Full_Commission
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, March 9, 2009
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
Minutes
President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.
- Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston, President
Maya Draisin, Vice President
René Bihan
John Calloway
Lorraine García-Nakata
Alexander Lloyd
Sherene Melania
Dede Wilsey
Sherri Young
Ron Miguel, ex officio
Commissioners Absent
Nínive Calegari
Topher Delaney
Jeannene Przyblyski
Cass Calder Smith
Pop Zhao
- Approval of Minutes
Because the minutes were not yet final, this motion was withdrawn.
NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
- President’s Report
President Johnston welcomed the recently elected Planning Commission President Ron Miguel, now serving Ex Officio on the Arts Commission. He praised Commissioner Miguel as a longtime friend, a stalwart in the community from the Richmond District, and a respected neighborhood advocate.
Commissioner Miguel thanked him, explaining that his schedule had prevented him from attending previous Arts Commission meetings, and that he has had a great deal of interaction with the Arts Commission over the years. He mentioned the Richmond Branch Library and the California Academy of Sciences as two projects on which he had worked with the Arts Commission, specifically recalling his good working relationship with Public Art Program Director Jill Manton. He was pleased to take his seat at the Arts Commission.
President Johnston reported on the Ad Hoc Planning Committee, consisting of himself, Commissioners Bihan, Calegari and Przyblyski, Director of Cultural Affairs Luis Cancel, Arts Commission Chief Accountant Kan Htun, Community Arts and Education Program Associate Robynn Takayama, Grants for the Arts Director Kary Schulman, San Francisco Foundation Executive Director John Killacky, and Intersection for the Arts Executive Director Deborah Cullinan. Ms. Takayama, as shop steward for Service Employees International Union (“SEIU”), the union with the largest membership on the Arts Commission staff, took on the task of representing staff in the discussion.
He explained that the Committee was convened to evaluate ideas for reshaping the agency in light of the mandated budget and payroll cut. The Committee also discussed the overall agency mission, goals and responsibilities. They met for a lengthy midday meeting, which President Johnston found very productive. The focus of the discussion was not to come to a final recommendation on the reorganization proposals, nor to approve a final budget, but to flesh out the options and bring together the stakeholders to consider the direction of the agency, and the stark realities faced by the Arts Commission as a governmental agency in the current difficult budget climate. President Johnston added that there are urgent decisions to be made about immediate cuts, and that although the Commission has discussed some of these issues both at full Commission meetings, including the retreat, and at Executive Committee meetings, there was still a desire for fuller vetting of options by the community and staff, all of whom are busy. He reiterated the importance of public engagement, and saw this meeting as part of an ongoing dialogue rather than a final stamp.
President Johnston talked about the pressure felt by the Commission, the staff and the community to make big, difficult decisions very quickly. The Committee spent much of its time discussing the agency’s responsibilities regarding its mandate and mission, and what it can realistically do in a tightly contracted budget environment. He didn’t think it fair to ask other agencies to vote on the Arts Commission’s budget or plan, but sought some direction from the stakeholders present. He reported that Mr. Cancel gave a clear statement of his vision for the agency. He also wanted to collectively identify and articulate what the agency as a whole wants to do.
He reported that there was considerable discussion about ways to make small cuts or to achieve some savings, about one layoff instead of another, about reducing spending on the Mayor’s Art Award, and other things that could yield small savings. But he said that those would not reach the required $400,000 cut.
The discussion covered possible ways to reorganize the agency, whether to move programs out of the Arts Commission (WritersCorps to the Library, or the Street Artists to the City Clerk, for example), whether it would be better to cut positions lower or higher on the organization chart. Ultimately, President Johnston said, it is the Director’s decision, and the Director, with Commission support, will need to work closely with staff to clarify shifting roles and job descriptions.
President Johnston affirmed that no programs are currently being eliminated, noting that many programs are mandated by Charter and/or legislation. He explained that the discussion has begun regarding what the agency can and cannot do, given mandates which are often unfunded or underfunded.
He reiterated that although furloughs have been discussed, he did not believe they would be part of the solution, and that there was no guarantee that any savings would be returned to the Arts Commission.
