Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Committee Meeting - November 13, 2025
Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Committee Meeting - November 13, 2025
The Johns Creek Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment (ACE) Committee met on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive. Chair Zach Hahn presided. The meeting covered updates, a public art proposal, the 2026 special events calendar, the 2026 meeting calendar, and brainstorming for the America 250 celebration.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the September 11, 2025 meeting.
Discussion Items
- City Update: City Manager Kimberly Greer reported the re-election of the mayor and three council members, and that the performing arts center bond referendum did not pass. Upcoming events include the Literary Fair (Nov 15) and Taste of Johns Creek (Nov 15), and Holly Jolly Block Party on Dec 5.
- Public Art Application from Johns Creek Beautification: Lynn Pennington presented a proposal for three stainless steel dog silhouettes (Dalmatian, German Shepherd, Vizsla) by artist Jim Collins, to be installed at the new Fire Station #63/Police South Substation. The committee discussed location, durability, and the intent to honor canine officers. One member recused as a board member of Johns Creek Beautification. The committee voted 6-0-1 to approve the application, with the city covering installation and maintenance costs (estimated under $2,500) and JCB fundraising for the artwork (approx. $7,500).
- 2026 Special Events/Program Calendar: Staff presented a draft calendar with several changes: moving Easter Bunny Hop to The Boardwalk, a grand opening event for The Boardwalk (potentially combined with July 3rd Independence Day celebration or a concert), alternating summer concerts between Newtown Park and The Boardwalk, a reimagined Arts Festival at The Boardwalk, and a reimagined Diwali Celebration at The Boardwalk. Feedback from the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (RPAC) was shared. Committee members expressed support for separate grand opening and Independence Day events, rotating concerts, and incorporating indoor art displays. They also provided input on Diwali timing and Juneteenth improvements.
- America 250 Celebration Brainstorming: Chair Hahn presented numerous ideas including a patriotic dress contest, declaration of independence signing banner, youth Constitution reading, a knitted flag, naturalization ceremony, and a birthday cake for veterans. The committee supported exploring these ideas and agreed to make America 250 a standing agenda item.
- 2026 Meeting Calendar: Staff recommended switching from monthly to bimonthly meetings (six per year) to allow for more focused agendas. The committee unanimously approved the proposed bimonthly calendar (February, April, June, August, October, December) pending Council finalization.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the public art application (6-0-1).
- Approved the minutes from September 11, 2025.
- Provided direction on the 2026 special events calendar, with staff to incorporate feedback and present to Council.
- Approved the 2026 bimonthly meeting calendar.
- Decided to continue America 250 planning at future meetings, with staff to explore logistics of proposed ideas.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. And we are recording this evening. Calling the media order at 6 30. Thank you. If you'll permit, I'll call roll. We have Cynthia. Here. Dan. Karen. Here. Azure. Here. Zach. Here. Christy. Here. And Menachi. Thank you. We have a quorum this evening. Awesome. We have some guests here. I don't know if this is for public comment. A guest. How would she? How do you want? Since Miss Pennington is here representing Johns Creek Beautification, she'll also speak during the public art discussion. Okay. So no need for public comment. No need for public comment unless she has a separate issue to discuss. All right. I'd like to move on to the city update then. Fantastic. So a couple of just quick updates for you guys. Since you met last, we had an election. It was a really big election for Johns Creek. We had a mayor and three council members up for election. All of them were re-elected. We also had a performing arts center bond referendum on the ballot. That was decided in a very decisive manner, and that is not a project the city will be moving forward at this time. But to circle back to the re-election of the mayor, Mayor John Bradbury, Councilmember Bob Uramelli, Councilmember Larry DiBiassi, and Mary Mayor Pro Tem Dalip Tunki. The reason I want to highlight that for Ace in particular is that all four of those members of our current city council, as well as the three that they go back and join, were the ones that made arts and culture a strategic priority for the city. So ACE is a very apolitical board, and I love that. You guys are the good ideas club that helps us make things extra special related to arts and culture. But it's always exciting when the community affirms we're headed in the right direction, and arts and culture has a strategic priority. This weekend we have the literary fair happening here at City Hall and in the OC work session room. 12 to 5 will have some really amazing authors, author talks, the cat note address with former Governor Nathan Deal highlighting his children's book, Vito the Cat, and then some really well-renowned authors giving a keynote address as well as panel discussions. So if reading is your thing, really fantastic event this weekend. Also on Saturday, the chamber is hosting a Taste of Johns Creek event down at Newtown Park from two to six. So if that's more your style, no, we a lot of the amazing events we have, food is like a central part of how we celebrate. So a lot of local Johns Creek businesses participating in that one.
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