HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission minutes 051214FROM: Orange County Arts Commission
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting
DATE: May 12, 2014
LOCATION: Century Center, Carrboro
MEMBERS PRESENT: Lindsey Alexander, Kate Dickson, Brian Finch, Doris Friend, Geoffrey Hathaway, Deborah
Hepp, Emily Lees, Alice Levinson, Allison Reavis, Devra Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ashley Nissler, Kathleen Ponder, Cher Tuskey
GUEST(S) PRESENT: Malena Smither
STAFF PRESENT: Martha Shannon
Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM
Topic A
Topic B
Topic C
Topic D
Discussion Point: Review of Oct., Nov., Dec., 2013; Jan., Feb., Mar., April 2014 Minutes
Decision /Vote(s): Discussion of minutes. No changes.
Action Item: Vote taken; minutes approved unanimously.
Discussion Point: Director's Report
Decision /Vote(s): NC Arts Council is encouraging attendance on May 201h for the presentation of the NC
Heritage Awards in Raleigh. Tickets are required. The name of Volunteer Applicant Malena Smither was
submitted to the Clerk's Office for possible appointment by the BOCC at their June 3rd regular meeting.
Festifall 2014 applications are due by May 30th. Article in May 7th Chapel Hill News on art by local Karen
youth at FRANK gallery, one of OCAC's previous grant recipients. OCAC is advertising on WUNC this week
for the May 16th Artists' Salon. At least 3x /day for a week of "PSA's" was $996. The $8,000 that the
CHOCVB board voted to put toward our public art project in River Park was not included in the Interim
County Manager's FY15 budget to the BOCC. Commissioners could request that it be put back into the
2015 budget, or we can pursue this public art project for funding in FY16. The Power Point presentation
by Jeff York on Chapel Hill cultural arts is now available. We are still looking for applicants for the OCAC
advisory board. Long time OCAC board member Alice Levinson will be leaving the board after the May,
2014 meeting.
Action Item: None
Discussion Point: Conflict of Interest Policy for NC Arts Council
Decision /Vote(s): This item was discussed.
Action Item: Vote taken; item approved unanimously.
Discussion Point: Committee Updates
Topic E
Topic F
Decision /Vote(s): Debbie Hepp reported on the April, 2014 Visitors Bureau board meeting. She reported
that Commissioner Penny Rich had recommended talking to the Commissioners between now and
October in order to be on the BOCC's agenda for public art in October, 2014. Chair Devra Thomas
reported that Debbie Hepp, Kathleen Ponder and Devra Thomas (Allison Reavis will join them) have
volunteered to serve on the Public Art ad hoc Committee. The public art piece was discussed briefly, and
Devra Thomas stressed maintaining momentum with Commissioner Penny Rich and the Visitors Bureau.
OCAC board members should meet with BOCC members to remind them about public art generally, and
this piece in particular. Issue will be where the money comes from, not their support for public art in
general. Doris Friend volunteered to speak with Bernadette Pelissier. Allison Reavis volunteered to talk to
Mark Dorosin. Possible funders for this public art project include: BOCC, Visitors Bureau, Town of
Hillsborough (through their Tourism grants, which tend to be around $5,000), private individuals. In the
past, our "partners" have matched money raised by the OCAC for various public art projects. Debbie Hepp
(Lindsey Alexander will join her) has volunteered to serve on the Marketing ad hoc committee. In FY15
budget, Visitors Bureau has agreed to additional funds to generate a marketing campaign for the arts. At
this point, it is believed that this Marketing plan would center on encouraging the use of the
ExploreChapelHillARTS.com online art calendar.
Action Item: Allison Reavis volunteered to serve on the ad hoc Public Art Committee. Lindsey Alexander
volunteered to serve on the ad hoc Marketing Committee.
Discussion Point: Agenda Additions /New Business /Old Business
Decision /Vote(s): ARTS North Carolina (the statewide nonprofit arts advocacy agency) is sponsoring their
annual ARTS Day event May 20 -21, 2014 in Raleigh, offering advocacy training and meetings with
members of the NC General Assembly. Everyone is encouraged to attend (there is a charge to attend).
OCAC would like to schedule a board retreat by the end of June, 2014.
Action Item: Devra Thomas will send out a Doodle poll to the OCAC board to determine the best
date /time for this board retreat. Brian Finch offered to host this board retreat at his home in Cedar Grove.
This board retreat will be casual, and include a guest speaker.
Discussion Point: Calendar Items
Decision /Vote(s): OCAC's June meeting will be June 91h at 6:30 pm in the Community Room at OWASA
(400 Jones Ferry Road) in Carrboro. Pizza and soft drinks /water will be provided. Spring 2014 grant
packets will be available by noon on June 2nd at the latest at the pickup locations listed in the May
Director's Report. The Hillsborough Gallery of Art will be offering a juried exhibit for non - members. The
call for art will be available shortly online.
Action Item: Devra Thomas volunteered to distribute grant packets to OCAC board members who live in
northern Orange County.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM