HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission minutes 051115 FROM: Orange County Arts Commission
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting
DATE: May 11, 2015
LOCATION: Century Center, Carrboro
MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Albert, Kate Dickson, Brian Finch, Deb Hepp,Tim Hoke,Tinka Jordy, Kim Roberts,
Joy Salyers, Devra Thomas, Scott Van Manen
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ian Bowater, Doris Friend, Geoffrey Hathaway, Bronwyn Merritt,Ashley Nissler
STAFF PRESENT: Martha Shannon
Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM
Topic A
Discussion Point: Review of April 2015 Minutes
Decision/Vote(s): Discussion of minutes
Action Item: April 2015 Minutes were approved.
Topic B
Discussion Point: Director's Report
Decision/Vote(s): County Manager Bonnie Hammersley called a meeting entitled "County Purchased Art
Policy"for May 12, 2015 with Jeff Thompson (Director, Asset Management), Laurie Paolicelli (Executive
Director, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau), and Martha Shannon (Director, Orange County Arts
Commission). Applications for 2015 Festifall (Sunday, October 41h) are due by May 22, 2015.The NC Arts
Council is sponsoring a statewide arts economic study with Americans for the Arts (AFTA) again. For
AFTA's Arts& Economic Prosperity V study(data to be collected January 1—December 31, 2016), the cost
for North Carolina counties to participate is 50%off AFTA's regular price. For OCAC,this would be$4,250
or less. Our first payment—1/3 of the total payment—is due Fall 2015; second and third payments are
due Spring 2016 and Fall 2016 respectively.This is an eligible expense for Grassroots funds. If our
proposed public art project is funded in FY16 using hotel/motel taxes, OCAC's budget would be around
12%of the Visitors Bureau's budget(as opposed to 10%-a slight increase).There has been record
spending on tourism in NC, so this could be workable. Possible fundraising idea: Cedar Ridge High School
woodturning students (Fall 2014 grantee)would like to donate their handiwork to help raise funds for
other arts projects for kids ("kids helping kids"). OCAC could raffle them to raise additional funds for our
Arts in Education grants. Orange County's Finance and Legal Departments would need to know the details
about our proposed fundraising. We could potentially sell raffle tickets at our Festifall booth,via silent
auction at 301h Anniversary party(Thursday, September 3, 2015 in Room 230 at the Whitted Bldg. in
Hillsborough), etc.
Action Item: None
Topic C
Discussion Point: CHOCVB Liaison,Ad Hoc Committee Updates,Whitted/County Building Art Exhibits
Decision/Vote(s): Deb Hepp, CHOCVB liaison, reported on the April, 2015 Visitors Bureau board meeting.
Their main topic was the FY16 proposed budget, and why hotel/motel taxes are being used to fund the
Arts Commission. After the meeting, Laurie Paolicelli sent out an email saying that this use is not out of
the norm, and there are no restrictions on the use of this tax. Hillsborough Tourism Board members were
present at the April, 2015 Visitors Bureau board meeting and when asked, said that they do use tourism
dollars to fund public art.The Marketing Committee reported that the website contract with Tomatillo
Design is in place and the next step will be coming up with content. We need good images of the arts in
Orange County—grantees could be asked to send in images. New website design should be finished by
the end of the fiscal year(June 30, 2015). Market research is still on hold, but getting competitive bids is
the next step. Kenan-Flagler might be able to help as well. Our 301h Anniversary Poster design is at the
printer. Asset Management is probably amenable to installing track lights in some county buildings for
these proposed art exhibits. OCAC staff has checked with FRANK Gallery RE:what they use. LED bulbs are
$20 each. Victory Lighting (possible 50%discount), Meyer Electric, and Cree are possibilities—they need
to know the specs. OCAC staff also showed the proposed art exhibit space to Emily Lees (President,
Orange County Artist Guild) RE: displaying OCAG members' artwork in the Whitted Building. Emily Lees
recommended improved lighting and suggested this space to her board. Her board responded that
security was an issue for the artists. Perhaps a student art exhibit could be exhibited in the Whitted
Building space by September 15t(since the BOCC doesn't meet in July or August).
Action Item: None
Topic D
Discussion Point: Board Retreat
Decision/Vote(s): Karen Wells (Executive Director,ARTS North Carolina) is available on Saturday,June 20,
2015 for a Mini-Retreat. Mini-Retreat agenda items could be advocacy,funding requests, etc. Other
suggestions are welcomed.
Action Item: OCAC board members will be polled RE: morning/afternoon availability.Tinka Jordy will
inquire about a meeting space at Maple View Farms for the retreat.
Topic E
Discussion Point: Advocacy Updates
Decision/Vote(s): Joy Salyers mentioned that she had coffee with Commissioner Renee Price.
Action Item: None
Topic F
Discussion Point: Agenda Additions/Old Business/New Business
Decision/Vote(s): June, 2015 will be OCAC Chair Devra Thomas' last meeting (her family is moving to
Morehead City). Vice Chair Ashley Nissler will lead our August, 2015 board meeting. Nominating
Committee will be charged in August, 2015 with bringing back a new slate of officers at our September,
2015 meeting.
Action Item: None
Topic G
Discussion Point: Calendar
Decision/Vote(s): June 8, 2015 is our next board meeting (combined board/grants meeting). Applications
in PDF format will be available on Dropbox.
Action Item: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM