November 12, 2013

The meeting was called to order at 2:06 p.m.
 

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present:
   Sherene Melania
   Janine Shiota
   Kimberlee Stryker

   Commissioners Absent:
   Charles Collins
   Marcus Shelby

   Staff Present: Tom DeCaigny, Lucy Lin, Judy Nemzoff (arrived around 3 p.m.), Tyra Fennell, Cristal Fiel, Tyese Wortham
    

2. Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Chair Report
   Commissioner Sherene Melania debriefed the committee on a meeting with Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny, Cultural Equity Grants (“CEG”) Interim Program Director Lucy Lin, and Community Arts and Education Program (“CAE”) Director Judy Nemzoff regarding panel presentations and materials. Ms. Melania reported that the Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee (“CAEG”) would now receive grant review panel rankings, panel bios, and project summaries. In order to reserve more time for higher-level conversations and policy discussions, the panel comments would no longer be provided as part of the grant presentations. Panel comments would be available to Commissioners upon request. She proposed that each Commissioner serve on a grant panel and report back to the committee on their experience.

   Mr. DeCaigny thanked Commissioner Melania for meeting with staff. He said that the last CAEG meeting was generative. Mr. DeCaigny explained that the committee should rely on the panel process as a nationally revered program; as a process of transparency and diplomacy; and as a democratic process led by a panel of experts. He reiterated that Commissioners are invited to better understand the panel process as full participants. There is substantial benefit to seeing the whole landscape of applicants and to being part of the policy discussions. Mr. DeCaigny concluded that this is an exciting direction for Commissioners to serve as panelists. This change would both reserve staff time for higher-level conversations and Commissioner time for policy discussions.

   Ms. Lin stated that staff would continue to refine the panel presentations and materials. She encouraged the Commissioners to provide any feedback to staff. Ms. Lin added that Commissioners Janine Shiota and Melania would be serving on the Organization Project Grants (“OGP”) review panels in January.

   Commissioner Melania called for public comment. There was none made.
    

3. Cultural Equity Grants Review Panelists
   Ms. Lin presented two panelists for the OPG application review in January and February 2014, including Commissioner Sherene Melania. She stated that more recommendations were to come at the December meeting.

   Mr. DeCaigny explained that it is not necessary for Commissioners to be approved officially through the committee or Full Commission to serve as grant panelists, and there is no conflict of interest. However, Commissioners would be recommended to the committee to serve as panelists only to inform the public and fellow Commissioners of their participation. Additionally, Mr. DeCaigny stated that Commissioners would need to recuse themselves before the committee and Full Commission upon approving funding recommendations, as is standard procedure for all Commissioners. As panelists, Commissioners could not score an applicant with which they have a financial conflict.

   Commissioner Melania made the following motion:

   Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:

   Brian Karl, Program Director, Headland Center for the Arts
   Sherene Melania, Performing Artist, Choreographer, Arts Educator, and SFAC Commissioner

   Moved: Stryker/Shiota
   Public Comment: None.
   The motion was unanimously approved.

   Explanatory Document: FY14 Panelists for Approval
    

4. Cultural Equity Initiatives Level One Grants
   Ms. Lin presented an overview of the FY14 Cultural Equity Initiatives (“CEI”) Level One and Two grant processes. She reminded Commissioners that the CEI grants are investments in capacity-building initiatives that ensure the vitality and sustainability of San Francisco arts organizations deeply rooted in historically underserved communities. Level One grants support short-term, one-time projects that assist organizations in strengthening their administrative infrastructure and organizational capacity. Level Two grants support initiatives of substantive organizational change. Initiatives must span a two to three year period and be in accordance with the mission and goals articulated in an organization’s Board-approved strategic plan.

   The Commissioners and staff discussed the CEI’s position as one of CEG’s core grant categories and it’s legislative mandates. Mr. DeCaigny posed several questions to the Commissioners around breadth vs. depth and project-based vs. multi-year funding. He pointed out that the CEI grants play an important role in the funding ecosystem, and added that it’s important to ask if organizations are being set up for long-term success.

