Williamsburg Public Art Council

City of Williamsburg Agenda Williamsburg Public Art Council Meeting Monday, March 30, 2026 @ 3:30 PM Stryker Center (Room 127), 412 N Boundary St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Page I. CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. February 23, 2026 2-3 WPAC Minutes - February 23 2026 - Draft III. CHAIR REPORT IV. STAFF REPORT a. Musical Swings Installation b. "Swing By" - A Musical Swings Event c. Public Art Maintenance Plan d. Vote Sticker Design Contest - Update 4-9 2026 Vote Sticker Contest - Guidelines & Forms V. 2026 PLANNING a. Living Lantern - Update b. Potential Projects VI. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION VII. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, April 27, 2026, at 3:30 pm in Room 127 at the Stryker Center. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 9 The Williamsburg Public Art Council met at 3:30 pm, Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Large Conference Room at the Municipal Building, 401 Lafayette Street, Williamsburg, Virginia. WPAC members present: Vice Chair Rachel Trichler, Cash Arehart, Pat Dent, Bill Hamilton, Anne Hunt, Elaine McBeth, and Barbara Vollmer. WPAC members absent: Chair Robert Currie and Barbara Ramsey Staff members present: Joanna Skrabala (Tourism Division Manager) and Sarah Seward (Economic Development Specialist) I. Call to Order Ms. Trichler called the meeting to order at 3:33 PM. II. Approval of Minutes a. February 2, 2026, WPAC Minutes Ms. McBeth motioned to approve the February 2,2026 minutes as presented. Seconded by Mr. Dent. Approved by Mr. Arehart, Mr. Dent, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Hunt, Ms. McBeth, Ms. Trichler, and Ms. Vollmer. III. CHAIR REPORT a. The Artist Garden Grand Slam Ms. Trichler reported that the Artist Grand Slam was a success and has received positive feedback. IV. STAFF REPORT a. 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest Ms. Skrabala shared that she has been in discussion with Williamsburg-James City County Schools regarding their participation in the 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest. They are interested and would like additional information to clarify the contest instructions. b. Financial Report Ms. Skrabala reviewed the financial report and included two additional budget requests. Mr. Dent reported that FY27 budget details are still being finalized. Page 2 of 9  V. 2026 PLANNING a. Installations Discussion Ms. Skrabala provided the revised estimated costs for the Living Lantern installation, and discussions with the company will continue. Ms. Skrabala reviewed the estimated costs for the custom digital window display to be showcased in Merchants Square. The WPAC agreed that the costs for the custom digital window display exceeded their budget. Ms. Skrabala informed the WPAC that there are more options to explore for temporary art installations through Wireframe. When additional details are available, she will communicate them before the March meeting. VI. NEW BUSINESS a. Consideration and Approval to Fund an Event for the Musical Swings Ms. Skrabala reviewed planning details for the Musical Swings inaugural event. Potential activities include a reading from the Williamsburg Poet Laureate, ice cream for the attendees, and a live painting demonstration. After a short discussion, the WPAC agreed to hold the event on Friday, April 10, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Ms. McBeth moved that the Williamsburg Public Art Council approve funding from its FY26 budget in the amount of $3,000 to be used for an inaugural event for the Musical Swings temporary art installation, as outlined in the proposal. Seconded by Mr. Hamilton. Approved by Mr. Arehart, Mr. Dent, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Hunt, Ms. McBeth, Ms. Trichler, and Ms. Vollmer. b. Consideration and Approval to Fund Public Art Plaques Ms. Skrabala shared that additional plaques for City-owned public art in the City are needed. Mr. Arehart moved that the Williamsburg Public Art Council approve funding from its FY26 budget for six (6) public art plaques for installation at the Stryker Center and Midtown Row not to exceed a budget of $3,000. Seconded by Ms. McBeth. Approved by Mr. Arehart, Mr. Dent, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Hunt, Ms. McBeth, Ms. Trichler, and Ms. Vollmer. VII. Next Meeting The next meeting is Monday, March 30, 2026, at 3:30 PM in Room 127 at the Stryker Center. VIII. Adjournment Ms. Trichler moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 PM. Seconded by Mr. Hamilton. Approved by Mr. Arehart, Mr. Dent, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Hunt, Ms. McBeth, Ms. Trichler, and Ms. Vollmer. _______________________________________________ Bill Hamilton, Secretary Page 3 of 9  WILLIAMSBURG PUBLIC ART COUNCIL in collaboration with VOTER REGISTRAR’S OFFICE 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest: Rules & Guidelines The right to vote is a cornerstone of democracy, giving every eligible citizen a voice in shaping their community's future. In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and the enduring significance of the right to vote, the City of Williamsburg invites local students to participate in a Vote Sticker Design Contest. Winning designs will be used by the City of Williamsburg as official voting stickers during the 2026 election cycle, promoting civic pride, youth engagement, and artistic expression. The contest is presented by the Williamsburg Public Art Council in collaboration with the Williamsburg Voter Registrar’s Office. ELIGIBILITY & VOTE STICKER CATEGORIES Entries will be collected for two (2) sticker design categories (Future Voter and I Voted). All students enrolled at the following Williamsburg-James City County Schools* are eligible for participation in the Contest: • Future Voter: Matthew Whaley Elementary School (grades K-5), Laurel Lane Elementary School (K-5) • I Voted: James Blair Middle School (grades 6-8), Berkeley Middle School (grades 6-8), Lafayette High School (grades 9-12) *The schools were selected based on the percentage of enrolled City of Williamsburg students. DESIGN GUIDELINES & REQUIREMENTS All artwork should be designed to fit a circular sticker 2” in diameter. All entry forms must include the provided design template form. Note: the template’s design space is larger than the actual sticker; final designs will be resized to fit the final product. The submitted designs should be nonpartisan and appropriate for all ages and must include the following: • Original artwork only (no AI-generated imagery will be permitted); • Correct format and specifications, as outlined in the provided template; • No dates and/or years (so that it may be used in future election cycles beyond 2026); and • Designated sticker text (Future Voter or I Voted). 