HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission minutes 031015 FROM: Orange County Arts Commission
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting
DATE: March 10, 2014
LOCATION: Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau,Chapel Hill
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kate Dickson, Geoffrey Hathaway, Deborah Hepp, Emily Lees, Kathleen Ponder,
Devra Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lindsey Alexander, Doris Friend,Gordon Jameson,Alice Levinson,Ashley Nissler, Cher Tuskey,
Chris Wehrman
STAFF PRESENT: Martha Shannon
Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM NO QUORUM
Topic A
Discussion Point: Review of October, November, December, 2013;January, February 2014 Minutes
Decision/Vote(s): In the absence of a quorum, no vote was taken to approve these minutes.
Action Item: None
Topic B
Discussion Point: Director's Report
Decision/Vote(s): OCAC Board Member Christopher Wehrman has decided not to seek another term on
the board because of scheduling conflicts.The name of Volunteer Applicant Brian Finch is on the BOCC's
March 18, 2014 meeting agenda for possible appointment.The names of Geoffrey Hathaway, Devra
Thomas, and Ashley Nissler are on the BOCC's March 18, 2014 agenda for re-appointment. Gordon
Jameson is not eligible for reappointment by the BOCC at this time. We need two judges for the district-
wide judging for the Congressional High School Art Competition, date/time/place TBD. Debbie Hepp
volunteered to serve as a district-wide judge. For our FY15 budget request to the BOCC,staff moved
$2,000 from our "printing" line item to our"local arts grants" line item,to make this amount more in line
with the state funds. Short Fiction author Carrie Knowles of Raleigh was chosen as the 2014 Piedmont
Laureate.
Action Item: None
Topic C
Discussion Point: New Applicants for OCAC Board
Decision/Vote(s): New Volunteer Applicant Allison Reavis was discussed and all present were in favor of
her application.
Action Item: Staff will send the name of Allison Reavis to the Clerk to the BOCC's Office.
Topic D
Discussion Point: Conflict of Interest Policy for NC Arts Council
Decision/Vote(s): This item was tabled until next meeting because of no quorum.
Action Item: None
Topic E
Discussion Point: Committee Updates
Decision/Vote(s): The February Visitors Bureau board meeting was held at the new Hampton Inn in
Carrboro. Our Public Art Program came up (it has been dormant for several years). When the CIP was
revised several years ago to include only capital projects$100,000 or more, it made the Arts
Commission's public art line item ineligible. Our request for$20,000 for a public art project behind the
Justice Facility in Hillsborough is currently under consideration by the Visitors Bureau. The next CHOCVB
board meeting is March 19,2014.The OCAC is on their agenda to make a presentation on this public art
request. Gordon Jameson had requested a meeting with Laurie Paolicelli to talk about how the Visitors
Bureau and the Arts Commission could work together better. Devra Thomas and Martha Shannon also
attended this meeting. Devra Thomas gave a brief report on this meeting.Visitors Bureau leadership has
no intention of changing the way the Arts Commission works or functions. Devra reported that Laurie
Paolicelli suggested some additional funds for the Arts Commission's FY15 advertising budget, in return
for which the Arts Commission was asked to come up with a marketing campaign.
Action Item: Because Gordon Jameson's term on the OCAC board is expiring, a new liaison to the Visitors
Bureau board needs to be chosen.The focus during those meetings is on the tourism part of what the
OCAC does.
Topic F
Discussion Point: Agenda Additions/New Business/Old Business
Decision/Vote(s): The Town of Chapel Hill has a 1%for art program for new development, but the county
doesn't have a similar requirement.This may be something the OCAC could work on—again. The Orange
County Artists Guild is having a spring tour for the first time this year. It will be in mid-April.The meeting
that had been arranged between the BOCC and the chairs of all the county's boards/commissions was
canceled due to inclement weather. One Song Productions (an OCAC grant recipient) had a production
this past weekend that sold out every show.They will consider adding a matinee next time.The February
Artists'Salon was very successful and well attended. Jerry Williams(Carrboro Music Festival)will be
moving with his family to Columbia,South Carolina. He will be sorely missed,and the Town of Carrboro
will be looking for his replacement.
Action Item: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM