April 13, 2010
Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee - April 13, 2010
COMMUNITY ARTS, EDUCATION, and GRANTS COMMITTEE
April 13, 2010
4:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
San Francisco
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Young, John Calloway, and Maya Draisin.
Staff Present: Director Director of Grants San San Wong, Cultural Equity Grants Program Associate Beatrice L. Thomas, Cultural Equity Grants Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions Grant Coordinator Jaime Cortez, Cultural Equity Grants Program Assistant Corinne Matesich, Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff, and Community Arts and Education Program Associate Robynn Takayama.
- Cultural Equity Grants Program Director''s Report
San San Wong, Grants Director, introduced Jaime Cortez who has been working with Cultural Equity Grants ("CEG") during the CEG Program Associate staff transition, specifically coordinating the Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions ("NAACT") grant program. Ms. Wong informed the Commissioners that Mr. Cortez has provided a higher level of technical assistance to the NAACT applicants. This is significant because it raised interesting ideas regarding how CEG might provide supplemental capacity-building support to Native artists and organizations.
Ms. Wong reviewed the origin of the NAACT grant program, including the Commission’s strategy to transfer Cultural Centers funds for the Native American Cultural Center to Cultural Equity Grants to ensure that funding went directly to Native American artists and arts organizations. Because the NAACT grant program was so successful and was greatly appreciated by the community at the end of its first year, the Commission approved two more years of transferring funds. This was done also to allow the Native American community to continue their planning efforts for a new American Indian cultural center. Currently, some Native community leaders are restarting discussions about creating a new cultural center. Ms. Wong said that the planning is still in a nascent state, so the Arts Commission’s staff recommendation is to continue with direct grants for three more years while adding more technical assistance activities to help the community with capacity-building.
In discussing the structure of NAACT, Ms. Wong explained that CEG did not believe that a one-time intervention would benefit the Native community, so NAACT was designed as an entry program to CEG’s more competitive core grant programs. NAACT offers grant support for individual artists, the presentation of art, and building administrative and programmatic sustainability. Additionally, mini-grants, which are unique to the NAACT, are offered to support educational activities and powwows. These grant foci reflected the needs that Ms. Wong heard from the local Native community and other Native leaders she spoke with from around the United States.
In addition to the $96,000 that is transferred from the Cultural Centers funding, CEG contributes additional monies for grants and covers all of the administrative costs. Commissioner Calloway expressed concerned that the grant awards seemed like such small amounts of money. Ms. Wong replied that the total pot of grants funds was small, and that the strategy was to reach more artists and organizations. Additionally, for many of the grantees, this was their first-time to receive any grants. Commissioner Young inquired as to whether groups apply to CEG’s core grant programs. Ms. Wong said that some applicants had applied for core grant programs and were not funded. Commissioner Draisin said that she was incredibly moved by how the $96,000 earmarked for a cultural center actually goes further and deeper into the community when distributed in grants.
Ms. Wong further reported that over the past three years, 42 percent of the funded grantees are individual artists. Grants for sustainability comprise the highest percentage of dollars because the grant amounts are larger even though there are fewer grants made. In the past, CEG had perhaps just five Native American applicants; in NAACT’s first round, CEG received 26 applications, over five times the historic number of Native applicants. During the second year, CEG had much less staff capacity, which limited outreach and technical support to the Native community. Commissioner Draisin asked if the Arts Commission was reaching a good percentage of the Native community. Ms. Wong explained that the Native arts community is dispersed throughout the Bay Area and relatively small in San Francisco, but that she thought CEG was reaching a good number based in San Francisco.
Mr. Cortez gave a brief overview of this year’s NAACT grant process. There were a total of nineteen applicants, including six new and thirteen returning. The artistic discipline breakdown was a good mix. There was no predominant tribal affiliation, and only one Pacific Islander group applied. He thought the most poignant and prevalent themes were preservation of cultural identity and heritage, as well as contemporizing and contextualizing the ongoing presence of Native American cultures. Many applicants put themselves in the role of both teacher and student. He had a sense that the applicants wanted to both teach and be taught. Mr. Cortez reported that the bulk of his technical assistance was spent on issues such as: inexperience with creating budgets and filling out budget forms, project design and writing grant narratives, and application completeness. Applicants had a difficult time honing in on the core of what they wanted to do and how to best communicate their projects. All artists had a difficult time articulating marketing and outreach goals and strategies. The best applications addressed these issues thoughtfully and credibly. Brief presentations by three recommended applicants followed: Jennifer Elise Foerster, Seventh Native American Generation and the Native American AIDS Project.
Commissioner Young made the following motion:
To approve recommendations to award fourteen grants totaling $111,500 in the 2009-2010 cycle of Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions to the following individual artists and organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each for the amounts listed:
Andrew Ruiz, $7,500
Asociacion Mayab, $7,500
Carmen Lomas Garza, $7,424
Galeria de la Raza, $15,000
Jennifer Elise Foerster, $7,363
Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory, $6,975
Native American AIDS Project, $13,950
Native American AIDS Project, $1,000
One Love Oceania, $1,000
Richard Bluecloud Castaneda, $7,500
Ross Cunningham, $7,500
Sean Levon Nash, $6,813
Seventh Native American Generation, $15,000
Yerba Buena Arts and Events, $6,975
The Committee approved the motion unanimously.
