April 1, 2013 | San Francisco Arts Commission

Full Commission - April 1, 2013

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, April 1, 2013
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Minutes

Commission President JD Beltran called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.

Roll Call
Commissioners Present
JD Beltran, President
Sherene Melania, Vice President
John Calloway
Gregory Chew
Leo Chow
Amy Chuang
Charles Collins
Simon Frankel
Dorka Keehn
Roberto Ordeñana
Marcus Shelby
Barbara Sklar
Kimberlee Stryker
Commissioners Absent
Jessica Silverman
Cass Calder Smith
Gwyneth Borden, ex officio

Noting that there were many people present for public comment, President Beltran said that she would call for general public comment before other items on the agenda.
President’s Report
President Beltran began her report by introducing two newly appointed Commissioners, Marcus Shelby and Simon Frankel.
Commissioner Shelby said that he was honored to serve, and explained that he had lived in San Francisco for seventeen years, that he taught at Rooftop School, and was active as a jazz performer and educator in San Francisco and the larger Bay area. President Beltran added that she had met him as a teacher at her son’s school.

Commissioner Frankel introduced himself as a lawyer practicing in San Francisco, a native San Franciscan married to another San Francisco native, with three San Francisco native children. He explained that his legal practice was focused on the arts, including counseling, litigation and agreements, as well as pro bono work; he added that he has taught art law for many years at University of California Hastings College of the Law and at Stanford, where he co-teaches with Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah. He said that he was excited to serve on the Commission.

The remaining Commissioners introduced themselves and named the Committees on which they serve, and all warmly welcomed Commissioners Frankel and Shelby.

President Beltran added that Committee assignments for new Commissioners would be announced soon.

Turning to the Heyday book, San Francisco: Arts for the City—Civic Art and Urban Change, 1932-2012, she reported that there have been several successful events, including one at the California Historical Society a few weeks earlier. She asked Public Information Officer Kate Patterson to announce upcoming events: a talk by author Susan Wels on April 4 in the San Francisco Public Library’s Latino Room, and a lunchtime panel at SPUR on April 11. She added that Mr. DeCaigny and Ms. Wels would be on CBS 5’s Bay Sunday, and on KQED Radio’s Forum in the coming days, and that there have been good reviews in the San Francisco Chronicle, Arts Monthly and 7x7 magazine. President Beltran commended Ms. Patterson’s work publicizing the book, and thanked Commissioners and staff for their participation.

There was no public comment.
Public Comment
Mr. DeCaigny reminded Commissioners and the public that public comment was an opportunity for the public to be heard, and for the Commission to take note of their remarks, but not necessarily to engage in back-and-forth discussions with speakers. Because of the large number of speakers, some were using older-format speaker cards; staff explained that speakers were not required to complete a card or to give an address, that they could speak anonymously, and that any information submitted became public record.
Sherri Young, former Arts Commissioner, introduced herself as Executive Director of the African-American Shakespeare Company (“AAS”), housed at the African American Art and Culture Complex (“AAACC”) for eight to ten years. She praised AAACC’s new leadership and said she had concerns about a proposed unsustainable rent increase. She said there had been a loose understanding with prior management that the company would have free rehearsal space, performance space at a nominal rate, and would pay full price for office space. She was concerned about a possible change in this agreement that would raise the company’s costs. She said that rent rates have threatened to eliminate some black arts organizations, citing the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, which was unable to pay its $1,200 rent for a 700-seat theater and is now a floundering migrant company.

Everett Alexander said that he has served on the board of directors of the AAS, and has worked with Ms. Young and reviewed the company’s budgets. He said the proposed rent was unrealistic and would destroy the company. He said that when the City funds Cultural Centers by several hundred thousand dollars, they should support local arts organizations. He said that the new director (of AAACC) is also new to San Francisco and hasn’t had enough time to talk with all the organizations impacted by an increase to determine what is realistic for them. He said the organizations do their work out of love, to provide an opportunity for people of color to be onstage and show that they can do classical work. He asked the Commission to keep that vision alive.

