HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved 11-14-2024 City Arts Commission Meeting MinutesCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES
Newport Beach Public Library
1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Regular Meeting
City Arts Commission Members:
Melissa Kandel, Chair
John Blom, Vice Chair
Heather Ignatin, Secretary
Maureen Flanagan, Commissioner
Barbara George, Commissioner
Wayan Kaufman, Commissioner
Vanessa Moore, Commissioner
Staff Members:
Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director
Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Melissa Kandel called the City Arts Commission Regular Meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Chair Melissa Kandel Vice Chair John Blom Secretary Heather Ignatin Commissioner Vanessa Moore
Commissioner Maureen Flanagan Commissioner Barbara George
Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Wayan Kaufman (excused) Staff Present: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director
Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Melissa Kandel led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC - Waived V. PUBLIC COMMENTS None
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes of October 10, 2024, City Arts Commission Meeting
City Arts Commission Meeting November 14, 2024
Page 2 1. Draft of 10/10/24 Minutes Chair Melissa Kandel requested edits, changes, or deletions of the minutes. B. Consent Calendar Items 2. Financial Report Review of financial information. 3. Cultural Arts Activities Monthly review of cultural arts activities from the Library Administrative Office for upcoming Library and City arts events and services. Chair Kandel provided a summary of the inaugural pumpkin painting program at the 7th annual Halloween “Spooktacular” event in October at Mariners Park. She said it was an
incredible success – hundreds of families and children participated, and that in the first 11 minutes of the event, more than 200 pumpkins were given out. She stated that members of City Council had stopped by the booth and had also mentioned the program at their
City Council meeting. She thanked staff for the beautiful Arts Commission banner. The booth also featured massive, custom hand-carved pumpkins on display by an award-winning Disney artist, and that after the event the pumpkins were put on display at the Central Library and City Hall. Chair Kandel thanked staff, all the volunteers, the city’s Recreation Department and Secretary Heather Ignatin. Commissioner Flanagan inquired how the CAC acquired the pumpkin carver. Chair Kandel responded that it was a generous donation. Secretary Ignatin stated the event was a team effort and thanked the Rec staff and volunteers, Cultural Arts staff, and the Commissioners who volunteered for the event. Chair Kandel opened the Consent Calendar for public comment.
Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, commented on the Financial Report and the issue he noted at the last meeting - the adopted budget by the Finance Committee that shows the CAC has a larger budget. He stated two items were missing: Professional Service
budget and Publications and Dues. Motion made by Chair Melissa Kandel, seconded by Secretary Heather Ignatin, to accept the Consent Calendar and carried 6-0-0-1 (with Commissioner Wayan Kaufman absent) VII. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action 4. Proposal for Symphony in the Cities in Newport Beach The City Arts Commission will review and discuss a proposal by Pacific Symphony for a symphony concert on the Civic Green. Director Hartson read the staff report and funding requirements for a proposal by Pacific Symphony for a 3-year contract for the City to host a symphony concert on the Civic Green. She stated that the year one concert would cost $30,000 with year two costing
City Arts Commission Meeting November 14, 2024
Page 3 $45,000 and year three totaling $60,000. This year, the Cultural Arts Department received $30,000 from a Variance and Coastal Development Permit application, which could cover
the year one concert fee. She noted that there are other expenses to run an event of this scale that the City would be responsible for such as event insurance, parking attendants, and offsite parking to name a few. The year one concert could take place in August 2025, with funds normally used for the cover band in August to be used to cover the extra expenses. Pacific Symphony had played at the Civic Green back in 2016 and 2017 and staff would work with the Symphony to see if the venue could accommodate the event requirements. Other costs would include parking attendants on a large scale, security, police presence. Additionally, there are costs that the symphony requested the City cover. The Commission discussed the possibility of hosting the symphony concert, with some expressing concerns about the funding requirements for year two and year three.
Chair Kandel said the Arts Commission has an exciting and incredible opportunity this year and proposed they move forward with year one as the funding was already secured
by a coastal variance and development application. She felt the Commission should set a goal to fund year two and three but not commit to them unless funding can be acquired. She proposed working with the Newport Beach Arts Foundation and making a fund
request to help cover expenses for year two and year three. Chair Kandel added that part of the goal of the Arts Commission is to expand programing and felt this concert proposal does that in a smart way. Secretary Ignatin said the Pacific Symphony Concert is a fantastic opportunity, and said she agrees the Commission should commit to year one, then evaluate the program going forward. Several Commissioners brought up their concerns about fundraising and asked staff questions about how the sound, staging, lighting, insurance and special event permit process works.
Chair Kandel opened the item to public comment.
John Forsyte, President and CEO of Pacific Symphony introduced himself and spoke on his previous experience regarding working with the City for a performance back in 2016. He mentioned the use of corporate sponsorship at the last concert and was happy to work
with the Arts Commission or any other organization they work with for fundraising. He noted that 2025 would be the final season for renowned conductor Carl St. Clair, and that the new conductor for Pacific Symphony moving forward had been announced in the OC Register. He also noted that the CAC doesn’t have to sign a three-year contract and went over the state grant the Symphony received that funded the Symphony in the Cities program to help build relationships with cities in Orange County. Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, commented that he only remembered one concert at the Civic Green, and that the cost in 2016 was also $60,000, he found that the cost remained the same surprising with inflation. He noted that when the CAC was planning to fund the event, the proposal was to try and assist the NBAF in hiring a professional
manager to help them, with the City providing an interim person until the NBAF could hire their own, though City Council rejected the proposal. He also believed that Pacific Symphony had another program of a smaller scale for symphony concerts and wondered
if other cities paid for these smaller programs. Mr. Forsyte responded that the smaller concerts were created during the height of COVID and were called Symphony on the Go,
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Page 4 which used a mobile stage and about 4-6 musicians per concert. Those concerts cost about $7,000-$8,000 per concert and could seat between 300-500 people.
