HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ARTAB_03.18.2014Minutes of the Meeting of the
Arts and Culture Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
March 18, 2014
The Arts and Culture Board met on Tuesday, March 18 at 4:30 p.m. in the small conference
room of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Anderson, Philip Baker, Shana Nichols, Betty Ann Sensabaugh,
Liz Stewart, Amanda Still, and Melissa Waggoner
Regular Session — began at 4:30 p.m.
A. Citizens who wish to address the Board. None were present.
B. Introduction of Board members — Chair Baker introduced the new board member,
Melissa Waggoner.
C. Announcements of upcoming events — Eric Lashley announced that the opening
reception for the Benini show at the Art Center will be Saturday, March 29, from 7 to 9
p.m. The artist's talk will be on Sunday afternoon, March 30.
D. Consideration and approval of minutes of the February 18, 2014 Board meeting.
Stewart moved to approve the minutes as distributed. Still seconded the motion,
which passed unanimously.
E. Review of City Council Attendance Policy for Board Members — Eric Lashley. Lashley
reminded the members that they must attend 75 percent of the regular meetings but
exceptions will be made when absences are due to personal or family illness. The
calendar runs from March through February and resets each year.
F. Set day and time for 2014 Board meetings — Eric Lashley. Sensabaugh moved to
continue to meet at 4:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. Still seconded the
motion, which passed unanimously.
G. Elect Vice Chair of the Board — Eric Lashley. Lashley asked whether anyone wished to
volunteer for the position and Melissa Waggoner said she was willing. The Board voted
unanimously to elect Waggoner as Vice Chair.
H. Elect Secretary of the Board — Eric Lashley. Liz Stewart said she was willing to continue
as secretary. The Board voted unanimously to elect Stewart as Secretary.
Report about the operation of the Art Center during the past month – Eric Lashley and
Gary Anderson. Lashley said the Tomfoolery show had been well attended. The Art
Works board is working on reviewing or establishing all policies and procedures that
affect the operation of the Art Center. Anderson reported that at the Art Works board
meeting on March 17 a new slate of officers was elected: Diane Gaume, President; Micki
Avery, Vice Chair; Janet Taylor, Secretary; Mari Ramirez, Treasurer; and Gary
Anderson, At -Large Member. Taylor Kidd is the new chair of fund - raising.
Anderson also reported that Art Works had published three calls for artists to which local
artists may respond. The organization hopes that these shows —The American Dream
(June 6 – July 20), The Great Outdoors (September 5 -28), and Art Hop (October 3-29) —
will improve relations with local artists who have expressed a desire to show their work
at the Art Center.
Anderson said that one of the priorities of the Art Works board is to make clear to visitors
to the Art Center that their donations are needed. He said they are working on ways to
appeal to all types of visitors. Baker suggested that there need to be permanent
"fixtures" in the gallery and studio that make it easy to donate, because approaching
each visitor personally to ask for a gift may not be the best way to get people to give.
J. Report regarding expenditure of funds from the Arts and Culture Board budget – Judy
Fabry. Fabry reported that she had issued checks to Affordable Signs for the door
signage at the Art Center and a check for $3000 to the Festival of the Arts for their grant
to support the free public concert associated with the Festival.
Lashley said that the Art Center needs $625 to pay for an advertisement of the Benini
show in the next issue of the Community Impact. The decision to purchase an ad was
made at the last minute, so they could not request the payment in advance.
Sensabaugh moved to pay for the ad. Still seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
K. Consideration and possible action on the application of the Williamson Museum for a
grant of $5000 – Eric Lashley. Still opened the discussion by saying that she believed
that any money given to the Museum should come from the public art budget, not the
grants budget, since the request came outside of the regular grant process. Nichols said
she didn't believe the Board should give any amount to the Museum. Sensabaugh said
that they definitely should not give the requested $5000, since none of the grants that
were made earlier were more than $3000. Baker brought up the Museum's previous
failure to comply with the conditions of the grant they received said he agreed with
Nichols that the Board should not get involved in helping to pay for the 3- Legged Willie
sculpture. He pointed out, however, that Dar Richardson's parting request was that the
Board give something to support the Museum's public art. Lashley said he could see
both sides of the discussion but in his opinion, fostering good relations among the
institutions in the Cultural District should be a priority. Anderson suggested moving the
$2500 remaining in the grant budget, after the Heritage Society withdrew their request,
to the public art budget. Anderson moved to give the Museum $2500 from the public
art budget, making certain that the Micki Ross understands that this is not a grant and is
a one -time contribution to support public art. Sensabaugh seconded the motion.
Further discussion ensued. The final vote was four members in favor and three opposed.
Motion carried.
L. Consideration and possible action on Gary Wang's proposal for the Board to hire a
professional to photograph the Art Center interior and exterior — Eric Lashley. Lashley
reported that Wang had decided to pay for the photographer himself and the shoot will
take place during the Benini exhibition. Wang will allow the Board to purchase specific
photographs and the rights to use them in publications and on websites if the
photographer will agree to that arrangement.
M. Consideration and possible action to approve paying the necessary honorariums to
create a rotating sculpture show at the Georgetown Municipal Airport — Eric Lashley.
Lashley said that the new interim airport director had contacted him and proposed
putting some sculptures at the airport. Lashley has contacted Dar Richardson and the
two of them will visit the airport soon to decide whether there are any locations that
might be appropriate. He said that he will invite Richardson to attend the meeting next
month to discuss the project if they decide it has merit. It probably would involve no more
than two pieces.
N. Consideration of dates of coming meetings —Eric Lashley. The regular April 15 date for
the next meeting was agreeable to everyone.
Chair Baker adjourned the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Liz St ' Secretary Philip Baker,! hair