Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, December 4, 2006
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Revised Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:09 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston
   Andrea Cochran
   José Cuellar
   Maya Draisin
   Leonard Hunter
   John Kriken
   Alexander Lloyd
   Beverly Prior
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Dede Wilsey
   Pop Zhao
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Janice Mirikitani
   Lawrence Rinder
   M. Sue Lee
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-238: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of November 6, 2006.
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston used the occasion of the year’s last meeting to take stock of the changes over the past year or more, including the departure of Commissioners Pitts Walker and Brown, and to look forward to the next year. He noted the loss of one-third of the Arts Commission’s staff over the last five years, and the debilitating effect of these cuts on programs and on the remaining staff. Citing the improvement of economic conditions in the city, and the renewed commitment of public officials to the arts, he was optimistic about the future.
   
   Noting that the absence of the longstanding Commissioners Brown and Pitts Walker meant the loss of a certain institutional memory, as well as difficulty in achieving a quorum, he explained that he intended to make additional appointments to the Executive Committee in the new year. He reaffirmed the intention to take up more planning and policy issues. He briefly reviewed the other Committees, noting the excellent work Commissioners are doing.
   
   He went on to highlight some of the year’s accomplishments, noting progress with the Cultural Centers, the launch of the Arts Education Master Plan, the new Gallery programs, and the permanent funding of the Public Art Program Director’s position.
   
   Finally, he commented that it was a great year for the arts in the city, citing the opening of the new de Young Museum and acknowledging the enormous work of Commissioner Wilsey. He closed by saying that he was inspired to reach higher in the coming year, and will offer more specifics in January.
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   Mr. Newirth began by reporting that he had met earlier that day in the Mayor’s office regarding the spending plan for the add-back funds. He reported that the development of a single City grant application was moving forward. He and Grants for the Arts Director Kary Schulman have met with the Northern California Community Loan Fund (“NCCLF”) about an upcoming arts space study for the nine-county Bay Area, commissioned by the Hewlett Foundation. NCCLF will present a proposal to expand the study to address San Francisco’s specific needs. Mr. Newirth also reported that Gallery Director Meg Shiffler is meeting with Corry Mehigan on the City Hall art program.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that Facilities Manager Tom Petersen is looking at the most crucial situations at the Cultural Centers to be addressed with the existing funding, including a possible matching grant for the renovation of the Dewey Crumpler artwork at Bayview Plaza.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that the job description for Development Officer will be posted shortly. He noted that the Arts Commission did not want to compete with outside nonprofit agencies and would be looking at heretofore-untapped government-specific funding.
   
   He echoed President Johnston’s renewed focus on the Cultural Centers, and has been meeting with City Hall staff to develop long-term strategies for the considerable needs of the facilities.
   
   He reported that the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development has issued a Request for Interest for a performing arts complex at Van Ness and Grove, which would incorporate Arts Commission offices and the Gallery, along with other compatible uses, intended to be largely or completely self-sustaining.
   
   He also reported that the Gallery’s Commission 06 event was a success. It raised about half as much money as last year, but with much less work. He reminded Commissioners that the show was up in the Gallery through December 16, and that they could still buy some great work. Ms. Shiffler thanked everyone who attended.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that he hoped to be hiring the new Cultural Equity Grants Program Director within the next few weeks.
   
   He explained that he and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff had recently met with the Arts Education Funders Collaborative to discuss the future relationship between the Arts Education Funders Collaborative and the Arts Commission.
   
   Mr. Newirth briefly mentioned several exciting recent events: the rededication of Valencia Gardens and the Bufano sculptures in their new setting there; the presentation by Maya Lin of her proposal for the Academy of Sciences; a meeting with artist Bill Fontana to discuss a potential commission for a site-specific sound piece in City Hall. He closed by wishing happy holidays to all.
   