L. Peter Callender, Artistic Director of the African-American Shakespeare Company, said that he had come to the Bay area in 1991 as a Juilliard graduate, and begun his connection with the company as an associate artist. He said that they gave the greatest opportunities for young non-union actors, hungry and talented, who might not get to play the roles he had the chance to play with the company. He said that it was his job to give those opportunities to young actors, and the anticipated rent increases would close the company’s doors, for local and national artists as well as young student audiences, and the community that enjoys low ticket prices. He added that this was the only African-American producing company in the Bay area now, and asked what AAACC would be without it.

Durand Garcia introduced himself as a theater artist and former publisher of the trilingual magazine Heirs, in English, Spanish and Chinese. He explained that he met Ms. You in the early 1990’s, soon after graduation from an MFA in acting. He said that the AAS was the only classical Shakespeare company in the entire world, and what she has done is to create opportunities for people of color, not only African Americans, to be part of the classics of world theater. He said that artists exist to nurture talent, and the Commissioners must see that it continues. He said that the company could not be treated as a normal corporation, and he urged leasing the space for one dollar.

Rhodessa Jones (recently honored with the Mayor’s Art Award) and Idris Ackamoor, co-Artistic Directors of Cultural Odyssey, explained that they are one of the oldest currently operating performing arts organizations in the Bay area; they started in 1979, around the same time as Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, and have been at AAACC for more than 25 years. Mr. Ackamoor said that over the last three years, the black arts organizations have seen the death of three bright lights, including both founders of Lorraine Hansberry within months of each other, Quentin Easter and Stanley Williams, as well as San Francisco Black Film Festival director Ave Montague. He said there was a crisis in the black arts community in San Francisco, and that the remaining three major organizations, African-American Shakespeare, Afro Solo and Cultural Odyssey, all housed at AAACC, had some forty to fifty years of experience in the performing arts between them. He suggested a freeze on rent increases.

Ms. Jones concurred, saying that Cultural Odyssey couldn’t deal with a 400% rent increase, and she supported the other speakers. Mr. Ackamoor added that, while Ms. Jones was currently artist-in-residence at Brava Theater, which has encouraged them, it was critical to support AAACC, where the company has been for twenty-five years.

Eleanor Jacobs, actor, echoed previous comments in support of AAS, with whom she has performed. She said that the Commission, as the funder of AAACC, should look into the potential rent increase of 400% with less than thirty days’ notice.

Al Williams, President of the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society, explained that his organization was founded in 1955. He recalled that Supervisor Willie Kennedy proposed the legislation establishing AAACC, and the organization has been housed there since that time. He said that they were recently asked to relinquish some of their archive sapce to accommodate accessible restrooms, and by the end of June, they will have to find a new permanent space for their archives. He said that the Society has worked closely with AAACC leadership to find an interim solution, and he looks forward to working with the new director on a permanent solution that will work for everyone. He acknowledged that AAACC has to be able to operate on an ongoing basis, the lights on, and said the solution was not “either-or” but “both-and.” He asked the Commission to facilitate discussion between the parties to bring them together and allow all to continue to thrive.

Leontyne Mbele-Mbong introduced herself as an actor who has performed with the Lamplighters and other companies. She said that a 400% rent increase was shocking to the arts community. She said that a Center whose mission was to foster the arts in its particular community should not treat its nonprofit tenants like corporations. She said that discussion about how the increase would be manaaged is important, and the effect needs to be seriously considered.

Sheila Collins, a board member of the African-American Shakespeare Company, said that she was fairly new to the Bay area, and began her connection to the Company as a volunteer. She said that she is now an actor who came to acting late in life, and grew up in a community that did not have anything like AAACC or AAS to show her the possibilities. She was excited to hear from the organizations working with children, and thought it was powerful for young children to see themselves reflected onstage and in the creation of art. She implored the Commission not to allow the rent increase, which she said would obliterate an extremely important group.

President Beltran introduced Kimberly Hayes, Executive Director of the African American Art and Culture Complex. She also explained that after ten years as AAACC’s director, London Breed was elected Supervisor of District Five in January, 2013, necessitating the search for a new director.

