Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, September 13, 2004
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes
Interim President Brown called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Blanche Brown
   Andrea Cochran
   Maya Draisin
   P.J. Johnston
   William Meyer
   Janice Mirikitani
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Barbara Stauffacher Solomon
   Dugald Stermer
   Ethel Pitts Walker
   Dede Wilsey
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Anne Brauer
   Rod Freebairn-Smith
   Dave Stroud
   Shelley Bradford Bell
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-184: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of August 2, 2004.
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
3. President’s Report
   Interim President Brown urged all Commissioners to save the date of October 15 for the Gallery’s annual benefit party. She introduced Lisa Cole, chair of the Gallery’s advisory committee.
   
   Ms. Cole briefly discussed the role of the volunteer advisory board in helping Gallery Director Rupert Jenkins. “Commission ’04” is the Gallery’s third annual fundraiser. She distributed invitations for the event to each of the Commissioners, along with several extras which she requested that they give to colleagues and friends. She talked briefly about the box collections to be auctioned, which feature work donated by several well-known artists. Finally, she directed any subsequent questions to Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth or to Mr. Jenkins.
   
   Interim President Brown reminded the Commissioners that they are the hosts of the event, and urged all to think seriously about giving a donation, especially in light of recent budget cuts.
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   
   Continuing on the topic of the Gallery’s fundraiser, Mr. Newirth pointed out that the Commission as a whole is listed as a sponsor, corresponding to a collective donation of $250. That level has not yet been reached, but he hoped the Commissioners would come through.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski asked whether that meant Commissioners were asked to pay the $40 cost of the reception plus an additional contribution. Mr. Jenkins replied that no, as hosts, the Commissioners are invited to the reception. Commissioner Przyblyski asked whether, if the Commissioners attended without making a contribution, they would be freeloading. Mr. Jenkins retorted that he couldn’t have said it better himself. Finally, Mr. Newirth reiterated that it is a great event, and encouraged everyone to attend.
   
   Mr. Newirth reminded the Commissioners that at the August meeting they had discussed holding a joint meeting of a few Commissioners with some of the staff to plan a facilitated meeting of the whole Commission. Commissioners Draisin and Meyer met with Cultural Equity Program Manager Jenny Louie, Public Art Program Managers Susan Pontious and Judy Moran, and Mr. Newirth in a very successful planning meeting. The facilitated meeting will be held as part of the full Commission’s regular meeting on October 4, 2004. He requested that Commissioners block out extra time for that meeting, which he estimated will run until perhaps 6:00 p.m.
   
   As background, Mr. Newirth explained that staff started discussions about a year and a half ago on how to break down barriers between programs. Most of the public interacts with the Commission only through one program. There is no easy answer to the question “What does an Arts Commissioner do?”. With the Mayor’s proposal to merge the Commission with Grants for the Arts, the question became bigger. Is one function of the Commission to fund the nonprofit arts sector in San Francisco? If so, that’s a good, noble cause; then what is the rest of the Commission’s work? What is the role of a municipal arts agency, which goes beyond making grants to nonprofits? With the bifurcation of the proposed merged agency, what is the other, nongranting, arm of the agency? What is the function or role of the municipal arts agency that a private nonprofit could not fill?
   
   Commissioner Meyer asked Commissioners to come to the October meeting with thoughts about what the Commission’s goals should be, in language that transcends all the programs. The aim is to brainstorm, and come away with guidelines. In response to a question, Mr. Newirth said that this would be part of the regular meeting of the Commission. He called it a phenomenal opportunity, saying that it should be very exciting. Commissioner Meyer said that this is an important discussion not only because of the merger proposal, but also because the Commission hasn’t had this kind of discussion in ten years, updating its goals and so on. The preliminary discussions have already generated a couple of ideas.
   
   Mr. Newirth said that at the Commission’s August meeting, he had reported some problems with moving forward on the Arts Education Master Plan. As an update, he said that there have been some bumps on the road, but that the plan is back on track, with full support by all parties. He praised the efforts of Arts Education Officer Rachelle Axel and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff as phenomenal. The goal is to have a plan by the end of this school year to launch in September, 2005. The Mayor and the Superintendent are planning a press conference on the plan in October.
   
   Mr. Newirth announced that City Attorney Adine Varah was present for the final item on the agenda, the transfer of the DuMond artwork to the City. The agreement ratifies the understanding between the Asian Art Commission and the San Francisco Arts Commission.
   
   On Thursday, September 23, Mr. Newirth will make a presentation to Planning Commission on the status of the Arts Element of the Master Plan.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that Ms. Pontious and he had a successful meeting with representatives of the San Francisco Airport to discuss funding maintenance of artwork on display there. Ms. Pontious and Ms. Varah will continue discussions about funding.
   
   Mr. Newirth attended the event marking the final day of the Chinatown Cultural Center; a sad day.
   
