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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/8/2012 - City Arts Commission - 01 Draft Minutes City of Newport Beach Newport Beach City Arts Commission Thursday, October 11, 2012 – 5:00pm Central Library Conference Room Convened at 5:04pm 1) Call Meeting to Order: Commission Smith called the meeting to order. 2) Roll Call: Commissioners Present: Robert Smith; Christopher Trela; Carole Boller, Arlene Greer, Rita Goldberg, Gilbert Lasky, and Caroline Logan Commissioners Absent: None Staff Present: Library Director Cynthia Cowell; Cultural Arts Coordinator Jana Barbier Public Present: None 3) Public Comments: Commissioner Smith noted that the Arts Foundation had a meeting at his house. The group had discussed museum tours, and staff was told that a member of the Foundation would be calling to find out more about the logistics of this program. It was also noted that the Foundation’s holiday party would take place on 12/12/12 at 6pm in the Eastbluff Clubhouse. 4) Approval of Minutes: It was MSP (Boller/Lasky) to approve the September 13, 2012 Minutes. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the minutes. 5) Current Business: A. Consent Calendar 1. Cultural Arts Activities – Staff provided updated report and noted the upcoming Musicales, Family Concerts, and important dates for the Cultural Arts Grant Program. 2. Correspondence and Press – Staff passed around current correspondence and a new roster with Commissioner Boller’s new email address. Commissioner Smith told the group about the upcoming Peter Bohlin lecture and reception on Monday, October 22. Library Director Cowell noted that Mr. Walter Stahr would be giving a lecture on his latest biography, “Seward: Lincoln’s Indispensible Man” on November 5 at 7pm in the Friends Room at Central Library if Commissioners would like to attend. B. Items for Review and Possible Action – 2 1. “Comfort Women” Monument Donation – Commissioner Smith discussed the Comfort Women Monument Donation and Mr. Hoyle Kim’s request to the Arts Commission to accept a monument donation dedicated to this theme. Commissioner Smith had met with the Art in Public Spaces Committee to review the policies on donations of art and noted that monuments are not discussed in the policy. Commissioner Smith explained that the policies may change in the future, but that at this time the request doesn’t fit within the Arts Commission’s purview. Therefore the committee decided not to take action. 2. Deutsche Bank Public Art Offerings – Commissioner Smith noted that Deutsche Bank had approached him regarding 2 public art sculptures for a long-term loan. Commissioner Smith had met with the Art in Public Spaces Committee and they decided that the sculptures were worth accepting as a long-term loan in some City location. Commissioner Smith announced that there may be action on this item in November. Commissioner Goldberg stated that she likes the sculptures but thinks there should be a theme and did not recommend accepting the art because there was potential of accumulating a hodge-podge of art. Commissioner Goldberg recommended putting together a cohesive master plan for public art run by someone with a background in fine art. At this time, public member Judy Chang arrived at the meeting. She was introduced by staff to the Arts Commission. 3. Cultural Arts Grants 2012-13 – Funding Recommendations – Commissioner Smith stated that the Cultural Arts Grants were next on the agenda, and would take some time. Commissioner Smith suggested tabling monthly reports, unless there was something to report at this meeting. C. (Monthly Reports – ) 1. Art in Public Spaces/Historical Preservation Committee – None 2. Fine Arts Committee – Commissioner Boller stated that the Fine Arts Committee had met with staff and reviewed art submissions from 21 artists who had requested exhibitions. The committee had selected 7 artists to exhibit in 2013-2014. Letters would be sent to artists who were not selected and to the seven artists that were selected for 2014. Both letters would contain information on exhibiting in the Newport Beach Art Exhibition and Sale. 3. Performing Arts Committee – None 4. Museum Tours – Commissioner Goldberg noted that the tour to the California Science Center on October 2 to see “Cleopatra” was great, and thanked staff for coordinating it. Arts Commissioners thanked Director Cowell for arranging the Civic Center tour. Director Cowell noted that perhaps a second tour could be arranged when the building was nearer completion, possibly in mid-January. 5. Arts Foundation Liaison Committee – None 6. Publicity Committee – None 3 7. Budget Committee – Arts Commissioner Lasky talked about the budget prior to the Cultural Arts Grants discussion. He read a note from staff regarding the $40,000 that would be available for City Grants. Staff had noted that to accomplish all Arts Commission programs that had begun at the first part of the fiscal year, expenses had exceeded what was available in the programming account, and that it would be necessary to take approximately $10,000 from the City Grants account to pay for both past and upcoming programs in 2012-13. Commissioner Lasky stated that this was a serious problem, and proposed a “radical departure,” granting all $40,000 to the Arts Commission. Commissioner Lasky suggested using the $40,000 for any upcoming programs, and at the end of the fiscal year, g iving out funds that were still available to Cultural Arts Grant applicants. Commissioner Smith discussed that the Arts Commission had been granting $20,000 or $21,000 toward their programming for several years. He noted that a decision like this probably should have been made prior to asking for Cultural Arts Grant applications, and receiving them by the deadline of September 28, 2012. Commissioner Goldberg stated that she agreed with Commissioner Smith, that expenses for Concerts in the Parks had been greater than in prior years; she also noted that Cultural Arts Grant applicant organizations were counting on some help from the Arts Commission. Commissioner Boller asked what City Council expects from this program. Commissioner Smith responded that City Council expects the Arts Commission to grant funds to arts organizations, and is glad to see this program put together by the Arts Commission. Discussion ensued and Commissioner Smith asked if Commissioner Lasky would like to make a motion. Commissioner Lasky made a motion that “The Arts Commission grant the entire $40,000 back to the Arts Commission, and then recommend funding Cultural Arts Grant applicants at the end of the fiscal year.” There was no second. A new motion was offered by Commissioner Boller to “retain $21,000 of the $40,000 available in City Grants to take care of programming in 2012-2013”. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Logan. Ayes: Boller, Goldberg, Trela, Logan, Smith. Nays: Lasky; Abstained: Greer. The motion passed. Library Director Cowell pointed out that this topic was worth discussing, and also reminded the Arts Commission that the City would start the new budget process in November, and that this was the time to think about what kind of requests might be made. Continued: 3a.Cultural Arts Grants 2012-13 – Funding Recommendations – City Arts Commissioners discussed the applications that had been submitted for 2012-13 Cultural Arts Grants, programs, and funding levels. After a lengthy discussion, the following recommendations were made: Arts & Learning, Inc. $ 0.00 Baroque Music Festival $ 2,500 ExplorOcean/NHNM $ 1,500 4 Festival Ballet Theatre $ 2,000 Laguna Outreach for Community Arts $ 0.00 Newport Beach Film Festival $ 6,000 Newport/Mesa YMCA $ 1,000 South Coast Repertory Theater $ 2,000 Southern California Children’s Chorus $ 0.00 Southland Opera $ 3,000 UCI Foundation/Claire Trevor School of the Arts $ 0.00 Newport Beach City Arts Commission $22,000 Total: $40,000 It was MSP (Greer/Goldberg) to “accept the funding recommendations for Cultural Arts Grants, as outlined by the City Arts Commission on October 11, 2012 at the regularly scheduled meeting.” Motion passed unanimously. 6) City Arts Commission Announcements or Matters Which Members Would Like Placed on a Future Agenda for Discussion, Action or Report (Non-Discussion Item) – None 7) Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items – None 8) Meeting Adjourned 6:50pm – It was MSP (Greer/Trela) to adjourn the meeting Minutes Signed by Chairperson____________________________________________________