President Johnston said that, despite the stresses of doing more with less, it is critical that the Arts Commission begin a formal strategic planning process soon, with a facilitator. He explained that the Executive Committee would take up this issue at its next meeting.
He appointed an Ad Hoc Revenue Committee, to be chaired by Commissioner Calegari, and including Vice President Draisin, Commissioner Lloyd, and two staff people to be named by Mr. Cancel. Acknowledging the challenge of more meetings and more work, he charged the Committee to investigate what the agency can realistically do, over both the long and the short term, to offset the enormous financial burdens it faces. He added that input from other Commissioners was welcome, as well.
President Johnston thanked Deborah Cullinan, John Killacky and Kary Schulman for taking their time to be part of the Ad Hoc Planning Committee. Recognizing that all of their organizations are facing major stresses, he thanked them for their open minds and their genuine concern. He thanked Vice President Draisin, who sat in on the meeting even though she was not part of the Committee. He thanked Mr. Cancel for embracing the work of the Committee and moving it forward, recognizing it as a positive first step in dealing with structural challenges to the agency.
Commissioner Bihan reiterated that it was a good idea to get people together to hear their different perspectives, and that it was an important first step in long-term planning. He said that the participation of so many people demonstrated the importance of the Arts Commission in the community.
President Johnston thanked Community Arts and Education Program Associate Robynn Takayama for yeoman’s work as the staff representative. Ms. Takayama said that she had been at the Arts Commission for eight years, and had served as SEIU Shop Steward for three years. She was grateful for the opportunity to serve, and to help build trust with her colleagues. She thanked the Committee for really listening, and for separating the discussion of the budget from the discussion of reorganization. She endorsed the importance of strategic planning, and noted that the Ad Hoc Committee repeatedly applauded the wisdom of staff. She said that staff respect Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar and her experience, and more importantly, are concerned that the agency will not function well without a Deputy Director. She hoped that the staff involved will carefully think through those responsibilities. She added that the staff is extremely committed to the well-being of the Arts Commission and has a wealth of wisdom and experience; she hoped that they would have ongoing input.
Mr. Cancel felt that the Committee’s work was very productive, and acknowledged the difficulty of finding time to focus on the complexities of the organization at a sophisticated level. He said that the discussion was an opportunity to lay the groundwork for understanding how complex the agency’s web of support has become, in the effort to survive waves of funding and defunding, with growth in one area and decline in another over time. He welcomed the comments and suggestions put forward.
There was no public comment. President Johnston closed by saying that he appreciated participation in the process, and acknowledging that the community feels very strongly about what happens at the Arts Commission.
- Director’s Report
Mr. Cancel devoted most of his report to the budget. He said that while the Commission and the staff focused on the economy and the resulting budget crisis, the work of the agency continues. He explained that Cultural Equity Grants (“CEG”) Program Director San San Wong would discuss the Arts Commission’s partnership with the Creative Capacity Fund, a two-year collaboration providing training and access to resources for small and emerging organizations.
He reported that in February, the Arts Commission had installed two major artworks in the Civic Center area: Bill Fontana’s Spiraling Echoes in City Hall, and Patrick Dougherty’s The Upper Crust in the Alioto Piazza. He discussed the partnership with the San Francisco Examiner, which had printed a four-page centerfold distributed throughout the city at the opening of Spiraling Echoes. The Examiner printed an overrun of 10,000 copies, which will serve as the informational handout for visitors to City Hall over the next several months.
Mr. Cancel thanked Commissioner Delaney for hosting a wonderful dinner for Mr. Dougherty and his crew; they all worked very hard, and the party buoyed their spirits.
Mr. Cancel reported that Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar was interviewed for the KALW radio program Crosscurrents, along with several street artists. The show highlighted how the Street Artists Program provides a significant source of employment in the current difficult economy.
Mr. Cancel introduced Kate Patterson, newly hired in the Public Art Program. She came from the Contemporary Jewish Museum’s media department, and brings her experience with “friendraising” and developing visibility to the Arts Commission.
Mr. Cancel announced the second in a series of development events for the Cultural Centers, and asked Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff to describe the program. She explained that the guest speaker would be Jan Masaoka, former Executive Director of CompassPoint, now running Blue Avocado. The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Mission Cultural Center. She added that these free seminars are being presented to the boards of directors and the supporters of the Cultural Centers, and she is encouraging the Centers to use them as potential tools for board recruitment.
