Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee - November 4, 2014 - Meeting Minutes
SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
COMMUNITY ARTS, EDUCATION, AND GRANTS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
2:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 2:07 p.m.
1. Roll Call
Commissioners Present:
Charles Collins
Sherene Melania
Marcus Shelby
Commissioners Absent:
Abby Sadin Schnair
Janine Shiota
Staff Present: Tom DeCaigny, Judy Nemzoff, Barbara Mumby, Cristal Fiel, Tyese Wortham
2. Community Investments Program Director’s Report
Community Investments Program Director Judy Nemzoff provided the committee with an update on major capital projects as well as general maintenance and repair for the four City-owned Cultural Centers: African American Art & Culture Complex (“AAACC”), Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre (“BVOH”), Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (“MCCLA”) and SOMArts Cultural Center (“SOMArts”). At AAACC, projects have included water damage repair to the west wall, repair to furnaces and furnace control panel, roof repair, replacing windows on the first floor, and tree trimming. Upcoming projects at AAACC would include an electrical upgrade and more improvements to the HVAC system. At MCCLA, completed projects have included roof replacement with a “cool” roof, elevator repairs, sprinkler head replacements, and repairs to the fire exit door. Upcoming projects would include upgrading the fire life safety system and $1.5 million for accessibility work with Mayor’s Office of Disability. At SOMArts, projects have been performing a fire inspection to increase occupancy, repairs after a break in, and repairs to upper level windows to avoid water leakage. An upcoming project would include a new roof. In addition, general maintenance and repair funds are used to support smaller scale needs and the Arts Commission also pays for the ongoing elevator maintenance, fire alarm service, and a part time building and grounds maintenance supervisor.
At BVOH, Phase I of the renovation project has been completed. Managed by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency, Phase I included the demolition of the concrete paving, removal of portions of the fence and trees, and the creation of a small plaza on the corner of Third Street and Newcomb Avenue. Phase II was set to begin by December 2014 or January 2015 and would include the interior ADA bathroom expansions; stabilization of the historic balcony; and the construction of the exterior features including the dramatic new walkway on the Historic Newcomb Street side, new fencing, plantings, and exterior stage.
Ms. Nemzoff concluded that the total major capital investment and general maintenance and repair for the Cultural Centers would amount to over $1 million dollars this fiscal year, which did not include the $2.9 million investment for the BVOH renovation project. The committee discussed thinking about facilitating a plan for long term use of the four Cultural Center buildings.
Ms. Nemzoff introduced American Council for Learned Societies (“ACLS”) Public Fellow in Policy and Evaluation, Anh Thang Dao-Shah, who provided the Committee with an update on her role at the Arts Commission and what she had been working on since the start of her two-year position. Her first main project was to address the strategic plan goal for the agency to be more data-driven in policy and decision-making. She would come up with an agency-wide evaluation system and performance measures. Her second project was to work with the Community Investments team to improve program capacity to serve the community. She was researching grantmaking strategies and best practices in responsive philanthropy.
Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny said that the committee should anticipate a presentation by Ms. Dao-Shah of her research findings at the upcoming January or February committee meeting.
Commissioner Melania called for public comment. There was none.
3. SFAC Review Panelists
Commissioner Melania gave the following motion:
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:
Jewelle Gomez, novelist and playwright
Nancy Gonchar, Principal, Nancy Gonchar & Associates
Kim Schuck, poet, author and artist
Mohammed Soriano-Bilal, Executive Director, African American Art & Culture Complex
Moved: Collins/Shelby
Public Comment: None.
The motion of unanimously approved.
4. Cultural Equity Initiatives Level One Grants
Senior Program Officer Barbara Mumby reported that there would be a follow-up presentation for Cultural Equity Initiatives (“CEI”) Level One and other grant categories alongside Ms. Dao-Shah’s presentation in January or February.
Commissioner Melania severed Melody of China, Inc. from the original motion for separate consideration at the November Executive Committee meeting because Commissioner Shelby had to recuse himself from discussion, thus losing quorum.
Commissioner Melania gave the following motion:
Motion: Motion to approve recommendations to award 11 grants totaling $271,050 in the 2014-2015 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:
Dance Brigade, $25,000
San Francisco Mime Troupe, $25,000
Queer Cultural Center, $25,000
3rd i South Asian Independent Film Festival, $25,000
Radar Productions, $25,000
Kulintang Arts Inc., $25,000
Youth Art Exchange, $25,000
San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (Tranny Fest), $21,050
Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts & Technology (BAYCAT), $25,000
Lenora Lee Dance, $25,000
Queer Rebel Productions, $25,000
Moved: Collins/Shelby
Public Comment: None.
The motion was unanimously approved.
5. Cultural Equity Initiatives Level Two Grants
Commissioner Melania severed the CEI Level Two motion for separate consideration at the November Executive Committee because Commissioner Shelby had to recuse himself from discussion for Brava Theater Center/Brava! For Women in the Arts and African American Shakespeare Company, thus losing quorum.
6.Public Comment
There was no public comment.
7. New Business and Announcements
The committee discussed rescheduling the upcoming January meeting from January 13, 2015 at 2 p.m. to Monday, January 12, 2015 at 1 p.m. Staff would confirm a location.
Commissioner Melania requested a future update on the Public Education Enrichment Fund renewal.
Commissioner Melania called for public comment. There was none.
8. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:56 p.m.
CF 11/13/14 – draft minutes posted
CF 12/1/14 - 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.
