and What is the Good? are being repaired and restored the month of July 2022; and Stranger Reduction Zone is getting a new label after wear and tear. Races was renewed with a generous donation from Eric Robeson. The long-term plan is for Races to be moved to the corner of Illinois and Vine Streets later this year. The Great ARTDoors in collaboration between Spurlock Museum, Urbana and Champaign Park Districts, UAC and 40 North initiated a new cycle of awarding for artists involved. This project also benefits local artists, underserved neighborhoods and ensures accessibility. 11 artists were selected to place sculptural works in 11 different locations. Various ongoing initiatives of Youth Poet Laureate of City of Urbana, Danyla Nash, were discussed. Art in Transit, a new collaborating with CUMTD and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program was detailed, with artwork soon to be selected for installation on an Urbana-area bus shelter. Art Thrives Banners will be on display featuring several recognized artists on the street pole display in downtown Urbana. Sponsored murals in Urbana can be seen on several downtown Urbana businesses. Imagine Urbana and Americans for the Arts were mentioned with the importance and key insights for each organization and upcoming events. RAWTools is visiting Champaign-Urbana collaborating with many local organizations to turn guns into garden tools. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was none.  7. ANNOUNCEMENTS There was none. 8. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Hedlund declared the meeting adjourned at 5:53 P.M. Submitted by: Laura Wilder-Scaff, Administrative Support Specialist: Friday, August 5th, 2022