   Commissioner Melania made the following motion:

   Motion to approve recommendations to award 12 grants totaling $295,625 in the 2013-2014 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 organization for the amounts listed:

   Alliance for California Traditional Arts, $25,000
   Acción Latina, $25,000
   Brava Theater Center/Brava! For Women in the Arts, $25,000
   Loco Bloco Drum and Dance Ensemble, $25,000
   Kearny Street Workshop, $25,000
   Queer Cultural Center, $25,000
   Golden Thread Productions, $25,000
   Ohlone Profiles Project, $25,000
   ABADA Capoeira San Francisco, $25,000
   Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center, $25,000
   OX, $25,000
   La Pocha Nostra, $20,625

   Moved: Stryker/Shiota
   Public Comment: None.
   The motion was unanimously approved.

   Explanatory Documents: CEI guidelines; CEI-L1 panel rankings and project summaries; CEI panel bios; CEI Power Point Presentation
    

5. Cultural Equity Initiatives Level Two Grants

   Commissioner Melania made the following motion:

   Motion to approve recommendations to award 3 grants totaling $300,000 in the 2013-2014 cycle of Cultural Equity Initiatives Level Two grants to the following organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization for the amounts listed:

   Cultural Conservancy, $100,000
   Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, $100,000
   Women’s Audio Mission, $100,000

   Moved: Stryker/Shiota
   Public Comment: None.
   The motion was unanimously approved.

   Explanatory Documents: CEI guidelines; CEI-L2 panel rankings and project summaries; CEI panel bios: CEI Power Point Presentation
    

6. Cultural Centers Report
   Mr. DeCaigny said that the motions presented were for grant increases to each of the six Cultural Centers. The grant amount included a cost of living (“COLA”) increase that was passed by the Board of Supervisor for existing nonprofit grantees. Each of the Cultural Centers were required to submit COLA increase plans that included how the money would go toward staff raises and/or benefit costs. He said that the first motion for the African American Art and Culture Complex (“AAACC”) also included a $22,000 increase that was a historical reduction dating back to the past six to seven years. District 5 Supervisor London Breed, former executive director of AAACC, worked on increasing the historical reduction.

   Commissioner Melania said that she was happy to see that the funding to AAACC was at the level it should be.

   Mr. DeCaigny thanked the Board of Supervisors and the mayor’s office for incorporating the COLA increases into the City budget for the past two years. He said it was important recognition that the cost of doing business has increased.

   Commissioner Melania made the following motions:

   1. Motion to increase the 2013-2014 grant agreement to African American Art and Culture Complex by $31,942 for a total grant not to exceed $614,236 (with $514,005 for African American Art and Culture Complex and $100,231 for Queer Cultural Center).
      Moved: Shiota/Stryker
      Public Comment: Kimberly Hayes, executive director of the African American Art and Culture Complex, told the Committee that the Center was very grateful for increase.
      The motion was unanimously approved.
       
   2. Motion to increase the 2013-2014 grant agreement to Bayview Opera House by $5,247 for a total grant not to exceed $323,138.
      Moved: Stryker/Shiota
      Public Comment: None.
      The motion was unanimously approved.
       
   3. Motion to increase the 2013-2014 grant agreement to Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts by $8,804 for a total grant not to exceed $542,185.
      Moved: Stryker/Shiota
      Public Comment: None.
      The motion was unanimously approved.
       
   4. Motion to increase the 2013-2014 grant agreement to SOMArts Cultural Center by $11,465 for a total grant not to exceed $706,113 (with $605,882 for SOMArts Cultural Center and $100,231 for Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center).
      Moved: Shiota/Stryker
      Public Comment: None.
      The motion was unanimously approved.
       
7. 3rd on Third Request for Proposals Review Panelists
   CAE Program Manager Tyra Fennell said that the panelists listed were not yet selected for reviewing the request for proposals, but they were in the pool of potential panelists. She said that the selection was a balance between public servants and community-based organizations in Bayview. Ms. Fennell said the application deadline for the 3rd on Third request for proposals was November 25. The plan was to award the grant in time for a Black History Month launch event in February 2014. The grant period was February through June 2014. She said that after June, the Arts Commission would reissue the grant through a competitive process, or switch directions depending on the outcome of this upcoming grant.

   Mr. DeCaigny reminded the Committee that this opportunity was afforded to the Arts Commission through an ad back from District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen’s office.