Ms. Hayes explained that she and AAACC leadership have been in conversation with the African American Shakespeare Company and other tenant organizations regarding facility rental rates for productions, not the rent for their offices. She emphasized that no final decisions have been made, and no final rates have been set. She said that the allegation of a 400% increase is premature, misleading, unfair and irresponsible. She said that AAACC and the tenants have been working on a timeline since March 11, in an open dialogue about their goals and AAACC’s goals, without specific reference to any financial figures. She said that prior to the recruitment of community members to appear at this Commission meeting, she had been making arrangements to meet with Ms. Young, who was unable to meet with her today. She assured the Commission and the community that AAACC wanted to insure sustainability for both AAACC and AAS, she was committed to the organizations continuing a great partnership, and she called for continuing the discussion.

Tony Kelly, of Thick Description and Bindlestiff, said he had worked with AAS. He said that he knew what a market rate rent for nonprofits means. He cited rates at other Cultural Centers, and said it was important to look at what happens there. He noted that music and dance concerts don’t need the amount of rehearsal required by theater, and argued that a significant rent increase would drive AAS out. He said that it was too late for Mission Cultural Center and the Bayview Opera House, that their resident companies were already gone, and the Commission, as the policy body, had to address this.

Safiyia Fredericks said that she was from the Bay Area, and got her start at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond. She said that art changes people’s lives, that it’s important, and this only happens because artists are allowed to grow in places like AAS. She said that she had recently returned from living in New York and was welcomed back with open arms. She praised Mr. Callender and his work, particularly with young people.

Cyndy Subawara introduced herself as an art teacher Rooftop School, and said her students were lucky to have the experience with AAS, in a partnership over the last few years. She said that many of the Rooftop children had not had the opportunity to see live theater, particularly with actors who look like them. She said that the company’s setting of Othello in Iraq offered a new way of looking at Shakespeare. She said that when the eighth-graders were reading A Raisin in the Sun, it made a real impression on them to see the play performed, and she said that students really got into Twelfth Night, with its complicated plotline. She added that some Rooftop students have had the opportunity to perform with the company, and she couldn’t say enough about its importance in the community. She hoped they can afford to stay.

Jane Beringer said she was the retired principal of Rooftop, and was now at a charter school on Treasure Island. She questioned the use of “market value” for nonprofits, and said that accessibility was important for the community. She said that she has seen students, and members of her own family, transformed by the company’s work, and that strategic engagement of students has to be factored into market value. She said that she saw girls transformed and transfixed; many had never seen live theater, and talking with the director, they couldn’t believe someone cared what they thought. She said that impact needs to be factored in.

Wayne Metcalf introduced himself as a San Francisco resident who had just paid his taxes. He said his daughter has participated in AAS programs for many years. He said that his work with the shipyard trust, and as a finance manager for Kaiser Permanente, give him an understanding of arts funding and balance sheets, and he thought a 400% increase was beyond the pale. He compared this to a rise in gasoline prices from $4.00 to $16.00 overnight. He expressed concern about gentrification and said that his daughter has looked forward each year to participating in the company’s programs. He noted that in preparation for next year’s production of Much Ado about Nothing, she has already bought the book. He added that the value of the company’s work was not only in dollars and cents.

Vinay Patel, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, said that the community uses the Cultural Centers, and they are not a “market.” He said that the rate increases under discussion are not in line with what they have been paying. He noted that organizations he works with have recently had to use non-City facilities because of cost. He questioned the use of corporate language and the idea of market rate. He urged the Commission to take a look at what the facilities mean, and what access means.

ZZ Moor introduced herself as an actor from the Bay area, who moved to Denver for three years to study at the National Theatre Conservatory and recently received her MFA. She said that it was not easy going into the real world as an actor of color, and that AAS makes it accessible to do her work. She said that she was cast as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and that probably would not happen anywhere else. She praised the vision of Ms. Young and Mr. Callender, and this production. She said she couldn’t give words to the effect the company has had on her personal and professional life. She thought the organization was essential for the hundreds of people they’ve influenced, personally and professionally, from actors with forty years of experience to four-year-olds. She said what they have done for the community has paid the rent.