   He met with a representative of Target Corporation, which is looking to spend marketing dollars in sponsorship of arts events. He gave them lots of ideas of things they could support. He observed that Commissioners Meyer and Wilsey have been around long enough to remember Music Day; along with the Alliance Française and the Goethe Institute, the Arts Commission was a funder. When Mr. Newirth described that event, the Target representative’s eyes lit up. In regard to the question of the demand of such an event on staff resources, Mr. Newirth mentioned the possiblity of bringing in someone to manage it. Staff will put together a proposal. The idea of stages up and down Market Street with “Target” banners appeals to them. This is also the kind of event the Arts Commission would like, providing visibilty and fun.
   
   Mr. Newirth spoke at the Commonwealth Club the previous week.
   
   Commissioners Brown and Mirikitani are to be resworn in the Mayor’s office on Tuesday, September 14, 2004, at 4:00 p.m.; all Commissioners are invited to attend. In response to a question, Mr. Newirth explained that Commissioners are appointed to four-year terms, although actually all serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. Commissioners Brown and Mirikitani were last sworn in more than four years ago.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that Supervisor Bevan Dufty and the Mayor have found funds to restore the Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla statue, which has been in the ChronicleWatch section of the San Francisco Chronicle several times. Supervisor Dufty will hold a press conference at the statue at noon on September 16. The Juan Bautista de Anza statue was also recently listed in ChronicleWatch, and there is progress on that as well.
   
   The Mayor has created clusters of City agencies to work together on various issues. Mr. Newirth had e-mailed the Mayor’s policy paper, which specifically discusses the arts, to the Commissioners as background information. The cluster which includes the Arts Commission is “Children, Youth, Arts and Education.” Mr. Newirth recently received an e-mail describing the cluster’s priorities. Cedric Yap, the Mayor’s education adviser, is the leader in this group. The Arts Education plan is one project in this agenda, and there is progress on this item.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that there were no new developments on United Nations Plaza. He has received a call from the Department of Public Works (DPW) in regard to the relocation of the statue of Simon Bolivar, and the barricade around the Hallidie Plaza fountain. He returned the call but had yet to hear back from DPW.
   
   
   
5. Consent Calendar
   RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-185
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the amended Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
   
   
   Approval of Committee Minutes
   
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-186: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of August 16, 2004.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-187: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of September 1, 2004.
      
      
      Community Arts and Education Committee Recommendations (June 8, 2004)
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-188: Motion to approve the Programs in the Community (PIC) grant to the following PIC grantee organizations, recommended by the PIC review panel, from the 2004-2005 Grants for the Arts Fund:
      
      Central City Hospitality House $15,000
      Programs for People $15,000
      San Francisco Women Against Rape $12,222
      Pacific News Service $14,000
      Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired $10,500
      Eldergivers $14,000
      Filipino American Development Foundation $14,000
      St. John’s Educational Thresholds Center $14,000
      Chinatown Beacon Center $10,000
      Richmond District Neighborhood Center $10,000
      
      Total $128,722
      
      
      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (August 16, 2004)
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-189: Motion to approve 10th and Market Street Project Phase 1.
      
      
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (September 1, 2004)
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-190: Motion to approve the loan of “18th St. Downgrade (1978),” a painting by Wayne Thiebaud, to the University of California Berkeley Art Museum for a two-year period (renewable).
      
      
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-191: Motion to approve Cliff Garten’s model and materials for an artist-designed handrail for Laguna Honda Hospital.
      
      
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-192: Motion to suspend the Civic Art Collection Loan Program at the discretion of the Director of Cultural Affairs until further notice as a result of budget cuts and the elimination of the position of Civic Art Collection Program Director.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-193: Motion to enact a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of gifts until further notice at the discretion of the Director of Cultural Affairs as a result of budget cuts and the elimination of the position of Civic Art Collection Program Director.
      
      
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-194: Motion to approve the proposed installation of the Tony Bennett Heart Sculpture in Union Square for a two-year period (renewable).
      
      
6. Committee Reports
   1. Executive Committee—Blanche Brown, Chair
      
      1. Report from Chair of Executive Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program. Interim President Brown participated in the Committee’s meeting of August 17, 2004, by speakerphone, so there was a virtual, but not an actual, quorum. The following motions that would have been approved had she been physically present were thus not able to be officially approved.
         
         Interim President Brown praised the work of London Breed, thanking her for her role in the transition of the African American Arts and Culture Center to an independent nonprofit. Ms. Breed received a round of applause.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-195: Motion to approve Public Art allocation for FY 2004-2005:
         
         Salaries $354,819
         Gallery Programming $35,000
         Staff Business travel $3,000
         Membership fees $5,000
         Computer hardware, software and consulting fees $10,000
         Web Design $2,000
         Office Supplies $6,000
         SFAC Image Committee $5,000
         
         Total Allocation $420,819
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-196: Motion to approve the proposed 2004-2005 Management Program Plan and grant allocation, not to exceed $314,572, for the African American Arts and Culture Complex.
         