5. Timeline for the FY2024-25 Cultural Arts Grants The Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee proposes a timeline for the cultural arts grants process for FY 2024-25. Director Hartson read the staff report and the proposed timeline for FY 2024-25 Cultural Arts Grants that was presented in the staff report. City Council recently passed the revisions to the Cultural Arts Grants policy, the finalized version was included as an additional handout. Chair Kandel asked how the grants are publicized and if it would be possible to provide a
one-page summary for those who solicit cultural arts groups in the public. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia responded that she had a draft letter that is an invitation for organizations who would like to apply for the grants; typically, they include the application.
Once the timeline is finalized, she will distribute the draft letter to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee for review.
Chair Kandel also inquired if the full CAC could reach out to arts organizations. Library Services Director Hartson confirmed that they could. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia would distribute it to the full Commission once the timeline has been finalized. Chair Kandel opened the item for public comment. Bernie Svalstad, Newport Beach Historical Society President, inquired if there was a historic element to the grants. Motion made by Vice Chair John Blom, seconded by Commissioner Vanessa Moore, and carried 6-0-0-1 (with Commissioner Wayan Kaufman absent) to approve the timeline
recommended by the Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee. 6. Central Library Gallery Exhibits
The Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee recommends that the City Arts Commission approve exhibitions by Susan Neas and Hugo Zhang in the Central Library lobby gallery space.
Library Services Director Hartson explained that the Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee met, reviewed and recommended that the City Arts Commission approve exhibitions by Susan Neas and Hugo Zhang in the Central Library lobby gallery space. Samples of each artist were included in the staff report. Vice Chair Blom noted that the photos of Hugo Zhang’s work did not do the exhibit justice, he found it to be quite exquisite. Commissioner Moore stated that Mr. Zhang dropped his prints off and they got to see them in person.
Motion made by Chair Melissa Kandel, seconded by Commissioner Maureen Flanagan, and carried 6-0-0-1 (with Commissioner Wayan Kaufman absent) to approve the timeline
recommended by the Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee
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Page 5 7. Date for the 58th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibit The Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee proposes a date for the
58th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition for Saturday, June 28, 2025. Library Services Director Hartson read the staff report and read the proposed date for the annual Newport Beach Art Exhibit. Chair Kandel opened the item for public comment, there was none. Motion made by Chair Melissa Kandel, seconded by Vice Chair Blom, and carried 6-0-0-1 (with Commissioner Wayan Kaufman absent) to approve the timeline recommended by the Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee with Saturday, June 28, 2025 as the date for the 58th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition. B. Monthly Reports
8. Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee Vice Chair Blom, Commissioner Flanagan, Commissioner Moore
Commissioner Moore stated the Subcommittee met and selected two out of seven artist applications, as reflected in the agenda packet, who were just approved. 9. Music and Live Entertainment Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Secretary Ignatin, Commissioner Flanagan Secretary Ignatin stated they met and discussed and selected genres for the 2025 Summer Concerts. 10. Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee Vice Chair Blom, Commissioner Kaufman, Commissioner Moore Commissioner Moore stated that the Subcommittee met and selected a recommended timeline, as reflected in the agenda packet and approved by the Commission.
11. Newport Beach Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Commissioner George, Commissioner Kaufman, Commissioner Moore
Commissioner Moore stated that the Subcommittee met and selected a recommended date for the 2025 Art Exhibition, as reflected in the agenda packet and approved by the
Commission. 12. Public Relations and Marketing Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Vice Chair Blom, Secretary Ignatin Secretary Ignatin stated they did not meet this month. 13. Sculpture Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Chair Kandel, Vice Chair Blom, Secretary Ignatin Secretary Ignatin stated they did not meet; however, two Arts Commissioners attended
the City Council Meeting on Tuesday November 12 and reported that the City Arts Commission’s 3-year proposal for the Sculpture Exhibition had been approved by Council.
City Arts Commission Meeting November 14, 2024
Page 6 14. Student Exhibition Art Ad Hoc Subcommittee
Commissioner Kaufman Commissioner Kaufman was not in attendance at the meeting due to an excused absence. 15. Newport Beach Arts Foundation (NBAF) Liaison Commissioner Moore Vice Chair Blom attended the NBAF meeting and reported that the Foundation discussed Art in the Park and estimated a net profit of $12,600. The new date for the next Art in the Park will be September 20, 2025. He also reported that he brought Chair Kandel’s notes
about the Foundation website to them and noted that the Foundation is currently looking for a membership chairman. Lastly, he noted that one of the members, Sunny Kim, is putting together a Korean Art Festival.
16. Historical Resources Liaison Vice Chair Blom
Vice Chair Blom did not attend any meetings and did not have a report. Chair Kandel opened the item for Public Comment and there were none. IX. CITY ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION, OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) Chair Kandel noted that she and Commissioner Flanagan attended the Park Avenue Mural Opening and spoke highly of the new artwork on Balboa Island. It was funded by Balboa residents and painted by a Balboa Island artist. The work was produced into tiles that were individually installed on the mural by a robot. The art is also weather proof.
Commissioner Flanagan stated they sparkle in the sun, and it’s located across from the fire station on Park Avenue.
Vice Chair Blom stated it was a wonderful addition to the community. X. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None
XI. ADJOURNMENT – 5:57 P.M. Chair Kandel adjourned the meeting.
Approved by: Melissa Kandel