Ben Mulholland introduced himself as a film director and writer. He echoed Ms. Moor on the opportunities he has received under Mr. Callender, who has mentored him from the age of 16. He said that AAS is all about opportunity, and it pays dividends. He said that HBO had asked him to do a film, and asked where he wanted to shoot. He said that when they do a project here, they spend $200 million, not $150,000; they come back and invest in the area. He said this was where long-term funds come from. He said it was important to think about the long term, to build communities, and this was a rare place to do that. He said that what the Center has sown is now being reaped when a filmmaker like himself wants to shoot in San Francisco rather than Los Angeles or Canada.

Dorothy Lincoln introduced herself as a former member of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Rent Board, and as a retired principal in the San Francisco Unified School District. She said she spoke on behalf of AAS, and the Historical Society, of which her husband was a former president. She said it was important to keep these two organizations at affordable rents. She said that she was completely blown away by the quality of performances by the Company, on a par with the American Conservatory Theater. She said they were needed, and she was concerned that the only other African American theater group, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, might not continue for very long. She praised the incredible children’s performances, and said her granddaughter was blown away.

Conor Johnston, aide to Supervisor London Breed, read a statement from the Supervisor, saying that she was extremely disappointed to receive news on Easter Sunday of this issue. She was saddened to see it take center stage, when a fee has not yet been established. She noted that the rates charged do not cover the costs, and that Ms. Hayes will have to balance affordability with other factors. She was certain that the AAACC leadership does not intend to balance its budget on the back of the African American Shakespeare Company. She expressed her appreciation for the company, and her displeasure with misinformation about the question of rental rates, and she pointed out that it is not the role of the Arts Commission to set those rates for AAACC.

Reverend Arnold Townsend said that he has served on AAACC’s Board of Directors since it was created, and was previously employed with the neighborhood arts program. He said that communities wanted their own centers, and after quite a fight, they made it happen. As a board member, he found it painful and insulting to suggest that they do not appreciate the work of AAS, and added that the board and staff are working day and night for an adequate facility. He asserted that nobody’s monthly rent was going up. He said that there has been some discussion of possibly raising rates in the theater. He said that when someone suggests a change, you sit down and talk about the change, see whether you can work it out together. He suggested that today’s controversy was premature, that the discussion has not run its course. He reiterated that there is no way the AAACC board would want to get rid of its arts organizations, and that the parties have to be creative.

Thomas Robert Simpson introduced himself as founder and Artistic Director of AfroSolo Theatre Company. He said that he had come to thank the Commission for supporting the arts in the community, for supporting AfroSolo for twenty years through ups and downs. He said that whenever there is a change, there is the possibility of misunderstanding, and he hopes that, as Ms. Hayes said, the dialogue can continue. He was very happy to hear that there was no rent increase on the horizon, and he wanted Rev. Townsend and Ms. Hayes to understand that the tenant organizations thought of theater rental as “rent” because they have to pay it.

Mr. Simpson recalled the Dr. Seuss story, The Zax, about two travelers who met in the middle of the road, and when neither would move, they stayed stuck in one spot and the highway was built around them. He hoped that didn’t happen here. He acknowledged that the Commission couldn’t make the decision about the rental rates, and he again expressed his appreciation of the Commission’s time and support of the arts.

President Beltran said that it is the Commission’s responsibility to serve the public, and it is of vital importance that the Commission’s deliberations be noticed to all of the public, not just one group. She explained that the City Attorney’s office has advised that the Commission cannot hold discussions on a subject not publicly noticed on its agenda.

At the request of President Beltran, Mr. DeCaigny explained that matters regarding the Cultural Centers could be calendared and placed on the agenda for discussion at either the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee, or the full Arts Commission. He pointed out that the Commission does not determine specific rental rates at any of the Cultural Centers, and that the grants the Commission gives to the Centers do not allow the Commission to set the rates. He explained that the grant agreements are designed to insure accessibility and affordability of the facilities, but they do not specify what is “affordable.” He said that today the Commission got input on what the community thinks is affordable. He added that he hears every day from grantees, both Cultural Centers and the many small arts nonprofit organizations who receive grants from the Commission; they ask how the Commission defines affordability for the Centers, and what can the Commission do for both affordability and capitalization for all arts organizations.

