HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission minutes 111218
ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION
November 12, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.
Link Government Building
200 South Cameron
Hillsborough, NC
NOTE: There will be no meeting in December. Enjoy the holidays!
Board Members present: Tim Hoke, Chair; Doris Friend, Secretary; Delia Keefe, Linda Williamson, Tinka
Jordy, Ashley Nissler, Chris Kubica, Vice Chair, Marlon Torres, Marcela Slade, Fred Joiner, Anita Mills,
Evan Linnet
Board Members absent: Helen Jones, Bronwyn Merritt, Dan Mayer
Staff Present: Katie Murray, Executive Director
I. Tim called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Ashley moved, Delia seconded to approve the September and October, 2018 minutes.
Motion approved.
III. Director’s Report
x Katie announced that Helen Jones has resigned from the board effective today. We
will explore representation from the Chapel Hill Cultural Arts Commission.
x The second annual Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-out went well. Registration was
down somewhat. The committee met last week for a post-event debriefing. It was
decided to move the 2019 event to the last week of September to coincide with
Hillsborough’s Last Friday. The art work will remain on display at C3 through the
end of November to encourage sales.
x Katie met with representatives of Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and Orange
County schools. Plans for the Professional Development Fund for arts educators are
moving forward.
x Katie circulated a sign-up sheet to board members for the Arts Moment at the
Board of Commissioners meeting. Board members are encouraged to submit ideas
for Arts Moment presenters and their contact information. Only four secured as of
this date.
x Katie has sent a letter of intent to Z Smith Reynolds Foundation proposing a
partnership with Hillsborough Arts Council’s Free Spirit Freedom, the Empowerment
Project and Orange County Department of Human Services to explore the potential
for African-American public art. We should hear something from them this month.
x A joint committee with OCAC and Hillsborough Arts is in place to determine the
future of the “Calvin Street Treasure Tree” that was felled during Hurricane Michael.
The tree is being cut into planks for drying. A call for public art will be issued to local
woodworking artists this fiscal year. Three finalists will be chosen and the final
project is anticipated to be unveiled in the Spring of 2020. Doris moved and Linda
seconded to redirect he money previously set aside for a mural in Hillsborough to
this project. Motion passed.
x Katie is planning a Meet & Greet event at the newly redesigned DSI facility
sometime in December.
x Artists workshops focused on professional development will begin in January.
x Katie has joined a group who are working on improvements to Hillsborough’s River
Park, specifically, the orientation of the performance stage.
x Katie continues to work with representatives of C3 and Eno Mill for possible maker-
space.
IV. Review of Enriching our Cultural Character: An Assessment of Arts & Culture in Orange
County, North Carolina:
A draft of this comprehensive, multi-page report was distributed to the board for review
prior to the meeting. Board members made suggestions regarding content, format, visuals
and statistics. This document will set the stage for what OCAC will be working on in the
coming year. Katie’s goal is to finalize and distribute the report before the end of this year.
V. Committee Reports:
x Literary Arts Committee –
x Doris and Katie met with Aaron Greenwald, Program Director at Duke. Aaron
was hired in 2006 to produce the North Carolina Literary Festival at Duke.
Aaron shared historical information about the Festival and was generous with
his thoughts about working with publishers, authors and agents. He was
supportive of the possibility of an Orange County Literary Festival. It was a
wide-ranging conversation with few specifics other than a clear understanding
that such an effort would require either a large and very dedicated group of
volunteers or additional staff. The Hillsborough Arts Council is also interested in
a literary festival. This may be an opportunity for partnership in the future,
x Chris and Katie hosted a dinner at the Chapel Hill Library for a group of high
school teachers about expanding the student writing competition. The teachers
were supportive and enthusiastic. Chris wants to keep the momentum going
and will be soliciting essays with the goal of an awards ceremony in May, 2018.
x Fundraising Committee – Meeting scheduled for November 19th.
x ArtSpace Work Group – Katie met with Trena Jones, board member of Hillsborough Arts
Council and art teacher at Grady Brown. Trena has introduced Katie to a group of
teachers who are interested in this. Discussions to be continued.
VI. Liaison Reports:
Visitor’s Bureau – Tim
o The Visitor’s Bureau hosted representatives of UNC who presented the
University’s master plan. UNC’s Visitor’s Bureau is envisioned to be located at
the “Porthole Alley” entrance to campus.
Hillsborough Arts Council – Doris
o Katie has spoken about the Paint it Orange event.
o The River Park Concert on Saturday, November 27th was well attended. It is
estimated that about 7,000 people were at the park during the course of the
day, with more than 1,000 staying for the duration of the concert. Four bands
performed and over 100 volunteers contributed 1,750 volunteer hours to plan
and work the event.
Orange County Artists Guild – Anita
o The Open Studio Tour was very successful. Artists are still “recovering” and
final results of the Tour will be forthcoming. It seems that more people
from Chatham County participated in the Tour this year. OCAG’s holiday
show will open on November 23rd at FRANK’s pop-up gallery at University
Place.
The Arts Center/ Carrboro –Dan (absent)
UNC Liaison – Evan
o Several music events are happening on campus this month.
o Music Empowerment will hold their recital this month. Invitations to OCAC
board members will be coming.
o Arts Everywhere is hiring a new Director.
o The Ackland is accepting student internship applications.
Tim adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Doris Friend, OCAC Secretary