Executive_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 MEETING of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Monday, September 22, 2008
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commission President P.J. Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.
- Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston
Jeannene Przyblyski
Cass Calder Smith
Sherri Young
Commissioners Absent
Maya Draisin
Staff Present
Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel
Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar
Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie
- Director’s Report
President Johnston welcomed Commissioner Smith as a new member of the Committee.
Mr. Cancel noted a theme of “space” in his report. First, he reported that the Collections team has recently completed a physical inventory of some 750 objects in storage at 25 Van Ness Ave. and at Brooks Hall; the entire Civic Art Collection encompasses around 3,000 objects. While Mr. Cancel commended the efforts of the two staff members, he lamented that the collection is not being cared for under museum standards, as it should be for the long term, because of inadequate resources.
Mr. Cancel recalled that the Arts Commission lost its principal exhibition space at 155-165 Grove Street at Van Ness in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Gallery is making do with a smaller footprint at the Veterans War Memorial, the ground floor of City Hall, and the window at Grove Street. One of his goals is to have a professional exhibition space again.
Turning to the administrative offices, he acknowledged Ms. Gonchar’s important accomplishment in moving approximately half of the staff out of basement offices at 25 Van Ness, so that now all staff are in two office suites on the second floor. It would, however, be preferable to have all of the staff in a single suite of offices.
Mr. Cancel reported that he had worked with the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (“MOEWD”) on the possibility of developing the Grove Street site with SFJAZZ, but that did not come to fruition. Michael Cohen, of MOEWD, plans to meet with the private owner of the parcel on the corner of Grove and Van Ness to determine exactly what he wants in exchange for combining that parcel in the surrounding City-owned land for future development.
Mr. Cancel has met with San Francisco School Superintendent Carlos Garcia regarding the School District’s plans for the School of the Arts. Although they have a site on Van Ness Avenue in mind, the District has only a small fraction of the funds required to build the school. Mr. Cancel and Mr. Cohen are working with the District to see whether the Arts Commission and the School of the Arts might wish to share the Grove Street site. President Johnston noted that the Superintendent’s office has expressed their appreciation for Mr. Cancel’s contributions to their thinking on the project.
The Committee discussed the proposed project, noting that the school has some 250 students, and that the Arts Commission needs about 18,000 square feet altogether. President Johnston noted that several related agencies have been considered as potential partners over the years, including Grants for the Arts and the Film Commission. Commissioner Przyblyski noted that the constraints on storage space are affecting the Commission’s acquisitions policy, so that two-dimensional artworks are not currently being accepted. Mr. Cancel mentioned his discussions with several nonprofit arts organizations and museums who are also seeking space, and reported that he has met with Shorenstein about the potential of their Golden Gate Theatre office building as an anchor for the Taylor Street arts district.
Finally, Mr. Cancel noted that the very difficult budget year ahead will require creative thinking and a proactive approach. Commissioners agreed that the visibility of the Arts Commission as funder of a great many small and mid-sized arts organizations and individual artists is particularly important at budget time. Mr. Cancel is exploring the possibility of proposing that staff positions currently funded by the General Fund be supported instead by the Hotel Tax Fund. He noted that Grants for the Arts, all of whose staff is paid by the Hotel Tax Fund, is protected from staffing cuts due to General Fund shortfalls. He is continuing to work closely with GFTA Director Kary Schulman on a common agenda.
- Deputy Director’s Report
Ms. Gonchar reported that there were some 250 RSVPs for the Mayor’s Art Award on October 1, and there has been some media interest in the event. She added that the SFJAZZ high school jazz ensemble will be playing in the Green Room before the presentation.
Mr. Cancel reported that the Maya Lin sculpture at the new Academy of Sciences will be dedicated on Friday, October 24, and immediately afterward, guests are invited to cross the Music Concourse to see more of Ms. Lin’s works on exhibit at the de Young, and to hear her lecture. Commissioner Przyblyski noted that the piece can be enjoyed from outside the Academy as well as inside.
- Public Comment
There was no public comment.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:49 p.m.
spr 11/3/08