1 Page 4 of 9 HOW TO ENTER The contest will be open from April 13th to May 11th, 2026. All entries must be submitted on or before the deadline, either in-person, by mail, or electronically: In-Person Mail Electronically Drop off at the Municipal Building City of Williamsburg Email entry attachments to (401 Lafayette St.) in the City c/o Joanna Skrabala jskrabala@williamsburgva.gov, Manager’s Office located on the 401 Lafayette Street using the subject line 2026 Vote 2nd floor. Williamsburg, VA 23185 Sticker Entry. All submissions must be complete and include the following two components: • Entry Form (basic information, i.e., name, school, rules agreement, and parent/guardian consent form) • Design Template Form (the student’s artwork and a statement about the design) JUDGING PROCESS & CRITERIA The Williamsburg Public Art Council will review all eligible submissions and select 5-7 finalists for each of the two design categories. Finalists will be notified via email. Keeping the student’s age and grade level in mind, the artwork will be judged on the following criteria: • Creativity & Originality: Designs should demonstrate imagination, innovation, and a fresh perspective. Entries should be original in concept and execution, avoiding copyrighted imagery, AI-generated artwork, or derivative designs. • Presentation & Clarity: Entries should be thoughtfully composed, neat, and clearly executed. Designs should be suitable for reproduction without loss of message or clarity. • Visual Impact on a Small Scale: Because the final design will be reproduced as a small sticker (2” in diameter), entries must remain bold and recognizable when reduced in size. Designs that rely on intricate detail may lose their effectiveness when scaled down. Once the finalists are selected, an online public voting process will determine the winning design for each category. Winners will be notified via email. Winners and finalists will be invited to attend the City Council meeting on July 9, 2026, where they will be acknowledged for their artistic contributions and awarded certificates and plaques. 2026 CONTEST TIMELINE May 26 – April 13 May 11 May 18 Early July July 9 Fall 2026 June 9 Presentation Submission Finalists Winners Launch Public voting of winners/ Sticker use deadline selected announced finalists 2 Page 5 of 9 RULES By submitting an entry, each contest participant acknowledges that their design: a) is their original work; b) does not violate or infringe upon the copyrights, trademark rights of privacy, publicity, or other rights of any person or entity; c) does not feature the likeness of a private individual without that individual’s written permission for its use; d) does not contain references to any candidates or political parties or advocate for or against any issue; e) does not trigger any reporting or royalty obligation to any third party; and f) does not and will not violate any applicable law, statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation. Further, if a design is selected as the winning entry, the City of Williamsburg has the exclusive and irrevocable right to use the winning designs for the official “Future Voter” and “I Voted” stickers and Office of Elections branding. If you have questions or need more information, please contact: Joanna Skrabala, Tourism Division Manager jskrabala@williamsburgva.gov 757-220-6129 williamsburgva.gov | williamsburgva.gov/wpac | williamsburgva.gov/vote 3 Page 6 of 9  WILLIAMSBURG PUBLIC ART COUNCIL in collaboration with VOTER REGISTRAR’S OFFICE 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest: Entry Form *THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND ATTACHED TO EACH DESIGN SUBMISSION* Student Name: Mailing Address: City: Zip: Email: Phone: School: Grade:  By checking this box and signing below, I have read, understood, and agree to abide by the 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest Rules and Guidelines. Student Signature: Date: Students who are 17 years old and under must have a parent or legal guardian complete the following:  By checking this box and signing below, I have read, understood, and agree to the 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest Rules and Guidelines, and hereby give the student permission to enter the contest. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: Parent/Guardian Printed Name: Relationship: Email: Phone: Entries may be submitted in-person, by mail, or electronically. Official 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest Rules and Guidelines may be found online: williamsburgva.gov/votesticker In-Person Mail Electronically Drop off at the Municipal Building City of Williamsburg Email entry attachments to (401 Lafayette St.) in the City c/o Joanna Skrabala jskrabala@williamsburgva.gov, Manager’s Office located on the 401 Lafayette Street using the subject line 2026 Vote 2nd floor. Williamsburg, VA 23185 Sticker Entry. ENTRY FORM – PAGE 1 of 2 Page 7 of 9  2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest Future Voter Design Template Form REQUIREMENTS Your Design Your design must: Be formatted to the circular template; Clearly include the following text: Future Voter; Include original artwork only (AI- generated art will not be accepted); Not include dates or years; and Be nonpartisan and appropriate for all ages. View the complete Rules & Guidelines online: williamsburgva.gov/votesticker Actual Sticker Size 2" REMEMBER: Your design will be resized to fit this size! 2" STUDENT NAME : AGE : SCHOOL : GRADE : TELL US ABOUT YOUR DESIGN : DESIGN TEMPLATE FORM - Page 2 of 2 Page 8 of 9  2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest I Voted Design Template Form REQUIREMENTS Your Design Your design must: Be formatted to the circular template; Clearly include the following text: I Voted; Include original artwork only (AI- generated art will not be accepted); Not include dates or years; and Be nonpartisan and appropriate for all ages. View the complete Rules & Guidelines online: williamsburgva.gov/votesticker Actual Sticker Size 2" REMEMBER: Your design will be resized to fit this size! 2" STUDENT NAME : AGE : SCHOOL : GRADE : TELL US ABOUT YOUR DESIGN : DESIGN TEMPLATE FORM - Page 2 of 2 Page 9 of 9