Mr. Cancel announced the upcoming brown-bag lunch talk on “imPOSSIBLE,” the Gallery’s current show of work by contemporary Chinese artists.
He announced that Dia Penning has left her position as Arts Education Program Manager, and accepted a new position at Columbia College in Chicago. Mr. Cancel explained that he and Ms. Nemzoff are undertaking a needs assessment within the arts education community before beginning to recruit.
Mr. Cancel introduced Ms. Wong to discuss the Creative Capacity Fund (“CCF”). She reported that the community is being hit as hard as the Arts Commission by the recession, and that planning for this collaboration with the CCF was begun two years ago. She explained that when she came to the Arts Commission, the primary work of the Cultural Equity Grants program was grantmaking, with four or five programs. Since then, she has begun a discussion of whether there was more work to be done to support artists and arts organizations aside from funding. Several other categories have been identified, including knowledge-building, alliance-building, and increasing visibility.
CCF has three initial investors: CEG has invested $60,000; Grants for the Arts has invested $50,000; and the Center for Cultural Innovation (“CCI”) is investing sweat equity. She anticipates additional investors as other organizations grapple with the economic downturn. Ms. Wong explained that the program has been developed as a pilot program, with community input throughout the process. She discussed some of the changes in the environment, including changing demographics, a trend away from 501(c)(3) organizations and toward fiscal sponsorship or entrepreneurial organizations, and the high rate of job loss among artists (twice the rate of professionals). She reviewed the main components of the CCF program, including scholarship reimbursement for individual artists or key members of arts organizations, up to $250 or $500 respectively, for training with service provider partner organizations or other approved organizations.
She explained that the program’s official launch was March 3, with the first monthly application deadline on March 15.
Finally, she announced that on May 11, Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and author of The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations, will speak at the Commonwealth Club with Cora Mirikitani of CCI.
Commissioner Young thanked Ms. Wong for her presentation, and for beginning work on this program before the economic downturn.
There was no further public comment.
- Consent Calendar
President Johnston severed item 5 from the Consent Calendar, approval of minutes of the Ad Hoc Planning Committee meeting of February 19, 2009, because the minutes had not been distributed.
The Commission approved the remaining Consent Calendar as follows.
RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-044:
Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
Approval of Committee Minutes
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-045: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2009.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-046: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2009.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-047: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of February 10, 2009.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-048: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2009.
Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (February 9, 2009)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-049: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Roselle Crossover Improvements Project.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-050: Motion to approve Phase 2 with the contingency to present alternatives to the current patterning on the shotcrete.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-051: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the South of Market Alleyways Project.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-052: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Geneva Historic Car Enclosure with the contingency of presenting alternatives to the positioning and size of the Muni logo.
Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Recommendations (February 10, 2009)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-053: Motion to approve recommendations to award seventeen grants totaling $385,450 in the 2008-2009 cycle of Cultural Equity Initiatives Level One grants to the following organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each for the amounts listed:
3rd i South Asian Independent Film Festival, $23,000
Alliance for California Traditional Arts, $25,000
Army of Lovers, $13,450
Asian American Women Artists Association, $11,000
Chinese Cultural Productions, $25,000
Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, $25,000
Chinese Historical Society of America, $25,000
Croatian American Cultural Center, $25,000
Fifth Stream Music, $23,000
Galería de la Raza, $25,000
Kearny Street Workshop, $25,000
Kularts, $24,000
Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project, $25,000
Radar Productions, $20,000
San Francisco Black Film Festival, $23,000
Women’s Audio Mission, $23,000
ZACCHO Dance Theatre, $25,000
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-054: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
Kim Anno, Artist, Professor, Writer
Ellen Sebastian Chang, Director, Writer and Creative Consultant
Della Davidson, Artistic Director, Theatre and Dance Department, University of California, Davis
Judy Tsang Henderson, Director of Programming, Stern Grove Festival Association
Georgina Hernandez, Associate Director, Stanford Institute for Diversity in the Arts
Ivan Jaigirdar, Artistic Director, 3rd i South Asian Independent Film Festival
