08/19/2020 - Meeting Minutes Salt Lake City Arts Council
Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday,August 19, 2020
WebEx Online
Present: Andrea Ashdown Susan Koles Rickman
Annie Dayton Larry Cohen
Erika Hill Dave Mortensen
Kat Potter Torle Nenbee
Kathy Davis Efren Garcia
Leah Langan
Matt Castillo
Staff Members: Felicia Baca, Arts Division Director
Sylvia Richards, City Council Office
Guests: Kanika Welch
Excused: Jared Jones
Not present: Steve Barth
I. Call to Orderand Welcome Guests
Ms. Leah Langan called the meeting to order at approximately 5:30
II. Approve Board Meeting Minutes
Ms.Annie Dayton corrected errors in the minutes from the Board's July 15, 2020 convening.
Ms. Kathy Davis made a motion to approve the minutes, Ms. Kat Potter seconded and the
motion passed unanimously. Mr. Dave Mortensen read a statement from the City concerning
remote convening due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
III. Management Update
A. Executive Director updates
1. Program updates
Ms. Felicia Baca updated the Board that City Council approved an additional
$25,000 for arts grants focusing on equity and inclusion for the current fiscal
year. A press release for Twilight Concert Series fundraiser would be released
and Ms. Baca asked Board members for participation in sharing the fundraiser.
The official start of the fundraiser is August 21, 2020. Ms. Baca stated that a
change to the funding process forthe Twilight Concert Series had been
transmitted to City Council to allow for payment in advance rather than after the
fact. The Arts Council's non-departmental contract will be completed in the
coming weeks. Ms. Baca stated that the Living Legacy video series production
was delayed, but final edits were expected soon.
2. Mayor's Office updates
Ms. Baca stated that the City purchased a membership to Government Alliance
on Racial Equity. She has been on an arts and culture working group with peers
across the country and will have a team member serve on the initiative. She is
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looking into getting access to Arts Council Board members. Ms. Nenbee stated
that she is pleased with the creativity and individual participation in the Black
Lives Matter mural at the City and County Building Ms. Baca said there were six
to eight people who had never painted a mural before.She is happy with the
engagement with young people.
IV. Budget/Financial Update-
A. Review of Financials and Budgets
Board Treasurer Mr. Matt Castillo led a review of the Arts Council Balance sheet,
noting limited transactions because it was the first month of the fiscal year. He
stated the Council is in a good position, with unrestricted assets, $500,000 in the
bank, and $400,000 to pay the remainder of the grant funds. Mr. Castillo also
noted that receivables are low, related specifically to our Zoo Arts and Parks
(ZAP)grant payments.
He discussed profits and loss, noting that the Arts Council received the first ZAP
payment for the fiscal year. The administrative and programming expenses were
low, with only$13,000 spent this fiscal year. Ms. Baca noted one individual artist
emergency fund of$500 that had rolled over into the current fiscal year.
V. Board Updates
A. Grants Committee-Action
Ms. Annie Dayton summarized the work the grants committee has been doing.
The grants committee reviewed four categories of apps, used web grants online
to review and score applications, averaging individual scores into an overall
score for each applicant and meeting four times via Webex to discuss
applications. Requests for funding exceeded the available funds, so the grants
committee made across the board cuts to fit within the budget. General support
applications were cut 45 percent, other applications were cut 35 or 40 percent.
One request did not get funded because they did not have a required match,
which is a primary eligibility requirement. Mr. Mortensen stated that the
applications discussed were not formally funded at this point in the process, they
were put forward with a recommendation to be approved. Ms. Potter asked how
the number of applicants compared to last year and Ms. Baca stated that there
were similar numbers as last year and that the Council had consolidated project
grants with mini grants so the year to year data is probably not reflective because
of the change. The Council received over$800,000 in requests and only has
$355,000 to award. Ms. Dayton noted that Ms. Ellis had put together a summary
sheet for the Grant Recommendations. Mr. Larry Cohen motioned to approve the
funding recommendations, Mr. Garcia seconded, and all the board members
voted in favor.
B. Board Commitment Form
Mr. Mortensen proposed a review and update to the Board commitment form.
The Board read the commitment form together and discussed recommendations
for additions, including reference to required attendance at Busker Fest, gallery
stroll, and other programming. Ms. Langan stated that the language could be
more inclusive to folks who may see the board as socio-economically exclusive
by including that a lot of the grantees include free ticketsto those who are on the
Arts Council Board.
C. Committees forthe Future
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Mr. Mortensen stated that the Board has Grants, Executive, Strategic Planning,
and Nominating/Governance Committees. In the past couple of months,the
Board has discussed adding a Diversity and Equity Committee, but the Executive
Committee has not formalized that. Mr. Mortenson would like to have a
preliminary meeting to discuss next steps with those who are interested in
participation. Ms. Baca stated that the Board wants to be respectful of members'
capacity, and that the Arts Council's new membership in the Governmental
Alliance on Racial Equity can fill in some efforts that would be filled by the Board.
Ms. Baca would like to talk about recruitment strategies forthe City's workforce.
She stated that a tangible goal is to recruit one person forthe board, and the
Board can have as many as 25 members.
D. Outgoing member
Board members thanked former Board member Ms. Kanika Welch, for her time
on the Board and wished her well in her next endeavor.
VI. Arts Event Discussion
Mr. Mortensen stated that the Great Online Fringe Festival had occurred, and Ms. Davis had
attended. Mr. Castillo had attended the virtual Craft Lake City and reported on that event. Ms.
Baca stated that she has a panel discussion for an exhibition at Finch Lane Gallery coming up
and was attending a bi-weekly conversation surrounding anti-racism with artists in the
community. Mr. Mortensen stated that the Urban Arts Festival had been converted to a month-
long festival on weekends. Ms. Potter stated that Utah Presents virtual fundraiser would stream
from Kingsbury Hall.
VII. Public Comment
None.
IX. Other Business/Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 6:29
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