Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee - July 8, 2014 - Meeting Minutes
SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
COMMUNITY ARTS, EDUCATION, AND GRANTS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
2:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
MINUTES
1. Roll Call
Commissioners Present:
Charles Collins
Sherene Melania
Abby Sadin Schnair
Janine Shiota
Commissioners Absent:
Marcus Shelby
Staff Present: Tom DeCaigny, Tyra Fennell, Cristal Fiel, Lucy Lin, Judy Nemzoff, Robynn Takayama, Tyese Wortham
2. Community Investments Program Director’s Report
Community Investments (“CI”) Program Director Judy Nemzoff reported that at the start of the 2015 Fiscal Year (“FY”) the merge between the Community Arts and Education (“CAE”) and Cultural Equity Grant (“CEG”) programs began. She said that in alignment with the strategic plan, CI would hold the core values of neighborhood arts and cultural equity to create one program with grantmaking as the primary activity. Program managers would transition into program officers as grant categories are realigned and diversified among the four officers. Ms. Nemzoff reported that CI gained three new staff: Anh Thang Dao-Shah, American Center for Learning Societies (“ACLS”) Public Fellow in policy and evaluation; Arts Education Program Officer Liz Ozol, founder and principal of New Highland Elementary School, and former dancer and choreographer; and WritersCorps Program Associate Gisela Insuaste, practicing artist in sculpture from New York. She said that management was in the interview process for the senior program officer position. Management would like to make an offer by end of July and have the senior program officer start immediately.
Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny publicly thanked Interim Cultural Equity Grants Program Director Lucy Lin for her seven years of contribution to the Arts Commission. Ms. Lin’s last day with the SFAC was July 15. Ms. Lin invited Commissioners to her going-away gathering at the Orbit Room on Tuesday, July 15.
Mr. DeCaigny reported that the Board of Supervisors would be moving $191,000 from Grants for the Arts to SFAC grants, which would be appropriated over both years of the budget. The Board was currently voting on the budget and a full budget update would be reported at the next Full Commission meeting on Monday, July 14.
Mr. DeCaigny and Ms. Nemzoff explained to Commissioners that CI developed in alignment with the values of the strategic plan. CI would embark on a grant strategy analysis with the help of the ACLS fellow, Ms. Dao-Shah. This year, all grant categories would remain the same. Mr. DeCaigny reminded Commissioners that the first grant deadline was August 1.
Ms. Lin reported that the first grants workshop, Grants 101, had record attendance. Staff decided to add an additional workshop to respond to the needs of the community.
3. 3rd on Third Grant Approval
Ms. Nemzoff said that this was the second year of the 3rd on Third grant, which was funded through District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen’s office. Last year’s recipient was the Bayview Opera House, Inc. (“BVOH, Inc.”) who applied again and was the grant review panel’s recommended recipient. She said that the grant amount this year was a significantly larger amount.
CI Program Officer Tyra Fennell said that the panel process was an internal staff review and that BVOH, Inc. was the only applicant. Mr. DeCaigny added that the Arts Commission expected a low response rate because it was a targeted request for proposals (“RFP”). He said that BVOH, Inc. was one of the only organizations that had a history that met the eligibility requirements for the RFP.
The Committee discussed if there were any other organizations aside from BVOH, Inc. that would have been good candidates for this grant opportunity. Ms. Fennell said that if another organization were to take on the event, it would be difficult because of the coalition and partnerships BVOH, Inc. has maintained through the event.
The Committee discussed whether BVOH, Inc. had a funding strategy to continue 3rd on Third once the grant funding sunsets. Ms. Fennell said that Executive Director Barbara Ockel was cultivating funder relationships with Wells Fargo and Lennar. Commissioner Collins was concerned about whether BVOH, Inc. would have the capacity to continue the event after the grant funding if resources were not secured. Ms. Fennell said that because of building closure, Ms. Ockel has been working hard to engage the community and create partnerships to maintain programming. She said that Ms. Ockel had leveraged a strong partnership with Young Community Developers in Bayview Hunters Point.
Commissioner Melania commended Ms. Fennell for her work in the Bayview and with 3rd on Third.