   
5. Consent Calendar
   Item 38 was severed from the Consent Calendar for discussion; the remaining items were approved as follows.
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-239
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
   
   Approval of Committee Minutes
   
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-240: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of October 11, 2006.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-241: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Special Meeting Minutes of November 6, 2006.
      
      
   3. Committee Reports
      1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
         
         1. President Johnston reported that the Committee did not meet, and he presented the following motions. In regard to the first item below, Mr. Newirth commented that it is great to have all of the staff on the second floor.
            
            President Johnston reviewed the attendance policy in the second item below, explaining that it was essentially a restatement of existing policy: Commissioners should advise the Commission Secretary, Mr. Newirth or President Johnston if they are unable to attend a meeting. As requested, the policy calls for a report to the Mayor, who is responsible for appointments to the Arts Commission.
            
            
         2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-242: Motion to approve the following Public Art Fund allocations for FY 2006-2007:
            Art Gallery: $20,000
            Shared Administrations (rent, IT costs, etc.): $30,000
            Office relocation (renovation costs, moving, equipment etc.): $25,000
            Total: $75,000
            
            
         3. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-243: Motion to approve a Commission Attendance Policy to comply with Board of Supervisors Resolution 502-06 (urging Commissions to adopt an internal attendance policy) and the Mayor’s directive dated September 18, 2006 (urging Commissioners to adopt specific baseline standards for commissioner attendance).
            
            
      2. Civic Design Review Committee—Andrea Cochran, Chair
         1. Commissioner Cochran reported that the Committee did not meet in November.
            
            
      3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—José Cuellar, Chair
         
         1. President Johnston reported that the Committee did not meet in November, although the members had been in contact with staff. Commissioner Cuellar presented the first seven motions below and opened the floor to comment from staff and the public.
            
            Ms. Nemzoff explained that in 2002, because the African American Arts and Culture Center (“AAACC”) had leadership problems and was not doing programming, its funding was decreased by five percent relative to the other Cultural Centers. Since AAACC now has very successful leadership and active programming, the intention is to re-balance the funding without creating a hardship for the other Centers. She noted that Mission Cultural Center did not take an increase in the 2002-2003 fiscal year, so their allocation is not being adjusted now to accommodate this re-balancing. She said that while no one likes forgoing an increase, the other Centers mostly supported the proposed allocation.
            
            President Johnston explained that because revenue from the Hotel Tax Fund increased, the Centers’ slightly lower percentage constituted a net gain of dollars. He said that where there was once a lack of leadership at AAACC, we now have superb leadership.
            
            London Breed, AAACC Executive Director, asked for the Commission's support. She said that from the time she began at the Center in 2002, she noticed the discrepancy in funding, and had worked constantly to correct it. She listed some of the activities at the Center, including gallery exhibitions, performing and visual arts programming, and use of the facility by City departments. She said that the Center is well-known and well-maintained, pointing out that it is the largest Center. She urged the Commissioners to look forward and restore funding to put AAACC on a level playing field with the other Centers. She noted that AAACC had raised $1.5 million in funding. These funds are intended for facility upgrades; one example is the elevator, which is scheduled to be running by March, 2007. Finally, she invited everyone to the Center’s holiday party on Wednesday, December 6.
            
            Jeff Jones spoke on behalf of the Queer Cultural Center (“QCC”). He said that he had come to the meeting on another matter, but wanted to speak in support of the increase to AAACC, which he described as having more vitality than in years. He also asked for an increase in the QCC’s allocation and offered help in revising the grant application form, noting that as a professional grantwriter he has seen many such forms.
            
            There being no further public comment, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the following motions.
            