Commissioner Draisin wanted Commissioners to assess the creation of a cultural center versus continuing with grants in order to determine which strategy is better. Commissioner Calloway said he could see both sides of the issue, and felt that community input was needed. He did assert that the grant program is a good model but also saw the benefits of a brick-and-mortar establishment. Commissioner Calloway closed by saying he saw strong merit for both. Director Cancel reiterated the need to determine a direction which would best serve the Native community. Ms. Nemzoff informed the Commissioners that there was a core group of people working towards the creation of a Native American Cultural Center, but they have had very little momentum. She mentioned that she had reached out to them but has not heard back from them. Ms. Wong said that the core group had been in contact with her. Commissioner Young stated that helping these organizations become more stable is really important, but was unclear about the best way to achieve stability. Ms. Wong explained that CEG is planning to retain Mr. Cortez to continue providing technical assistance in order to build the capacity of Native artists and organizations, thereby helping to stabilize the greater Native arts community. In addition, she said that capacity-building initiatives targeted for historically underserved communities are included in CEG’s strategic plan. - Community Arts and Education Director''s Report
Ms. Nemzoff introduced Carol Wong from the City Attorney’s Office, who provided information on a matter that would need Commission approval regarding the Bayview Opera House’s ("BVOH") Save America’s Treasure ("SAT") grant. This federal grant was given to the tenant organization to restore historic elements of the interior of the building. In order to comply with the grant agreement, the City is required to enter into an easement with a third-party organization for a period of 50 years.
Ms. Wong said the easement would require that specific historic elements wouldn’t be altered and would be maintained for the period of the easement. The format for the conservation easement is unknown at this time.
Ms. Wong said that if the City entered into an easement, it would have to be approved by the Arts Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The Historic Preservation Commission might also need to review and approve the easement. While staff in the City Attorney’s Office wait for exact requirements from SAT, they will research possible alternatives, such as a covenant. They will also check to see if the easement can be waived.
Director Cancel asked if the City had ever received an SAT grant. Ms. Nemzoff did not believe so. These are federal funds approved by Congress, earmarked for the tenant. The tenant did not apply for the funds, and SAT may not have been aware that the tenant organization did not own the property. Ms. Nemzoff said the issue had to be addressed quickly, because the work by the tenant organization must be completed by May 31, 2010.
Commissioner Young asked for more clarification. Ms. Wong said the easement agreement stipulated that the property wouldn’t change the listed historic features for the next 50 years, including altering the floor, windows, theater drape, and the painting on the proscenium. Ms. Nemzoff said the building would then be recognized as a national historic landmark, not just a San Francisco historic landmark. The easement holder would be a nonprofit entity that had not yet been identified.
Ms. Wong said that one concern, from a regulatory aspect, is that the easement could be considered a delegation of their authority.
Commissioner Young said she would be worried that a third party could determine programmatic use and dictate that the Center not allow tap dance classes or food in the building, for example.
Ms. Wong said she would inquire how much negotiation and flexibility might exist within the easement. She would also ask if the easement could stipulate a commitment that, as property owners, the City wouldn’t do anything to damage or harm the historic fabric; however, there should be no obligation for the City to repair or replace materials beyond the normal wear and tear.
Ms. Nemzoff said all of the renovation work over the past two years had followed City protocol for historic buildings, and the pending interior work had been approved by the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission. The easement would assure that the remaining historic elements would also be preserved.
Barbara Ockel, managing director of BVOH, said the floor was crumbling and covered in duct tape, the theater curtains were in shreds, and the historic proscenium and original 1888 painting were falling apart. She had contractors lined up to begin the work and could have it completed by the May 31 deadline. She stated that it would be a major embarrassment to return the funds, since Congresswoman Pelosi’s office secured the funds in 2002. Ms. Ockel said she would like to proceed to meet the SAT deadline and trusted that the easement issue will be resolved.
Director Cancel summarized that although Ms. Ockel was willing to go out on a limb to meet the conditions of the grant by the deadline, the City requirements regarding the easement had not been resolved. Ms. Wong added that the City should know by May 31, but not early enough for the work to be completed. Director Cancel asked Commissioners if the Center should move forward in good faith with the City Attorney’s Office.
Commissioner Draisin said she didn’t feel confident making a recommendation without information on how likely it would be for the City to come to an agreement on the easement and how the Historic Preservation Commission might respond. Ms. Wong stated she would keep working with National Park Trust on this item and hoped to clarify more details next week.
Commissioner Young said she didn’t want to put BVOH in financial risk, but noted that the crumbling floor was a critical issue that needed to be addressed.
Director Cancel said that BVOH couldn’t start work without a resolution. - WritersCorps Report
There was no report as the meeting was focused on hearing from the Cultural Center directors. - Arts Education Report
There was no report as the meeting was focused on hearing from the Cultural Center directors. - Cultural Center Report
Director Cancel said that Commissioner Draisin had asked for a bigger picture on the funding the agency distributes to the Cultural Centers. She asked several specific budget questions, and staff responded within 24 hours. Commissioner Draisin and Commissioner Calloway had to leave the meeting. Director Cancel said the financial report staff prepared in response to Commissioner Draisin’s questions would be discussed at the next meeting - New Business
There was no new business. - Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
4/26/10 RT