Mr. DeCaigny said that he had had brief conversations with Ms. Young and Ms. Hayes. While he has offered help from the Arts Commission staff in building trust and assuring a fair, open and transparent process, he was hesitant to get too deeply involved in the policy discussion, in the interest of fostering a healthy independence in the nonprofit organizations. He welcomed the new leadership at AAACC, and he has been assured that there is no specific rent increase on the table. He said that he and the Commission were hearing today how the community feels the impact, and reiterated that ultimate authority in such matters lies with AAACC.

Ms. Young thanked the Commission and said she would be happy to work with Ms. Hayes. She welcomed her and wanted to do whatever was in her power to assure that the resident companies continue to have a home.

Commissioner Calloway added that everyone present was part of a single large community, and he offered whatever the Commission could do to help.
Approval of Minutes
President Beltran called for public comment on the minutes; there was none, and the minutes were approved as submitted.
RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-080: Motion to approve March 4, 2013 Minutes.
Consent Calendar
President Beltran severed items 5, 6, 7 and 8 from the Consent Calendar, regarding Individual Artist Commissions grants to Rudy Lemcke (item 5); Rene Yung and StageWrite (item 6); and the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, Genny Lim, and Push Dance Co. (item 7); and Arts for Neighborhood Vitality grants to Acción Latina and the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco (item 8). Commissioners Calloway, Collins and Ordeñana each had a potential conflict of interest regarding one of these grantees.
There was no public comment.

President Beltran called for a vote on the remainder of the Consent Calendar, which was approved unanimously as follows.

RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-081:
Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:

Approval of Committee Minutes
1. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-082:Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2013.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-083: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of March 12, 2013.
3. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-084: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of March 13, 2013.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-085: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2013.
  Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (March 12, 2013)
5. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-090: Motion to approve recommendations to award eight grants totaling $23,000 in the 2012-2013 cycle of Arts for Neighborhood Vitality to the following organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization for the amounts listed:
  Chinese Historical Society of America, $3,000
  Come Out and Play San Francisco, $2,500
  Excelsior Action Group, $2,500
  Genryu Arts, $3,000
  Mendell Plaza Presents, $3,000
  Out of Site: Center for Arts Education, $3,000
  Richmond District Neighborhood Center, $3,000
  Sunset District Neighborhood Coalition, $3,000
  Street Artists Committee Recommendations (March 13, 2013)
6. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-091: Motion to authorize Street Artists Program Director, in consultation with the City Attorney’s Office and representatives from the Port, to negotiate and draft a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Port and the Arts Commission regarding the establishment of street artist spaces on Port property and the corresponding criteria for use of such spaces.
  Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (March 20, 2013)
7. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-092: Motion to approve the mural, Celebrating Our Richmond Past and Present by lead artists Yuka Ezoe and Elaine Chu on the exterior wall of Argonne Elementary School located at 680–18th Avenue. The proposed mural (24' x 53') faces the intersection of Cabrillo Street and 17th Avenue and will be visible throughout the neighborhood. The project is sponsored by Precita Eyes, funded by Argonne Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and the Community Challenge Grant Program, and supported by District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-093: Motion to approve artist honorarium payments in the amount of $1,000 each to Tammy Rae Carland, John Chiara, Pablo Guardiola, Sanaz Mazinani, and Lindsey White for their contributions to the 2013 Sister City Exchange: San Francisco and Zurich. The local component of this project will open at City Hall in October, 2013.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-094: Motion to approve public art program outline for Phelan Loop Public Plaza.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-095: Motion to approve design revisions for an artwork by Rebar Art and Design Studios to be located at Palega Playground to be reviewed by the Visual Art Committee further at a later date.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-096: Motion to approve the installation of Ron Moultrie Saunders’s two artworks at the Bayview Branch Library: Spirit and Nature Dancing Together in the exterior courtyard; and Symbiotic Relationships in the children’s reading room.
12. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-097: Motion to approve the alternate installation location for two of the nine bronze chairs from the artwork Domestic Seating, 2012 by Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe, which are currently installed on the east side of Church Street next to Safeway, moving both to the north side of Duboce Avenue per the revised site plan.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-098: Motion to approve the Yerba Buena/Moscone Sculpture Public Art Selection Panel’s recommendation of Roxy Paine’s proposal for a sculpture for the plaza at Clementina and 4th Streets.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-099: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Roxy Paine for an amount not to exceed $1,456,000 to design, fabricate and transport a sculpture for the plaza at Clementina and 4th Streets.
  Executive Committee Recommendations (March 25, 2013)
15. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-100: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to distribute, for public information and educational purposes, copies of San Francisco: Arts for the City—Civic Art and Urban Change, 1932-2012, published by Heyday, and to sell copies of the book for a retail price of $45 plus applicable sales tax and shipping costs at Arts Commission facilities and events, and on the Arts Commission’s website.
  Commissioners Calloway, Collins and Ordeñana recused themselves and left the room at 4:35 p.m. for consideration of the following items.
  