            
         2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-244: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 grant agreement to the African American Art and Culture Complex by an amount not to exceed $38,245, for a total grant not to exceed $408,979, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         3. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-245: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 grant agreement to the Bayview Opera House, Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre, Inc. by an amount not to exceed $9,883, for a total grant not to exceed $286,731, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         4. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-246: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 grant agreement to the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts by an amount not to exceed $16,571, for a total grant not to exceed $482,446, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         5. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-247: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 grant agreement to SomArts by an amount not to exceed $18,502, for a total grant not to exceed $538,535, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         6. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-248: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 sub-grantee agreement to the Queer Cultural Center by an amount not to exceed $3,047, for a total grant not to exceed $88,917, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         7. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-249: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 sub-grant agreement to the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center by an amount not to exceed $3,047, for a total grant not to exceed $88,917, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         8. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-250: Motion to increase the 2006-2007 sub-grant agreement to the Native American Cultural Center by an amount not to exceed $3,047, for a total grant not to exceed $88,917, from the Hotel Tax Fund Cultural Center allocation.
            
            
         9. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-251: Motion to increase the contract for WritersCorps teacher Meroe (also known as Mahru) Elahi from $28,410.88 to $29,810.88 to cover teaching hours from October 2006 through June 2007.
            
            
         10. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-252: Motion to approve a grant of up to $10,000 for the San Francisco Foundation Community Initiatives Fund for fiscal year 2006-2007 in support of the Arts Education Funders Collaborative, with funds from the Youth Arts Fund (PAR056).
             
             
         11. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-253: Motion to approve a grant of $4,500 to the San Francisco Community Initiatives Fund to support a twenty-hour-per-week Arts Education intern from mid-November 2006 through June 2007, with funds from the Youth Arts Fund (PAR056).
             
             
         12. Mr. Newirth and Interim Cultural Equity Grants Program Director Prudy Kohler explained that the grants in the following motion were designed to help arts organizations build their infrastructure, to help hire development directors, and for similar initiatives to strengthen organizational development.
             
             RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-254: Motion to approve recommendations to award fourteen grants in the 2006-2007 cycle of Cultural Equity Grants—Level One, to the following organizations and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreement with each:
             
             Queer Cultural Center: $25,000
             Fresh Meat Productions (Fiscal Sponsor: Queer Cultural Center): $25,000
             Gen Taiko (Fiscal Sponsor: Asian Improv): $25,000
             Dance Brigade: $25,000
             Asian Improv Arts: $25,000
             Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu: $25,000
             Northern California Music and Art Cultural Center: $25,000
             Carnaval San Francisco (Fiscal Sponsor: Mission Neighborhood Centers): $25,000
             Asian American Orchestra (Fiscal Sponsor: Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California): $25,000
             Oasis for Girls (Fiscal Sponsor: The Tides Center): $25,000
             First Voice: $25,000
             La Pocha Nostra: $25,000
             World Arts West: $25,000
             Zaccho Dance Theatre: $25,000
             
             TOTAL: $350,000
             
             
      4. Street Artists Committee—Alex Lloyd, Chair
         1. Commissioner Lloyd gave no report, but referred Commissioners to the minutes. He presented the following motion:
            
            
         2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-255: Motion to approve former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Douglas Lepre.
            
            
      5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
         
         1. Commissioner Przyblyski thanked President Johnston for his kind words highlighting the strengths of the Committee. She reported that work with Maya Lin is ongoing. She characterized that project as a genuine success story, with strong support from the Academy.
            
            She also reported that the Broadway Streetscape project (artist Brian Goggin) got off to a slightly rocky start, but now enjoys so much support that the community is raising money to allow the artist to create a more spectacular project.
            
            She described the Art on Market Street program under the leadership of Public Art Program Manager Judy Moran as another success story. She said there are great conversations, and great work, with planners, transportation experts, community groups and other interested parties.
            