   Commissioner Shiota asked if there would be a final report from the 3rd on Third grant, as well as the Cultural Centers.

   Ms. Fennell said that there were certain reporting requirements as part of the grant agreement, such as the organization’s proven ability to raise funds and fulfill reporting requirements.

   Mr. DeCaigny said that because of the substantial size of the Cultural Center grant agreements, the organizations had special reporting requirements that the CAE staff managed.

   Commissioner Melania made the following motion:

   Motion to approve the following individuals to serve as review panelists for the 3rd on Third request for proposals:

   Gina Fromer
   Ellyn Parker
   Lyslynn Lacoste
   Kristine Mays
   Carrie Leilam Love
   Liz Jackson-Simpson

   Moved: Shiota/Stryker
   Public Comment: None.
   The motion was unanimously approved.

   Explanatory Document: 3rd on Third Panelist Biographies
    

8. Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Policy Priorities
   Mr. DeCaigny said that he, Commissioner Melania, Ms. Lin, and Ms. Nemzoff had a productive meeting to discuss the upcoming CAEG calendar of presented motions and policy discussions. He said that the calendar represented top priorities based on the strategic planning process, past Committee meetings, and broader issues from Full Commission meetings.

   Ms. Lin said that because CEG staff is streamlining their workload and approval process, the IAC and CRSP panel recommendations may go before the committee earlier than January.

   Mr. DeCaigny then gave a brief overview of each of the proposed policy discussion topics, including nonprofit affordability, Public Education Enrichment Fund (“PEEF”) evaluation, and a three-month grantmaking strategy discussion. He said that they decided to give more time to grantmaking strategy to include both CEG and grantmaking as part of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s and Supervisor Cohen’s investment in Bayview arts programs.

   Commissioner Melania added that the goal for doing this was to delve deeper into policy topics that kept arising. She hoped that there would be more time for in depth conversations, and that the Commissioners could be better prepared to discuss with advance notice.

   Commissioner Stryker said that she liked the proposed policy discussion topics and wondered if there would be an opportunity to add more, if others should come up.

   Mr. DeCaigny said that they could always revisit any topics that had not been calendared. He also acknowledged the possibility of potential topics not calendared taking priority. He explained that it was important to delve deeper into the arts education strategy as a Commission. He said that the PEEF was just one piece of the strategy and did not necessarily determine what specifically the Arts Commission should work on. He commented that once a new arts education manager was hired, it would be better to delve into the Commission’s strategy. The group wanted to give time to grantmaking strategy so that it was ready prior to the new grant cycle.

   Ms. Nemzoff added that the CAE staff would be looking at how the program transitions from direct service programing to grantmaking.

   Mr. DeCaigny said that this stemmed from conversations and results out of the strategic plan that the SFAC should act more as a convener, grantmaker, and funder. It was the intention to remove the SFAC from instances where it is seen as a competitor or duplicator of services that the community and nonprofit organizations were already providing. He said that the grantmaking strategy discussions would reflect on what it meant for the agency’s program strategy, and what impact this might have on the community.

   Explanatory Document: Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Meeting Calendar November 2013 to April 2014
    

9. Public Comment
   There was no public comment made.
    
10. New Business and Announcements
    Commissioner Stryker commented on the IAC theater panel, which she audited. She said that she was very impressed by the rigorous process and the preparedness of staff. She thought the panelists really dug into the applications, the work samples, and the feasibility of the program and budget. She said that the discussion brought up some policy issues that Ms. Lin was careful to note. Commissioner Stryker learned a lot about the grant panel process and the role the Commission played to help foster theater arts. She commended the staff for being so on top of it, and Ms. Lin for being a great facilitator.

    Ms. Lin said that CEG staff would pull together highlights from the policy discussion for the Committee meeting in which they approve the IAC grant.
     

11. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:21 p.m.
     

CF 11/26/13 – draft minutes posted
CF 12/2/13 - minutes adopted
________________________________________
Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Program Associate Cristal Fiel, 415-252-3145, cristal.fiel@sfgov.org.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助 Program Associate Cristal, 415-252-3145, cristal.fiel@sfgov.org. 

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Program Associate Cristal Fiel, 415-252-3145, cristal.fiel@sfgov.org.