  There was no public comment.
  
  President Beltran called for a vote on the Consent Calendar items below, which were approved unanimously as follows.
  
  Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (February 12, 2013)
16. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-086: Motion to approve a recommendation to award one grant totaling $10,000 in the 2012-2013 cycle of Individual Artist Commissions to the following individual, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement with the individual for the amount listed:
  Rudy Lemcke, $10,000
  
  Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (March 12, 2013)
17. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-087: Motion to approve recommendations to award two grants totaling $50,000 in the 2012-2013 cycle of Arts & Communities: Innovative Partnerships to the following individuals and organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each individual and organization for the amounts listed:
  Rene Yung, $25,000
  StageWrite, $25,000
18. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-088: Motion to approve recommendations to award three grants totaling $63,835 in the 2012-2013 cycle of Arts & Communities: Innovative Partnerships to the following individuals and organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each individual and organization for the amounts listed:
  Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, $25,000
  Genny Lim, $13,835
  Push Dance Company, $25,000
19. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-089: Motion to approve recommendations to award two grants totaling $6,000 in the 2012-2013 cycle of Arts for Neighborhood Vitality to the following organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization for the amounts listed:
  Acción Latina, $3,000
  Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, $3,000
  Commissioners Calloway, Collins and Ordeñana returned to the meeting room after the vote.
Director’s Report
Mr. DeCaigny reported that strategic planning consultants MIG/MMC have begun working on a benchmark study of arts organizations in five U.S. cities, gathering data on financial and fiscal policy, civic collections, grantmaking strategies and trends, arts education policy and partnerships with school districts, as well as broader public art policy and other emerging trends. He said that they will present preliminary findings separately to the Commission and staff in May.
Mr. DeCaigny reported that the strategic planning team has been interviewing key stakeholders in San Francisco. This includes peer department heads at Recreation and Parks, San Francisco Airport, the Public Library, Department of Children, Youth and their Families, and the Public Utilities Commission, with the goal of evaluating how the Arts Commission interfaces with other City departments, and how those partnerships might be improved. The team is also contacting the local philanthropic community, all six of the Cultural Centers, representative Cultural Equity grantee organizations and individual artists and grantees of Grants for the Arts. He looked forward to reviewing the results of this research with the Commission at its visioning retreat with staff in May. He added that once the date is confirmed, the meeting will, of course, be publicy noticed.

Turning to other matters, Mr. DeCaigny reported that conservation work on the portrait of Mayor “Sunny Jim” Rolph has begun, with the hope of returning the work to the Mayor’s office in the next few months. Conservation on the statue of Gandhi at the Ferry Building has also begun. Mr. DeCaigny explained that the statue suffered some damage in the Giants World Series celebration, and that Arts Commission Collections staff have been working to more permanently secure the glasses on the statue. Staff has also notified the Indian Consul General of the Commission’s work on the statue.

