Executive_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 MEETING of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
3:30 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commission President P.J. Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:42 p.m.
- Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston
Maya Draisin
Alexander Lloyd
Staff Present
Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth
Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar
Cultural Equity Grants Program Director E. San San Wong
Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie
- San Francisco Arts Commission Retreat
President Johnston began by saying that this item will be taken up at greater length in February, as the budget is the more pressing issue. He noted that although it might be helpful to meet in Sonoma or Napa, in a retreat setting, it is probably more practical to hold the retreat within the city, particularly to allow greater participation by staff. Mr. Newirth pointed out that staff and Commissioners know several facilitators who could facilitate the discussion, and suggested that the chosen facilitator should interview several people in advance, to clarify the intended outcome of the retreat. President Johnston suggested having the facilitator attend the Committee meeting. This item was continued for further discussion.
- 2007-2008 Budget Report
Mr. Newirth began the discussion by introducing San San Wong, the new Cultural Equity Grants Program Director. He explained that she was not involved in drafting the proposed Neighborhood Artists Residency grants program, but will be involved in its implementation.
Ms. Gonchar discussed the budget process, explaining that it starts in December, and the Mayor has instructed the agency to cut 3%, although there’s not much left in administrative expenses to cut. It was not yet clear whether moving all staff to the second floor would have a net financial impact on the budget. Ms. Gonchar reviewed the budget with the Committee, noting that staff was seeking Commission input on allocation of the discretionary portion of the $1,000,000 supplemental funding. She pointed out that the basic budget doesn't change much from one year to the next; the increases mostly come in salaries and benefits according to the various union Memoranda of Understanding (“MOUs”).
She said that the Mayor’s Office has said they do not want any new positions, but this plan calls for hiring a Collections manager, in light of the fact that the City’s art collection is valued at $80,000,000 and there is currently not one staff person dedicated to managing it.
Ms. Gonchar also said that this year the department will be requesting significantly more capital improvement funds, including critical maintenance for some of the City's artworks.
Commissioner Przyblyski said that Hotel Tax funding to the arts needs to be restored. President Johnston strongly agreed, saying that the Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts ("GFTA") and the Arts Task Force are speaking with one voice on this subject.
In response to a question about the funding of the Public Art Program Director’s position, Mr. Newirth explained that this was a change in the source of funding for the existing position, not a change in staff. President Johnston explained that the department had advocated to the Mayor’s Office to fully fund the position rather than leaving it subject to the fluctuations in percent-for-art funding from one year to another. The agreement is that this position is to be paid out of the annualized $1,000,000. Mr. Newirth added that while the program staff should expand and contract with projects, the need for administration is constant.
In response to a question, Ms. Gonchar gave a brief overview of the Collections. Commissioner Przyblyski added that a staff person is needed not only to oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the collection, and what is added through Public Art projects or other means, but also to make decisions about deaccessioning pieces. She said that should be a staff position, not a contractor who may have a conflict of interest. She added that there have been losses and deterioration, and programs such as the interoffice loan program that have had to be suspended.
President Johnston noted that the department does have an unfilled position. Jenny Louie of the Mayor’s Budget Office explained that the Mayor’s Office does not want any new staff hires, even for existing but unfilled positions. Commissioners felt that it could be demonstrated that the work needed could not effectively be done by a contractor. Staff thought this question could be worked out with the Mayor’s Office.
The Committee discussed the proposal for a new grants program, and working with the Communities of Opportunities, which President Johnston pointed out grew out of the Arts Task Force discussions,and was supported by the Mayor’s Office. Commissioners pointed out that taking on new functions eventually requires adding staff.
Staff requested direction from the Committee regarding other needs and budget priorities, including streamlining the application process in collaboration with other City grantmaking agencies; facilities study; community outreach for all programs; public relations and information; a new grants program for neighborhood arts; and expanding exhibition programs in City Hall. Commissioners discussed these ideas, including how to balance community art projects directed by the Arts Commission with those chosen in a competitive call for entry. They agreed that only really good projects should be funded.