         
      4. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-197: Motion to approve the following 2004-2005 Neighborhood Festival Grants totalling $24,000:
         
         Bayview Hunters Point Senior Citizens Center, Andre’s Boarding and Boarding Care 4th of July Picnic $3,000
         Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, Excelsior Festival $3,000
         Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, Inc., Potrero Hill Festival $3,000
         Precita Eyes Muralists Association, Inc., Urban Youth Arts Festival $3,000
         San Francisco SAFE, Annual Holiday Party Unity Parade & Rally $3,000
         Sunset Youth Services, Sunset Community Festival $3,000
         Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative, Treasure Island Community Day $3,000
         United Council of Human Services, Harumbe Festival $3,000
         
         Total $24,000
         
         
   2. Civic Design Review Committee—William Meyer, Chair
      1. Report from Chair of Civic Design Review Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program. Commissioner Meyer reported that the Committee conceptually approved the 10th & Market office building. Further, he requested the members of the Committee to stay for a few minutes after the full Commission for an informal update.
         
         
   3. Community Arts and Education Committee—Blanche Brown, Chair
      
      1. Report from Chair of Community Arts and Education Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program. Commissioner Brown reported that there was no meeting of this Committee.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-198: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Andrew Saito to teach creative writing in the 2004-2005 WritersCorps in an amount not to exceed $20,000 from DCYF funds.
         
         
   4. Street Artists Committee—Dugald Stermer, Chair
      1. Report from Chair of Street Artists Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program. Commissioner Stermer reported that there was no meeting of this Committee. The temporary winter holiday selling spaces included in the following motion comprise the same spaces as last year along with some new additional ones.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-199: Motion to approve proposal by Program Director for Board of Supervisors designation of temporary winter holiday selling spaces for street artists in the Downtown area and at Harvey Milk Plaza; designation for November 15, 2004 through January 15, 2005.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-200: Motion to rescind Resolution No. 0714-03-198 authorizing honorarium payment of $60 per month to Mario Hernandez for storage of lottery supplies for daily street artists lottery.
         
         
      4. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-201: Motion to approve honorarium payment of $60 per month to Coffee Adventures for storage of lottery supplies for daily street artists lottery.
         
         
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Dugald Stermer, Chair
      
      1. Report from Chair of Visual Arts Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
         
         

7. RESOLUTION NO. 0913-04-202: Motion to Transfer Jurisdiction of DuMond Paintings from the Asian Art Commission
   Explanatory documents: Draft Transfer Agreement as approved by Asian Art Commission August 30, 2004; and description of DuMond Paintings
   
   

   Mr. Newirth directed the Commissioners’ attention to this final item. The DuMond paintings are murals previously housed in the Main Library. They have been in storage since their removal from the Library. The Asian Art Commission has been unable to find another home for them, and was planning to deaccession them if no other home was found. The Arts Commission agreed to find another place for them to be displayed; possible locations under consideration include the Palace of Fine Arts and Treasure Island. Brooks Hall has offered free storage. Since the murals did not undergo conservation, the Arts Commission will be responsible for funding restoration. The Asian Art Commission had previously executed the agreement transferring the murals to the Arts Commission, and the present motion called for the Arts Commission to execute the agreement as well. Mr. Newirth introduced Ms. Varah to discuss the transfer agreement.
   
   Ms. Varah declared the transfer agreement very straightforward, modeled after similar agreements drafted for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Asian Art Commission. Under the terms of the agreement, as of August 10, 2004, the date when the murals were actually moved from offsite storage to Brooks Hall, the Arts Commission agrees to take full responsibility for storage and display of the works. Both agencies agree to share moving costs. Subsequent costs are to be borne by the Arts Commission, which is free to seek funding in support of those costs. There was public comment, and the motion passed unanimously.
   
   Commissioner Stermer asked about the condition of the paintings, and Mr. Newirth said they were not bad, but needed cleaning. They are stored rolled, not flat, and with good security in Brooks Hall. Mr. Newirth observed that for display, they should be mounted high, so that they are viewed from below; the Palace of Fine Arts would be an appropriate space because of that.
   
   
8. Reports and Announcements
   
   1. Commissioner Draisin said that the community is looking for a voice into the Arts Commission, and they want more input. She has a proposal for an online survey from Artangels. This might develop into an ongoing tool or process. The proposal would require $6700 to create the survey and provide reporting. She is working with Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar and other staff on this.
      
      
   There were no other reports or announcements.
   
   
9. Public Comment
   There was no public comment on any item of this agenda unless so noted.
   
   
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:46 p.m.
    
    Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs

    
    spr 9/22/04