Commissioner Melania gave the following motion:
Motion to approve a grant to the Bayview Opera House, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $75,000 to support, promote and produce 3rd on Third in Bayview
Moved: Schnair/Shiota
Public Comment: None.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Explanatory Document: FY2014-2015 3rd on Third Grant (pdf)
4. Cultural Centers Report
Ms. Nemzoff said that the Cultural Centers were already approved for advances and that the Management and Programming Plan and Budget (“MPP”) had a roving deadline. CI Program Officer Robynn Takayama said that the presentation would focus on Queer Cultural Center (“QCC”), who was a sub-grantee of the African American Art & Culture Complex (“AAACC”). Ms. Takayama explained that the MPP was revised so that the narrative questions aligned with the Arts Commission’s strategic plan. She then presented the committee with QCC’s responses to the MPP (see FY2014-2015 QCC MPP presentation).
After reviewing the presentation, Commissioner Schnair asked about QCC’s overall budget. Ms. Nemzoff said that the grant was about 25 percent of the organization’s total annual budget. Ms. Takayama added that the organization did a lot of fundraising, largely through grant writing. Ms. Nemzoff said that they also had a fiscal sponsorship program, so their overhead looked significantly larger. Ms. Takayama said that the fiscal sponsorship was part of their capacity building program and organizations like Sean Dorsey Dance have branched off to form their own 501(c)3.
Commissioner Schnair expressed that it was interesting that the organization was operating with contractors and there were no full-time staff. Ms. Takayama said that this had to do with the displacement crisis in the 1990s; at the time having this organization structure made the most sense for QCC, since it did not have a building. Ms. Takayama said that QCC pays its contractors $35 an hour on average, which results in low staff turnover. Ms. Nemzoff said that QCC chose to have staff do work on their own time. Mr. DeCaigny added that since the Center did not have a building, it did not require the contractors to have a set schedule. Ms. Nemzoff said that if the organization made restructuring decisions they would have to inform the Arts Commission.
Commissioner Collins said he was concerned about having full-time contractors. He said that there were individuals working with the organization who were solid and had a great track record, but he questioned what would happen if they were not with the organization anymore. Ms. Takayama said that a couple of years ago the organization had gone through planning and restructuring; it was when they had tested the general manager and artistic director model. She said that the organization has been very thoughtful about bringing people in and transitioning leadership.
Commissioner Melania gave the following motion:
Motion to approve the proposed FY2014-2015 Management and Programming Plan and Budget for Queer Cultural Center (“QCC”) for an amount not to exceed $100,231. QCC will be named as a sub-grantee in the grant agreement to the African American Art and Culture Complex
Moved: Collins/Schnair
Public Comment: None.
The motion was unanimously passed.
Explanatory Document: FY2014-2015 QCC MPP presentation (pdf)
5. SFAC Review Panelists
Ms. Nemzoff recognized the staff from the programs formerly known as CEG and CAE for compiling a large scale pool of panelists that the SFAC staff and programs would be able to draw from for upcoming panel reviews. The list would span two fiscal years. She said that the list was not complete and would be supplemented by another list in September.
Commissioners and directors discussed panel selection and composition. Ms. Nemzoff requested that Commissioners send her a list of panelist recommendations. Commissioner Charles Collins expressed that he gained a profound understanding of the panel process as a FY2014 Native American Arts & Cultural Traditions grant panelist. He said that he appreciated the depth of work that goes into all levels and parts of the grant process, and that others in the community would benefit from serving on a panel. Commissioner Sherene Melania commented that she was concerned that the list consisted of current grantees and peer funders, which did not encourage breadth, access, and equity. Mr. DeCaigny explained that in the case of a conflict of interest, panelists are required to recuse themselves from reviewing that application.
Mr. DeCaigny instructed Commissioners to state any relationship with anyone on the list for the record. He said that they did not need to recuse themself from voting. Commissioner Abby Sadin Schnair reported a relationship with Elizabeth Broderson. Commissioner Collins reported relationships with Gwendolyn Westbrook, Angelique Thompson, and any staff from SFMOMA. Mr. DeCaigny would confer with the City attorney regarding Commissioner participation on the panel.
