Joliet Arts Commission Meeting - September 16, 2026

The Joliet Arts Commission met on 2026-09-16T11:00:00+00:00 (agenda listed Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 5:00 PM) at City Hall Council Chambers. Present were John Simpson Jr., Tom Grotovsky, Deborah Filotto, Donna Franks-Tapley, Brian Fruits-Esparza, and Ron Romero; Peg Stoiber was absent. The commission approved the prior meeting minutes, recommended approval of the Poet Laureate contract, received staff updates on grants, subcommittees, fall/winter events, and public art documentation, and heard one public comment.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the July 15, 2026 meeting minutes (TMP-10282) by a 6-0 vote, with Commissioner Stoiber absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No citizens spoke on agenda items.
• Ryan Francis, a Joliet artist, said he is an animation graduate of the Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg and works as a Joliet school district bus driver. He expressed interest in new art opportunities, offered to connect the commission with the library's digital media studio, and said he would like to see more outdoor events and artist grant opportunities, especially at Town Square. Ann Sylvester responded that the city does not currently have a grant program for individual artists or community organizations.

Discussion Items

• Poet Laureate Contract (TMP-10291): Ann Sylvester, Cultural Affairs and Special Events Director, explained that the commission's vote would be a recommendation and the contract still required City Council approval. She clarified that Uxmar Torres' total compensation is $5,000, not $10,000. The contract runs through December 31, 2027 and includes paid programs/events. Commissioner Simpson asked when selecting the next Poet Laureate would begin; Sylvester said the process would begin in the next few months because approvals take time.
• Subcommittee Meeting Schedules (TMP-10283): Luke Gundersen, Special Events Coordinator, reviewed three committees. The Public Art and Policy Committee (Tom Grotovsky and Ron Romero) has a meeting scheduled for October 2. The Public Murals and Decommissioning Committee (Donna Franks-Tapley and John Simpson) was coordinating times; Gundersen said he would send options. The Stadium Club RFQ Vinyl Mural Committee (Deborah Filotto and Tom Grotovsky) is finalizing an RFQ to be issued this week, with submissions due October 8 and a target review at the October 21 Arts Commission meeting; the committee may meet via Zoom.
• Grant Award and Opportunity (TMP-10284): Gundersen reported the city received an Illinois Arts Council Art Grant of $2,500, awarded in August, which he described as the lowest amount. He also shared the Illinois Creative Accelerator Fund, which provides $10,000 grants to individual artists and is not open to city applicants. Commissioner Romero asked where the $2,500 grant would go; Sylvester did not have the notes, but discussion indicated the prior earmark was for murals. Romero also expressed interest in using grant money for utility-box art and putting funds directly into individual artists' hands.
• City Square Fall/Winter Events (TMP-10285): Gundersen gave an update covering final Sounds on 66 dates, Dancing on the Square Wednesdays, Friday farmers markets through October, the rescheduled Kids Fest on September 19, a screening of Luca on October 9, Panic in the Plaza on October 10, Pride in the Park on September 19, and the Light the Holidays Festival and Parade on November 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Ann Sylvester confirmed there will be no Light the Holidays market this year; instead, the city is partnering with Chicago Street Markets for an outdoor holiday market on two December weekends (December 11-12 and December 18-19).
• Public Art Inventory Meeting (TMP-10286): Gundersen reported on his and Sylvester's meeting with Kathleen Scarboro, Kathleen Farrell, and Dante DiBartolo about Joliet's murals, sculptures, and public art. The goal is to document locations, artists, commissioning history, current conditions, and maintenance or preservation needs. Some condition surveys are 10 to 20 years old. Commissioner Simpson asked to participate in future follow-up meetings; staff said he could attend future meetings with those contacts.

Member Comments

• Donna Franks-Tapley offered to help develop visual arts programming for City Square next year.
• Brian Fruits-Esparza thanked the commission and described his goal of bringing theater, including adult and children's theater, downtown and connecting with local restaurants and venues.
• John Simpson asked about commission vacancies; Sylvester said she believed the commission was one member short.
• Ron Romero said Wine, Jazz and Arts would return next year and invited commissioners to help. He invited everyone to the Gigantar lighting ceremony on September 26 at 7:00 p.m. in front of the museum, with a possible Cass Street closure between Chicago and Ottawa. He noted the 25-foot guitar sculpture by artist Shannon McDonald had returned after 2.5 years; the building sustained over $2 million storm damage while the sculpture was unscathed.
• Tom Grotovsky noted that a library art event was not widely publicized; Sylvester said staff had requested a meeting with the library without receiving a response. Grotovsky also invited Michelle Carlson, an elementary art teacher at Farragut Elementary who previously served on Toledo's arts commission for 14 years, to apply and attend the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Approved July 15, 2026 minutes (6-0).
• Recommended approval of the Uxmar Torres Poet Laureate contract (6-0); the item will go to City Council. Staff will clarify contract language so the total is clearly $5,000.
• Gundersen will send subcommittee schedule options, finalize and distribute the Stadium Club RFQ, and share Illinois Creative Accelerator Fund details with commissioners.
• The next Arts Commission meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2026.
• Adjourned by unanimous consent (motion by Romero, second by Fruits-Esparza).