Mr. DeCaigny reported that staff has been answering questions from the Mayor’s office on the agency budget as they prepare the citywide budget for final submission to the Board of Supervisors. Public Art Trust and Special Projects Director Jill Manton has continued working on guidelines for the Public Art Trust, and has received feedback from the Planning Department and the Supervisors whose districts are affected. He added that developers are becoming aware of the fund, and he hoped to publish final guidelines in the coming months. Finally, Mr. DeCaigny announced an event on Thursday, April 4 at the Main Library about San Francisco: Arts for the City—Civic Art and Urban Change, 1932-2012. He and President Beltran will join author Susan Wels in a panel discussion.

There was no public comment.
Committee Reports and Committee Matters
1. Executive Committee—JD Beltran, Chair
  1. President Beltran reported that the Committee discussed recent events surrounding publication of Arts for the City, noting that Mr. DeCaigny’s report covered most of the Committee’s discussions. She added that the Committee heard a report on the status and timeline of the strategic planning process, and she announced the appointment of Commissioners Frankel and Shelby. She added that she and Mr. DeCaigny have completed one-on-one orientation meetings with most of the Commissioners, explaining that while they should understand the background of legislation for their own committees, it was important for everyone to also be familiar with the underlying legislation for all of the Commission’s programs. Mr. DeCaigny pointed out that the legal authorities for the various programs were summarized in the supporting documents posted with this agenda. These authorities will be revisited in future meetings, and will be important background for strategic planning.
  2. This item was deferred to a later date.
2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
  1. In the absence of Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Chow explained that the Committee had not met, and there was no report.
3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Sherene Melania, Chair
  1. Vice President Melania explained that she had to leave the meeting early, and requested that Commissioner Collins make the report. He said that Cultural Equity Grants Interim Program Director Lucy Lin gave a thorough report on grantmaking, and Mr. DeCaigny discussed the Commission’s role in the arts and culture ecology. The Committee reviewed a matrix of the size, scale and location of grantees’ programs, and he noted that staff is working to make the grants ever more effective.
    Turning to Community Arts and Education, he said that Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff reported that Bayview Opera House has increased its successful programs through support of the Public Utilities Commission. He praised WritersCorps as a great forum for youth development, giving young people the rigor to develop their writing and their voices. He reported that the Committee also heard from Executive Director Jennie Rodriguez that Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts is working to focus both on high-level strategy and policy issues as well as staff and scheduling matters.
4. Street Artists Committee—Gregory Chew, Chair
  1. Commissioner Chew reported that the Committee held a brief meeting in March, and he thanked Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar and Deputy Director Rebekah Krell for all their work on trying to maintain street artist spaces on Fisherman’s Wharf during the construction there. He reported that the Committee recommended that staff work on a memorandum of understanding with the Port regarding the spaces. He reported that nine spaces will be lost temporarily, with continued use of four spaces.
5. Visual Arts Committee—Barbara Sklar, Chair
  1. Commissioner Sklar reported briefly that the Committee discussed a number of projects, including the Zurich Sister City exhibition at the Galleries, and the installation of two new artworks by Ron Moultrie Sanders at the Bayview Library.
    She presented the following motion, regarding the Adolph Sutro bust by artist Jonah Hendrickson. She explained that the donor organization was paying for the artwork, and the date has been set for the unveiling.
    
    President Beltran noted that Mr. Hendrickson was present, and expressed the Commission’s pleasure at having the classical sculptor at this meeting.
    
    There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-13-101: Motion to approve the design of the sculpture base (shape and material) for the Adolph Sutro bust, gift of the United Humanitarian Mission; approval of the final text will be delegated to the Director of Cultural Affairs.
New Business and Announcements
President Beltran reminded Commissioners that their Statements of Eonomic Interest (Form 700) and Sunshine Ordinance Declarations were due the next day. Mr. DeCaigny added that they should be filed both timely and correctly, and reminded Commissioners that these are public documents.
President Beltran congratulated Commissioner Keehn on the success of the Bay Lights installation on the Bay Bridge, noting that it had received lots of press coverage, including international coverage.

There was no public comment.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

8/2/13 spr

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@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，Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2591, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.