The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutOCAC Minutes 02-10-2025 February 2025 Minute Monday, February 10 1 6:30pm ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION The ArtsCenter Online Attendees: Crystal Wu, Chair, Wendy Smith (acting Sec.), Katie Murray, Celia Gibbs,John Claude Bemis, Denise Duffy, vice chair, Heather Washburn,Alexa Velez Absent:Josh Rosenstein, Renee Hayes, Saba Jordan, Lindsay Metivier, Gideon Young Meeting Location: Online 1) Call to Order at 6:34 by Crystal. 2) Denise moved to approve the January 2025 Board Minutes, and Heather seconded.All approved. 3) Board updates a) Francesca Talenti - Nomination will go to the BOCC on 2/20. March will be her first meeting with us. Saba first term is over at end of March. Hasn't committed to a second term. Lots of conflicts with work and kids. b) UNC Student Liaison selection process. Currently the current student in this position is in charge of picking next liason.The theory is that engaged, high achieving students recruit the same type.This has been the process for about six years. Last year, Lindsey brought up the idea of having a true process. Pros and cons of both. We should have a longer discussion next month when Lindsey can be part of it. Celia pointed out that, with the current process, the new liaison could end up a friend or a creative liaison of the current person. Having an application process would be helpful. Denise brought up the concern that the academic year seems so tight. Will we run into time crunches with an application process? Is it all worthwhile? Katie brought up that it's another thing to manage and run. She is not sure if she has the capacity to add this now. Other concerns brought up were, it feels like we are just getting to know them as they are rolling off. Does the current process make it more likely that it always stays in the same genre? Historically, it has changed up. Celia has noticed that a lot of creative writers are also visual artists. Heather pointed out that if it is a longer term,the connections for the liaison might grow and they may have a more diverse pool to choose from. Celia suggested marketing the position as a way to grow your network. Katie agreed that this is good for a resume. Katie will look into how much work it is to change it for the clerk's office. In the meantime, Celia is already considering the next person. 4) Director's Report: Katie Murray a) Joint board retreat with Katie Weeks(Armstrong McGuire): Katie M.will be meeting with Katie W. next week to figure out some potential dates. Will do a doodle poll for both boards. Katie M. is very excited for this! Past due for both boards. b) Arts Educator Grant Program - open March 1 $500 grants for artistic and professional development c) Uproar 2.0:Aug 1-23 The call for art went live last Monday. Please share. Need a good applicant pool. Everyone will get a $1000 honorarium.The call will close on 3/17 at 11:59 pm. Looking for volunteers: leading up, leadership positions- community outreach to help brainstorm ways to get the word out on a grassroots level.Working with Andrea Griffith Cash and Laurie Paolicelli at a higher level. Katie feels like we missed the grassroots levels last time. We also need lead installers. We need three, one for each town. Mike Waller will do Hillsborough. Need someone for Carrboro and someone for Chapel Hill.These are paid position with the flat rate of $5000.The work is concentrated around install and deinstall. These people need experience handling large scale artwork.They need to be super handy, easy to work with, and have a good personality.They will be doing a lot of face to face interaction with artists.This is a big deal. d) Impact of feds: i. As of right now, no direct impacts. State gets 8%from NEA.The money NCAC gets from the feds doesn't fund the OCAC grassroots grants. Directly,we are safe. Everyone is really unsure about what will happen. ii. Frank Gailor approached Katie about managing the Cloth mill events venue at mill. (The mill did not continue the lease on that space). Would Katie manage it? Kaite would have to manage someone to manage the space.Travis is not interested in the OCAC managing the space as a wedding venue. iii. We will be under the microscope because we are so left leaning. iv. Heather met with the Army Corp of engineers.This option to resign could really hurt. If folks leave their positions, it might be hard to fill them later. V. Denise stated that destabilization can hurt funding. vi. Crystal pointed out that research is where it is being felt. 5) Liaison Reports a) UNC Student Liaison Update: Celia Gibbs reports that in general things have been pretty quiet. Several ongoing projects.Auditions are happening for student run theater programs.Theater department is booming. b) UNC Crystal Wu reports that UNC is really pushing mental health.Take care of ourselves and each other.Two events: Death of a Salesman until 2/16 at Playmakers. Also application deadline for the Director of External Relations position closes on 3/3. Free event: Natural Rhythms:The Brain,the Beat and the Beauty of Neurological Electricity presented by School of medicine in collaboration with Carolina Center for Neurostimulation. What happens to our brain when we listen or play music. On 2/18 11 am - 12 pm. c) Hillsborough Arts Council John Bemis asked us to encourage poets in our networks to apply for Hillsborough poet laureate opening. The last Friday in April is the inauguration.The council is also looking for musicians for last Friday art walks to play on courthouse lawn. d) The ArtsCenter Wendy Smith reports that the 2 d Friday ArtWalk on 2/14 will feature three different artists. Also, Actorlmprov is hosting a special Valentine's show. Performances are going well with lots of sold-out shows. ArtSchool's spring session registration will open on 2/20 with a preview starting 2/17. ArtsCamp is filling up but there are still spots available. e) Carrboro Arts They are part of a new town committee, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.Their meeting time conflicts with this meeting time.They are meeting for the first time since September tonight. f) Visitors' Bureau Met at the North Carolina High School Athletics Association building and got an update from their commissioner, Que Tucker.Jason Boyer of Media Two presented on how they distribute creative content to drive tourism. There used to be just a few channels but now many. UNC University and Health are still major drivers for tourism. Hillsborough is seeing an explosion in "Nearcationers"coming to explore. Inventory of hotel rooms has grown but there is still demand. From now until May,we are in a business and conference campaign. g) Orange County Artists Guild Heather Washburn shared updates about the OCAG spring show at Higgens Myers 2/4-4/30 opening event 3/7 6-8 pm.Just getting going for the guild this year.They are trying to find new venues for the guild so the members do not put all their eggs in one basket, and they can broaden possibilities. The next Calico Makers market is 4/26-27 and they have sent out invitations. The market will include fun things such as art activities in an art tent. One activity is focused on Insect evolution. Kids will make up their own insects. They will look at how science, math and art come together. Heather's mother will be hosting an activity around Egyptian jewelry. Heather is still looking for a professional artist to help in art tents. The activity must be based in an arts lesson. Not just a craft project. Looking for 1-2 musicians for Saturday.This is a paid gig and would last for two hours. Close the meeting at 7:20 by Crystal Wu. IMPORTANT DATES (bold =volunteers needed)-sign up here Wed, Feb 19 Weave &Spin feat. Emilia Phillips Friday, Feb 21 Film screening"Origin"with Dpt of Equity& Inclusion Friday, March 7 First Fridays featuring EAM artist Makala Muhammed