Commissioner Melania gave the following motion:
Motion to approve the following panelists to serve, as selected by staff, on SFAC review panels for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Fiscal Years:
Adrian Torres, Assistant Project Manager, City and County of San Francisco, Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Adriana Marcial, Development and Communications Manager, Joe Goode Performance Group
Aimee Le Duc, Executive Director of the Berkeley Art Center
Alka Joshi, Communications Director, BRITE Group
Allan Manalo, Development Manager, Central City Hospitality House
Allison Sparks, Program Officer, Child Welfare, Stuart Foundation
Amy Mueller, Artistic Director, Playwrights Foundation
Andre Torrey, Public Service Aide, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Angelique Tompkins, Chef, Bayview Underground Food Scene
Anietie Ekanem, Founder, Third Thursday
Anne Huang, independent strategy consultant, community engagement specialist and artist
Archana Horsting, Executive Director and co-founder, Kala Art Institute
Arielle Julia Brown, playwright, teaching artist and arts administrator
Beth Rubenstein, nonprofit and arts consultant
Bianca Starr, TV personality and radio host
Brad Erickson, Executive Director, Theatre Bay Area
Brian Karl, Program Director, Headlands Center for the Arts
Brigette R. LeBlanc, Commissioner, Southeast Community Facility Commission
Carrie Leilam Love, Program Manager, Bay Area Video Arts Coalition
Celia Herrera Rodríguez, visual artist and educator
Chike C. Nwoffiah, actor, theater director, filmmaker and educator
Christine Lim, Director of Education and Artistic Administration, San Francisco Performances
Courtney Fink, Executive Director, Southern Exposure
Cynthia Taylor, Assistant Director of Public Programs, Oakland Museum of California; vocalist
Dave Archuletta, Executive Director, Joe Goode Performance Group
DJ Brookter, Deputy Director, Young Community Developers
Earl Shaddix, Owner, Earl Bread & Brittle
Ed Donaldson, certified economic development professional
Ed Hammonds, Director of Commercial Real Estate, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
Eddy Zheng, Commissioner, Southeast Community Facility Commission; Project Director, Community Youth Center of San Francisco
Elizabeth Brodersen, Director of Education, American Conservatory Theater
Ellen Oh, Program Administrator, Institute for Diversity in the Arts at Stanford University
Emiko Ono, Program Officer, Hewlett Foundation
Emily Ford Dirks Garvie, Development Manager, Young Audiences of Northern California
Ernesto Sopprani, Interim Director, SF/Bay Area Emerging Arts Professionals; Director, AIRspace; artist
Evan Bissell, artist
Genny Lim, poet, playwright, performer and educator
Gwendolyn Westbrook, Chief Executive Officer, United Council of Human Services
Isabel Yrigoyen, Performing Arts Manager, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Ivan Jaigirdar, Artistic Director, 3rd I South Asian Film Festival
Jack Carpenter, lighting designer
Jaime Cortez, artist and educator
Janine Greer, Commissioner, Southeast Facility Community Commission
Jason Brock, performing artist
Jason Wallach, Program Coordinator, Center for Political Education
Jeremy Liu, community development strategist
Joan Pinkvoss, Executive Director, Aunt Lute Books
Joe Goode, Founder and Artistic Director, Joe Goode Performance Group
John-Carlos Perea, musician and educator
Jordan Bass, Managing Editor, McSweeney’s Publishing
José María Francos, Lighting Designer and Production Manager, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Joseph Landini, Executive Director, SAFEhouse for the Perfoming Arts
Josh Healey, writer, performer and creative activist
Joshua Simon, Executive Director, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
Juan Fuentes, visual artist
Julie Fry, Program Office, Hewlett Foundation
Karen Seneferu, artist and professor
Katie Fahey, Associate Program Officer, Arts at Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Kawika Keikiali’ihiwahiwa Alfiche, Kumu Hula (teacher), Halau o Keikiali’i
Kevin Seaman, artist
Khan Wong, Senior Program Manager, City and County of San Francisco, Grants for the Arts
Kim Anno, artist and educator
Kristine Mays, visual artist
Kriztina Palone, Director, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services
Laura Elaine Ellis, Co-founder and Executive Director, African & African American Performing Arts Coalition
Laura Page, Arts & Educational Initiatives Analyst, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
LaVaughn Kellum-King, Commissioner, Southeast Community Facility Commission
Lena Miller, Founder, Hunters Point Family
Leticia Hernández-Linares, writer