Public Comment
Ellen Gavin, Executive Director of Brava!, said that arts organizations are struggling, and cited ten recent murders on their block. She objected to the proposed spending plan, saying that only a little of the money was getting to the arts. She said that Brava! had a $10,000 cut in their grant from GFTA some years ago, which was never restored. She said that the supplemental funding was intended for artists but was not getting to them.
Krissy Keefer, Executive Director of Dance Mission and member of the Arts Task Force, agreed with Ms. Gavin. She said that the plan does not follow the spirit of the Arts Task Force’s discussions. She said that there is no way to measure success. She said that the need is enormous, and the Task Force spent a year and a half discussing inequities. She said that money went back to GFTA to go to the “majors.” She urged the creation of programs whose success could be measured, partnering artists with communities for violence prevention.
President Johnston said that he was at the Arts Task Force meetings, and that they also discussed self-sustaining infrastructure. He pointed out that a great deal of the discussion involved the Hotel Tax Fund. He said that after the Task Force delivered its report, two Supervisors took one action in response, passing a $1,000,000 addback, which the Mayor has now annualized. He said that the Task Force recommended community arts programs that extended beyond the reach of existing programs, and he recalled that Arts Task Force Chair Debra Walker showed a map of the city with dots showing where arts programs are. He said that all parties agree that arts programming needs to be expanded, and that this spending plan does that with a program that needs to be staffed.
Ms. Gavin questioned the amount of $150,000 for a Development Director. President Johnston said that this position was a direct recommendation of the Arts Task Force, and that hiring development staff is an important way of increasing the funds available.
Commissioner Przyblyski said that we all know there’s an ongoing need for support, and that even this $1,000,000 could not provide ongoing support. She said that was why GFTA was developed.
President Johnston added that Ms. Keefer was correct about the Task Force discussions, and that the Board of Supervisors did not act on all their recommendations.
Mr. Newirth pointed out that if the Hotel Tax Fund were funded as indicated in its legislation, the arts would have been funded at $8,000,000 to $14,000,000 more.
Ms. Gavin objected to “cherry-picking” ideas that she saw as serving the Arts Commission. She proposed taking 20% of the allocation for administration, and using 80% in existing programs.
Mr. Newirth pointed out a difference between the addback in FY 2006-2007 and the annualized amount in 2007-2008: The first was added by the Board of Supervisors, and the second is the Mayor’s proposal and has specific directives attached. There is some discretion, but not as much as one might think.
President Johnston pointed out that the Arts Commission is a City agency, and that budget cuts have significantly damaged it in different ways than a nonprofit, a conclusion drawn by the Arts Task Force as well. Ms. Keefer said that there had been a lot of discussion about not increasing the Arts Commission’s budget, and argued that the Commission was not creating programs to prevent violence and solve social ills with the arts.
Mr. Newirth explained that the Communities of Opportunity is a Mayoral program, and the Arts Commission is partnering with them. He added that the proposed new grant program aims specifically to address the problems Ms. Keefer referred to, and that Ms. Walker and Maria X. Martinez, also a representative on the Task Force, had input into the creation of this program.
Commissioner Przyblyski added that the Arts Commission is an advocate for art already in place in the community. She said that many residents take great pride in the monuments and artworks in their communities, and that the Dewey Crumpler mural, for example, should be vibrant and not crumbling.
Mr. Newirth explained that the Arts Commission is tasked with eight different programs, and only two of those are granting programs.
There was a question about the capital request, which includes maintenance for the four Cultural Centers which serve hundreds of people, and for ADA compliance.
In response to a question, Mr. Newirth explained that policy is to roll any excess funds into grants or commissioned projects. Ms. Gonchar noted that the Hotel Tax Fund allocation was likely to increase with the improved economy of the city.
Commissioner Przyblyski acknowledged that the Committee has heard public testimony. She moved to authorize staff to submit a budget reflecting this discussion; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lloyd and passed unanimously.
Motion: Motion to approve the Arts Commission Budget submission for Fiscal Year 2007-2008.
- Discussion: New Business
There was no new business.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
spr 3/3/07
