HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ARTAB_10.15.2008Minutes of the Meeting of the
Arts and Culture Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Present: Penny Plueckhahn, Georgene Richaud, Ruth Roberts, Mandy Solin, Addie
Busfield, and Jane Paden
Absent: Charles Aguillon
Staff Present: Eric P Lashley, Library Director
Others Present: Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Manager
A. Call to order by Ruth Roberts at 2:03 p.m.
B. Announcements from the Chair and Board members. Ruth announced that Don Snell
was doing well after his knee replacement surgery and would be home soon. Ruth also
stated that Don had been given a collaged sculpture from a fellow artist that incorporated
Snell s work. Ruth and Don would like to loan the piece to be on display at the library.
Mandy announced that a movie about the life of Temple Grandin is being filmed on the
campus of Southwestern University starring the actress Claire Danes.
C. Citizens wishing to address the Board. Shelly Hargrove, Manager of the Main Street
program for the City of Georgetown, spoke to the Board to gain feedback about two
possible art -related projects downtown. The first project, the conversion of an alley space
behind the buildings on 8th Street, is being proposed by Larry McCormick and Bob
Weimer. The Board had concerns that access to the alley was poor, as was lighting and
shade. The Board was also concerned that until downtown merchants and landowners
created other attractions and venues that would bring traffic downtown, the project would
be too hidden and isolated.
The second project concerned adopting a program developed by the Economic
Development Department from. Delray, Florida. Like many downtowns, Delray had a
number of vacant buildings. Delray developed a program in which artists could set up
temporary gallery spaces rent-free while building owners were seeking tenants or buyers.
Board members expressed interest in this project and asked Shelly to do more research
and report back to the Board
D. Consideration and approval of minutes of the last meeting,. Georgene made the
motion to accept the minutes as distributed, Addie seconded, and it passed unanimously.
E Consideration of and possible action on
1. Results of Arts Summit — Charles Aguillion, Ruth. Roberts. Ruth reported that a
number of good ideas were discussed at the summit and the Board needed to
make sure the groups that attended are kept posted with any developments.
2. Visit from Jim Wear — Penny Plueckhahn. Penny outlined a schedule for the
meeting with Jim Wear on November 3. It was decided that City staff members
other than Judy and Eric would not be invited to participate.
3. Status of Coffee sculpture. Ruth Roberts and Eric Lashley. Ruth and Eric
reported that the agenda item concerning the location of the Coffee sculpture was
removed from the October 14 Council meeting. Eric stated that City Attorney,
Trish Carls, had contacted him concerning the contract with Bob Coffee. The
contract is very site specific and could make it difficult for the Council to change
the locationof the sculpture.
4. Proposed Budget and Council workshop — Ruth Roberts. Ruth handed out a
proposed budget. After discussion it was determined that the Board would meet
with the Council without film numbers. The Board decided to wait until after the
meeting with Jim Wear to determine the amount to budget for a master plan. The
Board also wantedto remove grants from consideration.
5. Americans for the Arts Planning Conference, December 2008 — Eric Lashley,
Ruth Roberts. Eric handed out a copy of the agenda for the conference Mandy
and Georgene expressed interest in attending the conference but needed to check
their calendars. The Board expressed an interest in joining the Americans for the
Arts organization andasked that an agenda item be placed on the November
agenda.
6. Master Planning Process — Eric Lashley. Eric noted the Master Plan had been
discussed in the budget item prepared by Ruth and did not need to be discussed
further.
7. Update on pedestal construction — Jane Paden. The pedestal is almost completed
by Philip Paden.
8. Donation of artwork by Judith Ommen — Eric Lashley. Ruth made a motion to
accept the two works of art from Judith. Ommen, Georgene seconded, and it
passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
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Ruth Roberts, Chair