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Record of Proceedings

Golden Arts & Culture Commission Business Meeting - August 31, 2026

City Council & Boards — Monday, August 31, 2026
BodyGolden, Colorado
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateMonday, August 31, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:30:08

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:03

Maybe we will get started.

0:05

Alright, I'm gonna go ahead and call the even though this is August, I'm gonna call the September meeting to order.

0:13

And with that, can I get a roll call, please?

0:17

Yes, Rick Souters.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Uh Sersha Keris Graves.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Kenny Omed, Christy Bright, Len Matheo.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Laura Tanner.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Harris Hazelman.

0:29

Heather Mullins.

0:31

Cindy J.

0:32

Here.

0:34

We had a heather sliding out in that moment.

0:36

Best appeal of that.

0:37

I think she'll be here in the middle.

0:39

Can I get an approval of the agenda?

0:42

I move to approve the agenda.

0:45

Is there a second?

0:46

Second.

0:47

All in favor?

0:48

I approved.

0:51

Heather.

0:51

Hi.

0:52

And then on the previous month's minutes.

0:57

Is there any discussion or can I get a motion to approve those?

1:02

I have a couple typos.

1:03

Okay.

1:04

Yeah, so um Laura did email me.

1:06

Um I corrected stories worth telling to worth telling.

1:10

Um Cindy J, you were not both absent and present, but you were absent.

1:14

And um on our staff notes, we the planning committee did not meet.

1:19

Um the strategic planning subcommittee did not meet on the 31st, they met on the 20th.

1:24

And those were all the things that Laura brought to our attention.

1:27

Can I add one more?

1:29

Um the update on integrated department strategic plan, the last sentence it says a revised draft will be brought back to the full commission for review one, the subcommittee, and I think that means meant to be once the subcommittee.

1:49

We're all copy editors.

1:51

I know this is why don't even listen to me.

1:55

So we'll white more.

2:00

I always feel like I should apologize.

2:02

This is intelligence right here.

2:04

Oh totally.

2:06

She's making it work.

2:07

Yes.

2:08

Are you guys doing the work?

2:09

That's right.

2:11

With the aforementioned um corrections, do I have a motion to approve?

2:16

So moved.

2:17

And is there a second?

2:18

Second.

2:19

All in favor?

2:20

Aye.

2:22

Motion approved.

2:24

And is there any public comments?

2:26

There's the public comment that I was to your package that we saw that was a sculpture request, and then Karen Oxman was just here and out the door, but you I will share this with you next time.

2:39

But essentially, I think is a continued request for artwork near the Golden Pond, which is on the North Ford.

2:52

Yeah.

2:53

Say it again.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Strategic Planning██████████████████21%
Procedural████████10%
Public Engagement████5%
Community Engagement███3%
Economic Development██2%
Data Management██2%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Homelessness█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Golden Arts & Culture Commission Business Meeting - August 31, 2026

The Golden Arts & Culture Commission (ACC) held a business meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:33 p.m. in Council Chambers at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO. The meeting included presentations from the Golden Welcome Center and Stories Worth Telling film festival, a vote to approve the merged 2026–2029 Strategic Plan for the Arts, Culture & Museums Department, and updates on public art projects, grants, and upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the meeting agenda as presented.
  • Approved the previous meeting's minutes with amendments: corrected a typo ("Stories Worth Telling"), corrected attendance, noted that the strategic planning subcommittee met on August 20 (not July 31), and clarified the final sentence of the Integrated Department Strategic Plan update.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Water Tower Public Art Proposal (Brian Quarnstrom, submitted via email): Proposed a large-scale mural or painting on the water tower at Gateway Village near I-70, citing Golden Municipal Code Chapter 2.60. The commission noted the idea was previously discussed in 2018 but did not advance. Staff directed the proposal to the upcoming community site-mapping process.
  • Golden Pond Artwork Request (Karen Oxman, in person): Request submitted for artwork near the Golden Pond on North Ford. Staff will direct the request to the same site-mapping process.

Discussion Items

Golden Welcome Center Presentation (Lora Knowlton)

  • Overview: Nonprofit 501(c)(3) visitor center located at 1010 Washington Ave; governed by a board of trustees; operated by two part-time employees and 40 volunteers.
  • Statistics: 34,000 visitors in 2025; volunteers contributed 4,300 hours, valued at $172,000 (using Colorado volunteer value rate). Revenue from donations, tenants, facility rentals, a services agreement with Visit Golden, grants, and merchandise sales.
  • Role in Arts & Culture: Member of the Golden Cultural Alliance; serves as the front door to cultural community; provides brochure space, discounted rental rates for nonprofits, and promotes local arts and culture groups.
  • Key Outcome: Commission acknowledged the presentation; no formal action required.

Stories Worth Telling Film Festival Update (Gabe Rovick)

  • Festival Details: Third annual multi-day film festival will take place October 16–18, 2026, at the American Mountaineering Center (Clayworks). Categories include adventure, human-interest, and documentary storytelling. Films include a feature on all-female bronc riders (premiering at Tribeca), a documentary about wild horses and addiction, a prison recording studio film (Best Picture at Tribeca), and a Grateful Dead-themed ski film ("Mountains of the Moon").
  • Grant Status: Stories Worth Telling is a tier-three grantee; the grant helped revive the festival. The commission encouraged the organization to apply for the next grant cycle (applications open August 28).
  • Community Engagement: Seeking volunteers and attendees; will promote at Golden Mashup and through local outreach.
  • Key Outcome: Commission expressed support and offered to assist with promotion and potential jury participation.

