Virtual Meeting-Oct 12, 2021 at 6:30pm

MINUTES

PRELIMINARIES

• Taking Roll    
  
  • PRESENT – Inka Patel, Bharati Dhruva, Joanne Hall Barr (Dept of Parks & Rec), Keri Anne Fuller, Melissa Holland, Michael Spears, Chae Reid, Angie O’Neal
  • ABSENT - Heather Brooks, Charles Clyburn

• Reviewing Minutes
  
  • Minutes from September meeting were reviewed and accepted.

BUSINESS        

• Laurel Arts Council (LAC) Vacancies
  
  • Chae announced that she is moving from Laurel, which leaves a second vacancy on the LAC. Melissa noted that a vacancy announcement is posted on LAC Facebook; she also asked members to seek out others who might be interested in serving.

• City Updates
  
  • Joanne had no announcements beyond her September news of the city’s receipt of substantial American Recovery Act Program funding for FY22.
  • Melissa reported on the draft Fee-in-Lieu policy, intended to raise funds for public art, now under legal review. The city’s Director of Economic Development, Robert Love, provided a copy of the draft, which charges developers a fee based on size or number of units in a new project. The Fee-in-Lieu policy, together with draft public art guidelines, is planned to go to the Mayor & City Council for vote by the end of the year. It would then become part of city code.
  • Discussion ensued on questions raised by Fee-in-Lieu: (1) How much funding, or what range, might we estimate from this policy? (2) When would funds begin to flow? Joanne pointed to Dept of Economic Development as the best source of answers, although much depends on how much development occurs. She noted that building projects currently in process would not be taxed. As for timing, Melissa recalled reading that in some cities, it could take 2 years or so for funds to flow after code is accepted and finalized.

• American Recovery Act funds (https://www.cityoflaurel.org/arpa)
  
  • Melissa reported on receiving application instructions from the city’s ARPA staff (Ms. Cornwell, Ms. Cifizzari), who said that, while they weren’t sure that public art would fit the purpose of the funds, the LAC could apply as a city entity (rather than a business or non-profit) in the area of Economic Impact to the Tourism, Travel, & Hospitality sector (https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/74731-City-Of-Laurel)
  • The criteria for selecting projects for ARPA funds are nationally defined in an Interim Final Rule (IRF). The IRF calls for documenting the negative impact of COVID-19 on a business or organization, then showing how the proposed project will ameliorate that harm. The requested funding should be commensurate with the economic harm. Melissa noted that evidence for public art as an economic booster is well demonstrated, including in reports from Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/reports-and-data/research-studies-publications/arts-economic-prosperity-5).  However, she pointed out, the LAC has no access to local data on financial losses, as needed to make an economic argument.  Joanne noted that Dept of Parks & Rec is not doing an economic analysis but is requesting ARPA funds based on health and safety arguments. She added that Dept of Economic Development might have relevant data and assistance. She also suggested that LAC can aim for FY23, when another increment of ARPA money comes in (LAC could begin now to work on a project that demonstrates impact on recovery).

• Presenting to City Council
  
  • Michael proposed to make the case for city funding for public art to the Mayor and City Council, bringing to bear research from Americans for the Arts (https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/local-arts-network/facts-and-figures/2019-profile-of-local-arts-agencies). Based on that research, Michael has drafted an argument for what it takes to fund the kind of robust arts program laid out in City Ordinance 1908, which established the LAC. He would ask the city council whether or not they are ready to fund. Melissa will accompany Michael to give evidence for benefits of public art to the economy, public safety, and community cohesion.
  • To schedule a date for presentation, Joanne said to contact the Clerk to the City Council, Kim Rau, who sets up the meetings, which occur every second and fourth Monday of the month. It was agreed to request a date after the November meeting at which a newly elected city council is seated. Michael estimated he would need about 8 minutes for presenting and 6 minutes for Q & A, or 15 minutes in all. Michael asked that as many other members as possible be in attendance.