Mark Johnson, Professor of Art and Gallery Director, San Francisco State University
Margot Melcon, Literary Manager, Marin Theatre Company
Ron Muriera, Former Executive Director, Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Ann Marie Nemanich, Executive Director, LINES Ballet
Marcus Shelby, Musician
Jack Walsh, Co-Director, National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture
Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (February 18, 2009)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-055: Motion to approve the following individuals as candidates for the Central Subway Chinatown Station Artist Selection Panel:
Mona Tamari, Central Subway Architect, Kwan Henmi Architecture/Planning
Luis Zurinaga, Consultant, San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Suzette Min, faculty, University of California, Davis
Hung Liu, artist, faculty, Mills College
Tan Chow, Senior Community Organizer, Chinatown Community Development Center
Hou Hanru, Director, San Francisco Art Institute Gallery
Abby Chen, Curator, Chinese Culture Center
Jay Xu, Director, Asian Art Museum
Jean Ma, faculty, Stanford University
Sue Lee, Executive Director, Chinese Historical Society of America
Judy Hu, Communications Manager, Chinese Historical Society of America
Kota Ezawa, artist, faculty, California College of the Arts
René de Guzman, Visual Art Director, Oakland Museum of California
Mark Johnson, Director, Gallery, San Francisco State University
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-056: Motion to approve the following individuals as candidates for the Central Subway Union Square/Market Street Station Artist Selection Panel:
Mona Tamari, Central Subway Architect, Kwan Henmi Architecture/Planning
Luis Zurinaga, Consultant, San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Lawrence Rinder, Executive Director, Berkeley Art Museum
Margie Driscoll, Executive Director, American Institute of Architects
Jens Hoffman, Director, Wattis Gallery, California College of the Arts\
Ellen Newman, Board Member, Union Square Association
Barbara Goldstein, Director, San Jose Public Art Program
Ellen Oh, Executive Director, Kearny Street Workshop
Amy Trachtenberg, artist
Kota Ezawa, artist, faculty, California College of the Arts
Stephanie Syjuco, artist
Renée Green, artist, Dean of Graduate Studies, San Francisco Art Institute
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-057: Motion to approve the following individuals as candidates for the Central Subway Moscone Station Artist Selection Panel:
Mona Tamari, Central Subway Architect, Kwan Henmi Architecture/Planning
Luis Zurinaga, Consultant, San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Gary Garrels, Chief Curator, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Julie Bishop, Associate Curator, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Betti-Sue Hertz, Visual Arts Curator, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Charles Ward, Development Director, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Shiree Dyson, Director of Public Programs, Museum of the African Diaspora
Alleluia Panis, Executive Director, Kularts
Fred Wasserman, Deputy Director of Programs, Contemporary Jewish Museum
Jens Hoffman, Director, Wattis Gallery, California College of the Arts
René de Guzman, Visual Art Curator, Oakland Museum of California
Hou Hanru, Director, Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-058: Motion to approve a mural by lead artist Josef Norris covering a retaining wall on Fell Street between Pierce and Steiner Streets in collaboration with Kid Serve Youth Murals and youth from Ida B. Wells High School. The mural will consist of mosaic tile birds created by high school students.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-059: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to take action, without a further resolution of the full Commission, on the following items: Approve contracts or purchase orders with conservators, art technicians, or other qualified contractors for the purposes of performing conservation, maintenance and repair on works of art in the City’s collection; and approve contracts with art service providers for the transport, installation and storage of artwork.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-060: Motion to approve a project of the Community Arts and Education Program for an exhibition in kiosks on Market Street of posters submitted by WritersCorps in March, 2009.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-061: Motion to approve the temporary installation of artwork by Mark Baugh Sasaki in Patricia’s Green pending final permit approval from the Recreation and Park Department.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-062: Motion to approve the proposal by artist Kota Ezawa for an Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Project for the Art on Market Street 2009-2010 Program, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Kota Ezawa for the design and printing of four copies each of six original poster designs, and for assistance with a related public event, for an amount not to exceed $17,000.
Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (February 24, 2009)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-063: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Bayview Opera House Landscape.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-064: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Tesla Treatment Facility.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-065: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse Renovation.
- Committee Reports and Committee Matters
- Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
- President Johnston reported that the Committee did not meet, in light of the Ad Hoc Committee meeting.
