HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-13 Commission on Cultural Development Minutes
City of Bangor, Commission on Cultural Development
Minutes
November 13, 2014
8:30 AM
City Council Chambers
Commissioners Present: George Kinghorn (Chair), Judy Boothby (Vice Chair), Tom Avila, Jamie
Ballinger, Mary Budd, Emily Burnham, Uli Guthrie, Kierie Piccininni, and Caitlin Brooke (staff)
Commissioners Absent: Kat Johnson, Elissa Young
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Judy and seconded by Jamie to approve the previous meeting minutes. The
motion passed by a unanimous vote.
3. Budget Update
Caitlin summarized the available budget as of November 13, 2014. The Commission has $8,695.97
remaining in FY15. George requested that Caitlin provide an update on the signage for the sculpture
“Continuity of Community,” located on the Waterfront.
4. Update on Arts and Cultural Policy Presentation at Maine Arts Commission (MAC)
George went down to Augusta on November 6 to meet with Julie Richard, Executive Director of MAC
and present the Commission’s newly approved Arts and Cultural Policy. In previous conversations with
Richard she had directed the Commission to create this type of plan to move forward with successful
grant requests from MAC and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In their meeting, George
walked Julie through the process the Commission went through to develop the plan, and summarized each
section.
Julie offered that some of the information gathering the Commission is planning on doing will be
encompassed in the statewide strategic planning that MAC is currently doing. Once this is complete,
MAC would share results. Since this process included all cultural organizations in the state of Maine, it
would be pertinent to the Commission’s needs.
In the last few years MAC has retooled a lot of their grants. The grant the Commission applied for in
2008 to formulate the Bangor Arts brand—Capacity Building Grant—is not longer available to
municipalities. Julie said that they may, in the future, look at adding municipalities to grantees. Emily
asked if there were currently any MAC grants available to municipalities? George said maybe one with a
$5,000 limit. There may be others available from national organizations or foundations.
Julie did note that she was very grateful that the Arts and Cultural Policy included all cultural
organizations in Bangor. She suggested that the Commission look at a public art ordinance in Bangor.
Other communities have done this. The ordinance would encompass establishing a fund that would
exclusively support public art projects.
5. Committees Deliverables and Timeline
George reviewed committee structures (pulled directly from the corresponding sections in the Arts and
Cultural Policy) and which Commissioners has volunteered to work on committees in November’s
meeting. He recommended committees meet and issue a report at the Commission’s December meeting
so the group can look at various strategies and timelines and begin to develop a spreadsheet to track
progress.
Kierie and Uli were able to meet and outline the Education section’s goals and timeline through fall 2015.
(See attached document.) Kierie asked if City Council approval is needed to proceed with the workshops?
Caitlin said that since the Arts and Cultural Policy was approved, the activities included in it were signed
off on already—no additional approval is needed. Emily suggested a poster to promote all of the
workshops that are planned and in January the Commission should begin social media outreach.
6. Discussion of Grant Review Process
Caitlin opened the discussion by noting that at the last meeting Commissioners (and Staff Liaison)
seemed confused as to the process of reviewing grants.
George began by saying that the grant applicant should be invited to present his or her grant. This is not a
requirement but an opportunity. Commissioners agreed that all of the grant applications should be
presented together so that the group may discuss them in turn and then, as a final measure, vote on
funding.
Jamie asked who the contact person for new applicants was. The Staff Liaison so there will be no conflict
of interest when Commissioners are voting.
A discussion ensued about ways to potentially distribute funds more evenly throughout the year. Some
Commissioners felt there is always a guessing game of who or what will apply for grants and when. There
were questions about why there were four deadlines for grants. Judy noted that there used to be much
more money and now that organizations are aware of the lack of funding; they may be discouraged to
even apply. Tom remarked that with the Arts and Cultural Policy complete, the Commission is going to
be more visible. It is worthwhile to revisit the cycle of grant application deadlines. Uli asked if there was
a downside to one granting cycle. Mary suggested rethinking this for FY16.
A motion was made to solidify the grant review process to the following: invite applicants to the
Commission’s meeting to present and answer questions; listen to all of the applicants first and then
determine amounts of funding. Mary moved and Uli seconded. All in favor.
7. Nominations for Chair and Vice Chair
George outlined the process for Chair and Vice Chair nominations and voting. The nominations will be
heard today and then Commissioners will vote on the slate at the December meeting. The December
meeting’s agenda will include the slate for Chair and Vice Chair. The new Chair and Vice Chair will
preside over the January 2015 meeting.
Mary nominated Jamie Ballinger for Chair, Judy seconded. All in favor. Jamie nominated Mary Budd for
Vice Chair, Judy seconded. All in favor.
8. Other Business
Uli, Mary, and Jamie have been reappointed to the Commission for 3 year terms. A new associate
member, Chris Robbins (owner of the Juice Cellar, soon to open in downtown Bangor) will be a new
Associate Member of the Commission.
Kierie was concerned that not all cultural organizations in Bangor were being represented on the Bangor
Arts website. A few have expressed dissatisfaction that their logos are not included on the website. Some
of these organizations identify and utilize the Bangor Arts logo on their own promotional material but are
not given reciprocal recognition on Bangor Arts material.
George noted that there is a form to fill out to identify non-profits who would like to utilize the Bangor
Arts logo. Currently, only Bangor Ballet has completed this form.
Commissioners asked about access to the Bangor Arts website and Facebook page. They determined that
the updates to the Bangor Arts websites should be handled by Caitlin as the Bangor Arts/Commission
liaison. In regards to Facebook, it was determined that if the page utilizes the Bangor Arts name, the
Commission has the right to administrator functions. Caitlin will obtain usernames and passwords for
both of these.
It was suggested that the Commission needs a larger discussion about Bangor Arts. A workgroup will be
established to do this. Jamie will find a meeting time and location for interested Commissioners.
Judy announced that Bangor Ballet is looking for a Production Manager. Uli reminded everyone that
November 14 is the final ArtWalk of 2014. Mary noted that the Penobscot Theatre Company is opening
Wizard of Oz on December 4 and will light up New Year’s Eve with a Judy Garland show—fun for the
whole family with performances at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jamie said that Pecha Kucha is on November 21 at
the Union Street Brick Church.
Being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
To watch a full version of the Commission on Cultural Development’s November 13 meeting, please
visit: http://bangormaine.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=958f1a8154b9a4e460a25fc3f4d59271