Strategic Plan Update and Approval

  • Process: An ad hoc subcommittee (Laura Tanner, Kristie Brice, Saoirse Charis-Graves, Rick Souders, with staff Alyssa Williams and Nathan Richie) merged the ACC’s original 2026–2029 Strategic Plan with the Golden History Museum’s strategic planning effort. Two multi-hour wordsmithing sessions revised the draft to be more humanistic and readable.
  • Commission Feedback: Members praised the revised plan as a "living document," more accessible, clearly defining roles, and providing flexible, actionable goals. Minor concerns included the phrase "ACC and the City determined" (clarified that staff consulted with City leadership, who were 100% supportive).
  • Next Steps: The subcommittee will continue to develop a mission and vision statement; commissioners were asked to submit draft statements or keywords by September 8, 2026.
  • Vote: Motion to approve the 2026–2029 Arts, Culture & Museums Department Strategic Plan as presented passed unanimously.

Staff Report & Other Updates (Nathan Richie)

  • Lions Park Playground Art: Jury met August 20 and selected three finalists; each will receive an honorarium to develop two design concepts. The jury will reconvene for a final recommendation.
  • 150/250 Anniversary Artwork: Graham Carraway has begun installing a mural at the Water Treatment Plant; a dedication ceremony is being planned.
  • Collection Conservation: Pacific Coast Conservation completed conservation work except for the tops of the Pickaxe and Shovel.
  • Museum Updates: Final Art in the Park event (August 15) drew ~50 attendees; "Culture Makes: Your Glimpse of Golden" event on September 16; exhibit "Welcome Home: Honoring Colorado's Vietnam Veterans" opens September 24 (5:00–7:00 p.m.) with a pinning ceremony.
  • Grants Program: Application translated into Spanish; released August 28. Webinar September 1; optional draft review due September 8; final applications due October 2.
  • Subcommittees: AIPP Subcommittee met August 13 to review handbook edits; Strategic Planning Subcommittee met August 5 and 20 to finalize the strategic plan.
  • America250-Colorado150 Commemorations: Statewide drone show "Stories in the Sky" will take place September 12 at Ulysses Park (7:00 p.m. start, drone show at dusk), with food trucks and live music.
  • Leeds School of Business Benchmarking: Staff invited Leeds to present their economic impact study at the November 2026 commission meeting. The initial report focused on employment data but raised many questions; commissioners agreed to define the metrics and data they need.
  • City Organizational Assessment: The City has engaged a group to conduct a deep-dive assessment of workplace culture and staff experience; staff acknowledged recent challenges and expressed commitment to rebuilding trust.
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Petition: Commissioner announced a citizen petition to require a $250 fee for artists who illustrate or photograph wildlife on public land. Commission encouraged members to comment in opposition on the CPW website.

New Business

  • Subcommittee Membership: The commission clarified that subcommittees (Grants, AIPP) are not limited to three members; any commissioner wishing to join should notify staff.
  • Boards and Commissions Training: Recording of the CIRSA training (August 24) is available; commissioners must watch it.
  • Upcoming Presentation: Golden Makers will present at the October 2026 meeting (15 minutes).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved 2026–2029 Arts, Culture & Museums Department Strategic Plan (unanimous).
  • Approved previous meeting minutes with amendments (unanimous).
  • Directed public art proposals (water tower, Golden Pond) to the fall 2026 community site-mapping process.
  • Set due date for mission/vision statement drafts: September 8, 2026.
  • Invited Leeds School of Business to present at the November 2026 meeting.
  • Encouraged commissioner involvement in subcommittees and attendance at public art jury meetings as observers.
  • Urged commissioners to comment on the CPW imaging fee petition.

Meeting Transcript

Maybe we will get started. Alright, I'm gonna go ahead and call the even though this is August, I'm gonna call the September meeting to order. And with that, can I get a roll call, please? Yes, Rick Souters. Here. Uh Sersha Keris Graves. Here. Kenny Omed, Christy Bright, Len Matheo. Here. Laura Tanner. Here. Harris Hazelman. Heather Mullins. Cindy J. Here. We had a heather sliding out in that moment. Best appeal of that. I think she'll be here in the middle. Can I get an approval of the agenda? I move to approve the agenda. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I approved. Heather. Hi. And then on the previous month's minutes. Is there any discussion or can I get a motion to approve those? I have a couple typos. Okay. Yeah, so um Laura did email me. Um I corrected stories worth telling to worth telling. Um Cindy J, you were not both absent and present, but you were absent. And um on our staff notes, we the planning committee did not meet. Um the strategic planning subcommittee did not meet on the 31st, they met on the 20th. And those were all the things that Laura brought to our attention. Can I add one more? Um the update on integrated department strategic plan, the last sentence it says a revised draft will be brought back to the full commission for review one, the subcommittee, and I think that means meant to be once the subcommittee. We're all copy editors. I know this is why don't even listen to me. So we'll white more. I always feel like I should apologize. This is intelligence right here. Oh totally. She's making it work. Yes. Are you guys doing the work? That's right. With the aforementioned um corrections, do I have a motion to approve? So moved.

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