President Johnston began the budget discussion by explaining that for some time the agency has been directed to pass a budget with $400,000 in structural savings, taken from payroll. Mr. Cancel submitted three alternative proposals, which generated discussion within the Commission and the community. President Johnston said that the Commission wants to understand how the Director intends the agency to operate with the significant budget cut and the elimination of a senior staff position. While all of the proposals present significant difficulties, President Johnston noted that the Commission had taken a long road toward a decision, was late in submitting its budget to the Mayor and needed to take action.
Mr. Cancel reviewed the budget documents previously distributed to the Commission and posted on the website, pointing out that only the General Fund expenditures are discretionary spending. He explained that the Hotel Tax Fund is legislatively mandated, and that there are strict limitations on the use of Public Art Percent-for-Art funds, Street Artists fees, and work order funds from other departments. He reminded the Commission that the Mayor’s directive dealt exclusively with the General Fund: his mandate to all departments was to cut 25%. Mr. Cancel noted that of the City’s $6.6 billion budget, only $1.2 billion is discretionary; the currently projected shortfall of $500-$600 million amounts to half of the discretionary spending.
Mr. Cancel reiterated that he had developed several proposals, which were discussed by the Executive Committee, the full Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee.
He reviewed the details of his preferred proposal, calling for the elimination of the Deputy Director’s position and the shift of half of the Cultural Center Facilities Manager’s position funding to capital funds work order. He noted that revenue projections for the 2009-2010 fiscal year could shift further before the Mayor submits his final budget in June, and while staff is working to identify federal stimulus funds or other funds that could become available to the Arts Commission, the current proposal takes account only of currently available figures.
Mr. Cancel explained that the loss of the Deputy Director would inevitably require rethinking the responsibilities of the remaining staff. He anticipated discussions with staff over the next two months.
Mr. Cancel reported that, in response to the question of furloughs, he requested that interested staff contact DHR (in order to preserve anonymity) with information about how much time they were willing to take as voluntary furlough. DHR calculated the total and reported a summary, which amounted to approximately $8,000 in savings.
Vice President Draisin thanked Mr. Cancel for all his effort. There were some questions about various funding sources which shrink or grow at different times, and whether that can translate into flexibility in funding different programs. Mr. Cancel replied that although Public Art funding is currently increasing because of large bond-funded capital projects initiated in past years, that funding cannot be used for any positions not legitimately associated with those projects. There were some suggestions about fundraising, stimulus funds or new fees as potential resources when those capital projects wind down over the next three years.
Commissioner Wilsey thought that fundraising will only get more difficult over the next several years, and supported the idea of imposing nominal fees on some services the agency now does for free. She added that losing a valuable staff member is a great tragedy. She did not anticipate any large public construction projects in the foreseeable future. She thought that some new philanthropists might be found and cultivated, noting that a small project could become a big project for an individual donor.
From his experience on the Planning Commission, Commissioner Miguel agreed with Commissioner Wilsey’s observation about the absence of upcoming projects. He noted that the Planning Department is very largely fee-funded, and that fees must be related to costs. In response to a question, Mr. Cancel said that the Arts Commission currently charges fees for the Street Artist license and Civic Design Review. President Johnston explained that private construction projects downtown generate one percent for art, and public projects anywhere generate two percent; he noted that there is a limit on how much can be used for administrative costs.
Commissioners bemoaned the difficulty of shepherding a project through the City’s approval process. Commissioner Wilsey recalled the challenges of building the new de Young, a City museum, on City land, housing a City collection, ultimately constructed with private funds. Now, she reported, it is the third-most-visited museum in the nation. Commissioners agreed that particularly in the current recession, there should be greater acceptance of worthwhile projects like this.
President Johnston called for public comment.
Jessica Mele thanked the Commission, Mr. Cancel and staff for hearing the cultural community’s voices and taking their concerns into account. She wished Ms. Penning luck in her new position, and offered her assistance in finding a new person for her position. Ms. Mele had expected to request that the Commission undertake strategic planning, but was pleased to see that the Commission has already taken the first steps. She recommended that the planning take into account the recommendations of the Arts Task Force. Finally, she said that arts educators are building the next generation of artists and arts patrons.
There was no further public comment.