• Grant from PGAHC (Prince George’s County Arts & Humanities Council)
  
  • Funding of $5,000 for the LAC has arrived for public art planning (proposal on Google share drive).
  • Bharati and Melissa described a meeting of the LAC murals subgroup, which discussed the preliminary tasks of hiring a consultant, establishing an advisory board, and gathering residents’ input on public art, such as via community sensing sessions, online surveys, or suggestion boxes.
    • Nisa has offered to help with community sensing sessions. She asked Joanne whether the city would hold a Wellness Expo, like the one in January 2020, which offers an opportunity to gather feedback from many city groups. Joanne said to contact Pat Haag, who, with the Laurel Board of Trade (https://laurelboardoftrade.org/), will be scheduling the expo at the Armory, if it occurs, depending on COVID restrictions.
    • An advisory board might include a representative from the city council, community organizations, business, and private citizens – all stakeholders in public art.
    • To develop the public art plan, Bharati and Melissa will draw on prior work they did to develop an LAC strategic plan, which included interviews with local arts organizations. The public art plan should mesh with the city Masterplan  (2016, updated every 10 years): https://www.cityoflaurel.org/system/files/files/2016masterplancommitteedocument.pdf

• LAC artist spotlights – Keri announced that the first Artist Spotlight, featuring Inka, is posted on LAC Instagram. Chae provided the Instagram link for members. Keri completed the second Artist Spotlight, on Charles Clyburn. After posting the Clyburn spotlight, she will begin a studio visit with Angie O’Neal.
• Local Exhibits
  
  • Keri said her exhibit at Maryland Milestones Heritage Center (The Pyramid) runs through Nov. 30: 4318 Gallatin St, Hyattsville, 20781. The gallery, she noted, offers free exhibit space to local artists.
  • Melissa announced the exhibit at Sip at C of artwork by Kathy Peterson, one of the local artists for the fish-and-planter project.
  • The short film “Exposure” by B-Roll Media, which Keri helped produce and stars in, was selected for the Heritage Film Festival (https://www.heritagefilmfestival.org/), 21 Oct - 17 Nov 2021.

• LAG scholarship – Keri mentioned the Laurel Art Guild’s ongoing plan to fund an art scholarship for local students at Prince George’s Community College. She offered to put Melissa in touch with the LAG for details, given the possibility of LAC’s contributing to the scholarship fund. Melissa noted that any city funds should go to benefit only those students residing within the city.
• Juneteenth 2022 expanded – Angie described her concept for an art event as part of the city’s official Juneteenth celebration, expanded from LAC’s 2021 visual art exhibit, which was reported to be very well received. She proposed involving the schools, as well as, possibly, local established artists. Prompts to students might be: “what Juneteenth means to me,” or “what it represents.”
  • Melissa offered to contact arts teachers at the two local elementary schools (Scotchtown Hills and Laurel Elementary) and then hand over the planning to Angie and others.
  • The idea of a poster contest for children was discussed. Michael recommended not judging student entries but giving a venue to every appropriate student submission. The LAC could award City certificates of appreciation to participating students.
  • Angie proposed that a virtual exhibit be mounted in the beginning of June, then physically exhibited on the day of Juneteenth. Venues suggested included the Municipal Center, DiPietro Center, and Armory – all managed by the city – and the county-run Montpelier Art Center.
  • Jo Anne recommended reaching out to council member Sydnor, who orchestrated Juneteenth 2021. She suggested a public call for artists (City Facebook) to encourage community participation.  This was supported by Michael.  Angie proposed extending genres from painting to drawing and photography. The LAC would select from artwork submitted by adults.
  • Bharati suggested a narrower focus on children’s posters, given the limited staffing of the LAC.
  • Melissa reminded members that in early 2020, the LAC provided posters and crayons to local elementary schools for children to create art for the city’s planned 150th anniversary. Although most events were canceled due to the pandemic, some of the poster plans could be re-used: e.g., teachers were to select pieces for a city exhibit from the wider array of posters, but all posters would be displayed at the schools.  Each school has hundreds of children across all grades.

MEETING ADJOURNED 8:15 pm

Bharati Dhruva and Melissa Holland recording note (for Heather Brooks)