Meeting Information

Executive_Committee

MEETING of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Monday, October 27, 2008
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Eighth Floor Conference Room

Minutes

In the absence of Commission President P.J. Johnston, Vice President Maya Draisin called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Maya Draisin
   Cass Calder Smith
   Sherri Young
   
   Commissioners Absent
   P.J. Johnston
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   
   Staff Present
   Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel
   Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar
   Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff
   Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie
   
   
   
2. Director’s Report
   Mr. Cancel announced that the first of a series of free institutional development seminars would be held later that evening. Originally conceived for the Cultural Centers, this first seminar had been opened up to other nonprofit community cultural organizations. The series will both promote institutional development for the individual organizations and further dialogue between arts organizations. Mr. Cancel was very pleased to present Heather Kitchen, Executive Director of American Conservatory Theater, to discuss board development and capital campaigns at this seminar. Ms. Nemzoff reported that the Queer Cultural Center and Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (“MCCLA”) would be participating, adding that MCCLA participated in other organizational development activities in the last year. Mr. Cancel added that it is important to foster collaboration between the Cultural Centers and the City’s large arts organizations, noting that Bayview Opera House is getting technical advice on acoustics and programming from the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that the dedication of the Maya Lin sculpture at the new Academy of Sciences was a very successful event, and that Ms. Lin’s speech at the dedication and her lecture at the de Young were really interesting. Ms. Nemzoff agreed, noting that Ms. Lin’s work at the de Young was beautiful.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that he has met with the Redevelopment Agency, the Mayor’s Office and the Mexican Museum to help them find a path to improve their governance. He was hopeful that their board will accept the recommendations of the San Francisco Foundation, which will dramatically expand the board, address the concerns about governance, help with future funding, and make new opportunities possible.
   
   
   
3. Deputy Director’s Report
   Ms. Gonchar reported that two new positions to be funded by Public Art percent-for-art were approved by the Mayor’s office. Nonetheless, she advised that the budget situation is looking ever more difficult. She said that if the General Hospital bond measure did not pass in the November 4 election, that would have a serious domino effect on City capital spending. Mr. Cancel added that the budget currently has a deficit of $30 million, and there may be a significant impact on the current year’s spending.
   
   Mr. Cancel added that fundraising for the Gallery’s Bill Fontana installation at City Hall is continuing. Fontana, an internationally renowned sound artist based in San Francisco, is recording sounds of the city for an aural installation in the rotunda of City Hall. Mr. Cancel reported that, so far, the National Endowment for the Arts is the major funder at $25,000. An additional $30,000 to $50,000 must be raised to fully promote and execute the project, including banners, handouts, marketing, publicity and the optimal equipment.
   
   The Committee discussed the upcoming retreat, and Vice President Draisin noted that she would like to have had the chance to see facilitator Chris Sutherland’s questions in advance of her recent telephone interview. She added that she was very happy with the previous retreat experience.
   
   Commissioner Young raised a question about increasing the institutional visibility of the Arts Commission, both at the Cultural Centers and in projects funded by the Commission, which began a brief discussion among the Committee and staff. Ms. Gonchar noted that all grantees are required to include the Arts Commission’s logo on their materials. The Committee thought perhaps there should be stronger measures in place to ensure compliance, and would like to consider banners or signage at the Cultural Centers.
   
   
   
4. Public Comment
   There was no further public comment.
   
   
5. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
   
   

spr 11/3/08