President Johnston announced that the Executive Committee would discuss and report on the timeline for a strategic planning process.
He presented the following motion.
- Arts Commission Budget
RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-066: Motion to approve FY2009-2010 Arts Commission budget submission to the Mayor’s office.
- Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
- In the absence of Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Bihan reported that Commissioner Smith was doing a terrific job as chair, keeping the Committee focused. He added that the Committee was still looking forward to filling the vacant architecture seat.
Commissioner Bihan reported that the Committee reviewed several projects. At Harding Park, they praised the use of recycled water for golf courses, but requested additional work on the building. They considered the Tesla water treatment facility very significant, a well-integrated project by the Public Utilities Commission, and noted that discharge water feeds native plants in the landscape. They favorably reviewed the cable car kiosks at Aquatic Park; the Mayor’s office has requested that they be moved to a different location. The Committee considers these small but iconic pieces, and is continuing to work with the design team. Finally, the Committee approved renovation of the Hayes Valley playground and clubhouse, after a few rounds of review. Commissioner Bihan described the building as open and community-oriented, serving many purposes. He noted the challenge of maintenance for the proposed living roof: gardeners don’t use ladders, and roofers don’t garden. The team is working with the Mayor’s Director of Greening to resolve this conundrum.
- Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
- Ms. Wong made her report regarding the Creative Capacity Fund as part of the Director’s report above.
- Vice President Draisin reported that the Committee approved several grants and panelists. They found Ms. Penning’s presentation on the Arts Education program very timely. Vice President Draisin noted that program staff is working with Hastings College of the Law, and with the Arts Providers Alliance, with a grant from Zellerbach, on professional development for teaching artists. Finally, she reported that capital improvement funds for work already underway at Bayview Opera House had been first withdrawn because of the budget crisis, but recently restored.
Vice President Draisin presented the following motion:
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-067: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
Marie K. Lee, Interactive Producer, KQED
Allan Manalo, Artistic Director, Bindlestiff Studio
Cynthia Mei, Artistic Director, Adorno Ensemble
Pink Pasdar, former Associate Artistic Director, American Conservatory Theater
- Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
- Commissioner Lloyd reported that the Committee did not meet. He presented the following motion.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-068: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Angelia Gholikely, Jabir Ponce, Jennifer Chen, Steven Robinson, Sharon Tang, Linda LaTouche.
- Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
- In the absence of Commissioner Przyblyski, President Johnston reported that the Committee had mostly good news, with several interesting presentations on upcoming projects. He commented on the following motions, noting first that while Language of the Birds presented some challenges because of its location in the middle of the street, the artists had met their obligations and should receive their final payment. Secondly, he said that the Promenade Ribbon had a long history, with problems that the Arts Commission and the Port need to address together. This motion formalizes the Port’s agreement to pay for the necessary modifications; he described the agreement as a win-win which will improve access and not cost the Arts Commission any money.
President Johnston presented the following motions.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-069: Motion to approve final payment for Language of the Birds, 2005, an installation made of concrete pavers, UV-rated polycarbonate, silicon, stainless steel wire, LED lights, custom circuit boards, electronic light dimmer, electronic controller, and program card, by Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn, at the intersection of Broadway and Columbus Avenues in San Francisco.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-070: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve a series of honorarium payments of up to $5,000 to Rick Elizaga for his web design services on the San Francisco Arts Commission website.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-071: Motion to approve modifications to the Promenade Ribbon sculpture in the area between Piers 9 and 33 and between Piers 30 and 38 on the Embarcadero, to be paid from non-Arts Commission sources. These modifications shall include the demolition and removal of raised Ribbon elements and their replacement with flat sections of the Ribbon that are flush with the surrounding concrete.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0309-09-072: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Stanley Saitowitz for an amount not to exceed $12,500 for research and preliminary design relative to the “greening” of the Promenade Ribbon sculpture and its conversion from an electrically illuminated sculpture to one utilizing other solar-activated sources, with funding to be provided by the Port of San Francisco.
- New Business
There was no new business.
- Reports and Announcements
Mr. Cancel thanked the Commission for its flexibility in scheduling to allow him to take his vacation. There were no other reports or announcements.
- Public Comment
There was no further public comment.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:51 p.m.
5/28/09 spr