            She gave a brief overview of the status of the Civic Art Collection, observing that several years of budget cuts and the loss of a full-time collections manager have resulted in a number of pressing issues related to collections management, conservation and maintenance. Most recently, the Collection has come under renewed public scrutiny with regards to the deteriorating condition of popular works such as the Art Ribbon and the inadequate conditions for display and storage of the collection of two-dimensional works located at San Francisco General Hospital. The Visual Arts Committee has moved to require monthly reports on the collection on the Committee’s agenda. They will be looking closely at the mission statement and collection guidelines, as well as monitoring the status of outstanding issues. Last month brought some good news: the jewelry collection that resulted from the Arts Commissions support of the historic city art fairs has been catalogued and will be displayed in an exhibition at the Airport as a result of efforts by staff and a volunteer registrar. The Committee supports efforts to make the Civic Art Collection more broadly accessible to the public, and sees this as a promising step.
            
            Commissioner Przyblyski presented the following motions.
            
            
         2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-256: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection Shining Paths—San Francisco Sister Cities, sixteen silvered glass gobos, projectors, mount brackets and mirrors, by Lewis deSoto for San Francisco International Airport.
            
            
         3. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-257: Motion to approve the multi-panel mural design by Deidre De Franceaux and Santie Huckaby on the retaining wall on the 1700 block of Quesada Avenue, celebrating the Quesada Avenue community garden and funded by the Mayor’s Neighborhood Beautification Fund.
            
            
         4. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-258: Motion to approve the temporary installation by Jen Pack of a fifty-foot-long green fabric “grass” line to be located on the north slope of Bernal Hill for two weeks in January 2007.
            
            
         5. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-259: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection From the Heart Outwards, nineteen cold-cast bronze and aluminum tiles, by Vicki Saulls for the Eureka Valley Recreation Center.
            
            
         6. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-260: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection Welcome Hands, four cast concrete tiles, by Vicki Saulls for the Eureka Valley Recreation Center.
            
            
         7. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-261: Motion to authorize for the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Clare Rojas for $3,000 to develop a design proposal for a gateroom wall at San Francisco International Airport.
            
            
         8. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-262: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist team of Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather to design and fabricate a series of posters, with related public outreach activities, for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program, in an amount not to exceed $18,000.
            
            
         9. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-06-263: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist team of Anita Margrill and Nobuho Nagasawa for fabrication and transportation of insulated glass units for two art glass curtainwalls for the façade of the Metro East Light Rail Maintenance and Operations Facility, as part of the Third Street Light Rail Project, for an amount not to exceed $140,000.
            
            
   4. New Business
      President Johnston distributed the proposed calendar of meetings for 2007, requesting that anyone with suggested changes or other concerns contact him, Mr. Newirth or Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie.
      
      He was proud and happy to report that staff and Commissioners Hunter and Rinder had attended the very successful Valencia Gardens event. Commissioner Przyblyski pointed out that it was important that the Bufano sculptures return to Valencia Gardens; they were originally among the first instances of public art being incorporated into public housing. She noted that Arts Commission staff is working with the Randall Museum to find more wonderful public art to take the place occupied by the Bufanos during their temporary stay at the Randall.
      
      Ms. Breed spoke to the Commission, explaining that she had expected to have the opportunity to speak to the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee about the spending plan for the add-back funding. She was happy to see the Cultural Centers receiving a large portion of the funds. She praised Ms. Nemzoff and Mr. Petersen for going above and beyond to make the Centers better places to be. She wants to see more community input, and will be glad to have the monthly Center directors’ meeting reinstated.
      
      Mr. Jones spoke about the spending plan as well. He considered part of it truly revolutionary. He argued that the economic development approach to the arts ultimately didn’t work, citing the loss of funding for the California Arts Council as an example. He suggested viewing the arts through the prism of community development rather than economic development, creating public value through the arts. He believes that the development position is really important, saying that development has two parts: the paperwork is easy, but the political process is the hard part. He suggested lobbying and advocacy with elected officials at the state and federal levels.
      
      
   5. Reports and Announcements
      There were no other reports or announcements.
      
      
   6. Public Comment
      There was no other public comment.
      
      
   7. Adjournment
      There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
      

      Revised 1/8/07 spr