Lily Kharrazi, Living Cultures Grants Manager, Alliance for California Traditional Arts
Lisa Hasenbalg, Director of Arts & Culture Marketing, San Francisco Travel
Lori Laqua, Executive Director, Z Space
Mabel S. Teng, Executive Director, Chinese Culture Foundation
Madeleine Lim, Executive Director, Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project
Madeleine Oldham, Literary Manager and Resident Dramaturg, Berkeley Repertory Theater
Mahealani Uchiyama, dancer, musician, composer and educator
Malcolm Margolin, Founder and Executive Director, Heyday Books
Malik Seneferu, visual and teaching artist
Marc Mayer, Educator for Public Programs, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Marsha Murrington, Senior Program Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Masashi Niwano, Festival & Exhibition Director, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)
Maysoun Wazwaz, Program Manager, Mills College Art Museum
Meaghan Mitchell, SF Beautiful, MoAD Vanguard
Mel Waters, visual artist
Melanie Cervantes, Race and Place (RAP) Fund Program Officer, Akonadi Foundation
Melonie Green, Co-Owner, Infin8Sync
Melorra Green, Curator, African American Art and Culture Complex
Mica Sigourney, Artistic Director, OX
Michele Carlson, artist, writer, educator and curator
Michelle Tea, Executive Director, RADAR Productions
Mimi Lok, Executive Director/Editor, McSweeney’s Voice of Witness Series
Moy Eng, Executive Director, Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST)
Nancy Hom, artist
Nathan Marken, performing artist
Neal Hatten, Associate Executive Director, Bayview Hunters Point YMCA
Olivia Malabuyo Tablante, Grants Manager, Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation
Patricia Maloney, Director, Art Practical
Patrick Dooley, Artistic Director and Founder, Shotgun Players
Pireeni Sundaralingam, writer
PJ Hirabayashi, Artistic Director and Founding Member, San Jose Taiko
Ramekon O’Arwisters, Curator of Exhibitions, SFO Museum, San Francisco International Airport
Rhodessa Jones, Co-Artistic Director, Cultural Odyssey
Rhonel Roberts, visual artist, Hunter’s Point Shipyard Artist
Roberto Varea, Founding Artistic Director, Soapstone Theatre Company
Roko Kawai, Performing Arts Manager of Contextual Programming, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Ron Rowell, Past Chief Executive Officer, Common Counsel Foundation
Rudy Lemcke, artist
Shamann Walton, Executive Director, Young Community Developers
Shawn Bullen, visual and teaching artist
Shelley Trott, Director of Arts Strategy and Ventures, Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Sheron Fitzgerald, Converse School of International Language, MoAD Vanguard
Sherri Young, Executive Director, African American Shakespeare Company
Sidney Chen, Artistic Administrator, Kronos Quartet, Kronos Performing Arts Association
Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik, artist and educator
Steve Seid, Video Curator, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
Steven Anthony Jones, Artistic Director, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
Sylvia Sherman, Program Director, San Francisco Community Music Center
T. Lulani Arquette, President/CEO, Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
Targol Mesbah, Adjunct Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies
Ted Russell, Senior Program Officer for the Arts, James Irvine Foundation
Tere Romo, Program Officer for Arts & Culture, San Francisco Foundation
Theo Ellington, Commissioner, Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure; Project Coordinator, Urban Ed Academy
Theresa Harlan, curator and writer
Thor Kaslofsky, Project Manager, Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure
Tony Robles, author of children’s books
Torange Yeghiazarian, Artistic Director, Golden Thread Productions
Vanessa Camarena-Arredondo, Vocalist, Las Bomberas de La Bahia and arts consultant
Moved: Schnair/Shiota
Public Comment: None.
The motion was passed unanimously.
6. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
7. New Business and Announcements
Commissioners expressed that it was an honor working with Ms. Lin and that they wished her the best. Ms. Lin commented that it was a great opportunity to work with Mr. DeCaigny, Ms. Nemzoff, the CEG staff, and the Commissioners. Ms. Schnair requested that the meeting closed in honor of Ms. Lin.
8. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:32 p.m.
CF 8/7/14 - draft minutes posted
CF 9/8/14 - minutes adopted
Language Accessibility
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 Fiel, 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.
Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Program Associate Cristal Fiel, 415-252-3145, cristal.fiel@sfgov.org.
