HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ARTAB_02.20.2008Minutes of the Meeting of the
Arts and Culture Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Members Present: Charles Aguillon, Rich Bartko, Paul Gaffney, Penny Plueckhahn, Georgene
Richaud, Ruth Roberts
Members Absent: Addie Busfield, Nancy Blansett, Jane Paden
Staff Present: Eric Lashley, Library Director, Judy Fabry, Administrative Assistant, Library
Regular Session
A. Ruth Roberts called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
B. Introduction of new Board member, Mandy Solin — Ruth Roberts. Mandy Solin will not join the
board until the March meeting, at whichshe will be introduced.
C. Announcements from the Chair and Board members. Ruth reported that Jane had had therapy
this morning and was too tired to attend the meeting. However, her recovery from knee
replacement surgery is going well.
D. Citizens wishing to address the Board. None was present.
E. Consideration and approval of minutes of last meeting. Paul Gaffney moved to accept the
minutes as distributed, seconded by Georgene Richaud. Passed unanimously.
F. Electionof vice chair and secretary. Postponed to March meeting, when new Board is seated.
G. Consideration of and possible action on
1. Report on progress with RFO — Ruth Roberts. Ruth and Judy reported on all of the persons
to whom RFQs have been sent Approximately 25 individuals and organizations have been
contacted. Charles suggested the RFQ should be sent to the Texas Commission on the Arts
and Judy said she would do that. Judy has received three proposals so far.
2. Selection of Board members (3) for Public Art Panel — Ruth Roberts Item postponed to
March meeting.
3. Blansett proposal for a directory of local artists — Ruth Roberts Ruth explained that Nancy
had brought up this topic last month, but it wasn't really clear what she wanted to do, nor had
anyone volunteered to take on the project. Penny suggested that any directory should be one
of organizations, not individuals, and that she and Jane had worked on such a list last July.
Penny moved to not compile a directory of individuals, but to update the list of 501(c)(3)
organizations she made last year. Georgene seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
4. Spending the balance of the 07-08 budget — Eric Lashley Eric reiterated a couple of ideas
that he'd brought up at the last meeting (1) doing a small juried show and purchasing the best
m show or citizens' choice; (2) hiring a consultant to help create a master plan for the Arts and
Culture Board.
Penny suggested that perhaps the Board could purchase one of the winners of the Festival of
the Arts art show, which will take place the first weekend in June. A lengthy discussion
ensued in which Penny described the caliber of artists who will be participating in the show
and Board members suggested ways, besides purchasing winning artwork, for the Board to
get community recognition. Becoming sponsors of events such as the Arts Festival, or
placing ads in performance programs of the various arts organizations would be ways to
spend the budget and to get the Board's existence recognized by the community. No
decisions were made but Penny suggested that the consultant who is running the Festival of
the Arts this year might speak to the Board. The group agreed to invite Lynette Wallace for
the April meeting
Paul Gaffney suggested that Vincent Kitch, Austin's Cultural Arts Program Manager (512-
974-9310), might be a good person to approach about helping the Board develop a master
plan.
Georgene asked what would happen to the budget if no good proposal comes in for the
public art project. Eric said that the Board could repost the RFQ. If the money is not
encumbered by early September, the Board will have to go to Council to explain the situation
and ask whether it can be carried over into the next fiscal year.
5. Establishing Board's priorities for next five years — Charles Aguillon, Ruth Roberts.
Everyone agreed that this discussion should be carried out in March, when the new Board
convenes, but it was a good idea to get started on the topic today.
Charles suggested that as many local arts -related 501(c)(3) organizations as possible be
invited to a public meeting to discuss what they want or expect from the City. It could be
called the "Georgetown Arts Summit." Charles' chief concern is that the Board has no
presence in the community and that they need to have a plan to market their services and
programs. He suggested having a logo designed for the Board and that logo could be used in
program advertising that the Board purchases.
Georgene brought up the question of what "culture" means in the Board's title and how it
could be represented in the Board's work. Ruth suggested that some cultural organizations,
such as the Georgetown Heritage Society, could be invited to a summit
6. Request from Texas Society of Sculptors for 3 board members to jury Tune show — Judy
Fabry. Item was moved to March agenda.
7. Certificate of Appreciation — Judy Fabry. Although Addie Busfield could not stay for the
meeting, she dropped off a request for a Certificate of Appreciation to be given to the San
Gabriel Quilters for their donation of the Red Poppy Quilt to the library. Ruth suggested that
a Certificate of Appreciation is not what should be given, but rather the donation recognition
certificate that has been prepared for other art donors. Judy said she would check with Doris
Jablonski, who was instrumental in donating the quilt to the library, to find out whether the
quilting group still exists Someone suggested that the Arts and Culture Board could put on
an annual reception at Council Chambers to recognize all art donors at one time and
certificates could be awarded then.
Ruth thanked Paul Gaffney for his fine work in getting the Board started and through its first
years. It was a job that needed strong leadership and he provided it. She also thanked Rich Bartko
for his contributions to the Board and asked whether he would be willing to work on a website for
the Board if that possibility presents itself. He said he would be happy to do so.
Paul moved to adjourn, and Rich seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Aillon, Secretary
Ruth Roberts, Chair