HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ARTAB_02.18.2014Minutes of the Meeting of the
Arts and Culture Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
February 18, 2014
The Arts and Culture Board met on Tuesday, February 18 at 4:30 p.m. in the small conference
room of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8`h Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Anderson, Shana Nichols, Dar Richardson, Betty Ann
Sensabaugh, Liz Stewart, Amanda Still
Regular Session – began at 4:32 p.m. In the absence of Chair Baker, Vice Chair Amanda
Still presided and called the meeting to order.
A. Announcements of upcoming events. Liz Stewart announced that at 4 p.m. on Sunday,
March 3, the Temple Symphony will play a concert of Great Overtures at the Klett
Center.
Mickie Ross, director of the Williamson Museum, was present and asked whether she
could send the Museum's calendar of events to the Board each month. Judy Fabry told
her to send the calendar to her and she would distribute it.
B. Citizens who wish to address the Board. None were present.
C. Consideration and approval of minutes of the January 21, 2014 Board meeting.
Sensabaugh moved to approve the minutes as distributed. Stewart seconded the
motion, which passed unanimously.
D. Report about the operation of the Art Center during the month of January/February 2014
– Eric Lashley and Gary Anderson. Lashley reported that the new exhibit, "Tomfoolery,"
opened last week and the reception on Saturday night was well attended. Upcoming
shows are Benini (3/21-4/27) and the Don Snell retrospective (5/2-6/1). Sensabaugh
asked whether any shows have been scheduled featuring local artists. Anderson
responded, saying yes, but those show are expensive to produce and time-intensive for
Art Works, so they are several months out. There will be two open calls--The Great
Outdoors and The American Dream—and one juried show—Art Hop—that local artists
may enter. Eventually the Art Works board will have a two-year calendar of upcoming
shows.
Lashley said that the reception desk is fully installed now and looks and works well. The
people counter on the main entrance also has been installed. On February 17 he and
Fabry met with Ray Shawley of Affordable Signs and discussed the signage needs at
the Art Center. He hopes that signage on the exterior doors and the interior sliding glass
door will be in place in the next few weeks. Shawley also will be making a proposal for a
sandwich board to use in front of the Art Center, which the Historic Architecture Review
Commission will have to approve before it may be purchased.
The Art Works executive board met on February 17 and has selected candidates for a
new slate of officers, which they will present to the full board in March. Also, the board
has divided into committees that are charged with establishing procedures and policies
for the various tasks that are part of the Art Center's operation. The gift shop is one of
the first areas that will be addressed. Lashley expects that the library staff may become
involved in scheduling the studio space since that is another area that needs immediate
attention. Planning for spring break and summer classes for children has begun.
Anderson said that he believes there will be more stability after the policies and
procedures are in place. Lashley again complimented the volunteers who keep the Art
Center open and Jan Ligameri, who is the volunteer coordinator.
E. Report on expenditures since January 2014 board meeting – Judy Fabry. ' Fabry referred
to the spreadsheet that was included in the agenda packet, pointing out that the primary
expenses during the past month were payments of four of the seven grants that the
Board had approved during the January meeting—Williamson County Symphony
Orchestra Society, East View High School Percussion Group, Georgetown Symphony
Society, and Community Montessori School. She also announced that Susan Firth,
president of the Heritage Society, had met with her earlier in the day to tell her that the
Heritage Society would not be requesting their grant funds because the event that they
had proposed will not be taking place this year. At least two of their partners in the event
had recently withdrawn. The Board had granted the Heritage Society $2000 for their
event.
Mickie Ross, director of the Williamson Museum, had sent the Board a letter requesting
$5000 in support for the statue of Three-Legged Willie (Robert McAlpin Williamson) that
has recently been installed in front of the Museum (letter made a part of these minutes).
Discussion followed in which the Board members considered the various lines of their
budget and what future commitments they needed to meet. Some members expressed
concern that the request was coming outside of the regular grant process. Dar
Richardson, who was attending his last Board meeting as a member, said that he would
like to see the Board appropriate something for this request. Ultimately, the subject was
tabled until the March meeting, to give everyone time to consider the request and its
implications.
F. Consideration and DOSSible action reaardina hirina a orofessional photographer to take
pictures of the Art Center that will be used for promotional Purposes—Eric Lashley. Gary
Wang, the architect for the Art Center, had given Lashley a proposal from Sisterbrother
Mgmt. that he had solicited to get professional quality photographs of the Art Center
(made a part of these minutes). Lashley assumes that Wang is applying for an
architectural award and needs good photographs. Wang has proposed a shoot date of
March 17, 2014.
Lashley also pointed out that good quality photographs of the Art Center could benefit
the City and that if the Board chose to support the project, the City would have all rights
to the photos. A lengthy discussion ensued. Still said that she uses Todd White, a local
photographer, for her interior design projects and her husband, a builder, uses White for
his architectural photographs. His prices are far less than the $4700 that Sisterbrother
asked for a one-day shoot. Richardson suggested that a scope of work needs to be
written and submitted to several photographers. All agreed that Wang should submit
other bids if he wants the Board's support. Nichols asked Lashley to ask Wang for a
"partnership" offer—that is, how much is he willing to pay himself? Still brought up the
fact that the exterior is not finished (the second-story windows still must be painted) and
it seems foolish to spend $4700 on photos that will have to be updated after the painting
is completed. Lashley volunteered that he'd learned earlier in the day that the painting
will not be done until FY 2014-15 because the Art Center project is already over budget
for this fiscal year. Also, it appears that the windows will have to be completely restored,
not just painted. Finally, several people suggested that Wang pay for the photos up front
and then the City could buy the rights to some of them. Lashley said he would take all of
these concerns and suggestions to Wang and report back in March.
G. Consideration of dates of coming meetings—Eric Lashley. The regular March 18 date for
the next meeting was agreeable to everyone.
Chair Still adjourned the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
4/1
Liz aart, Secretary Amanda Still, Vice Chair