Metro Arts Commission Meeting – October 9, 2024

This meeting of the Metro Arts Commission centered on financial oversight, staff treatment, grant transparency, and equity commitments. Commissioners heard extensive public comment, discussed a Metro Legal letter concerning financial management and HR investigations, debated the role of consultants, and received updates on an MHRC Title VI complaint and the cultural planning process. Key decisions included the formation of an ad hoc budget and administrative oversight committee, termination of a consultant contract, and deferral of public art items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Simone Boyd (North Nashville resident) criticized the treatment of staff, lack of transparency, and what she called "theater" around equity. She stated that Director Singh had pushed out staff through "legal shenanigans" and that she had sought mental health support after interactions with him. She urged the commission to take the HR investigation seriously.
• Cecilia (speaker) attacked financial stewardship, alleging that hundreds of thousands of dollars had gone to no-bid contractors. She claimed Director Singh admitted to making a "Ricky mistake" about $2 million in funding and that an employee (Van Mirabelli) had been on payroll without working for 18 months. She recommended dismantling the advocacy committee until proper stewardship is ensured.
• Joseph Guterres (District 7 resident, grants manager at Data Marketmatics Fund) spoke about anti-racist and equity commitments. He described his foundation’s transformation from 10% BIPOC-led grantees in 2017 to 75% in 2023, emphasizing that the journey required struggle, internal disagreements, and board departures.
• Alan Fay (yielding time to Simone Boyd) reiterated concerns about Director Singh's truthfulness, stating that the commission cannot achieve equity without a leader willing to tell the truth. He said many artists no longer apply for Metro Arts grants because the process is too painful.
• Stephanie Pruitt Gaines (featured artist, former commissioner) shared her email and urged commissioners to reach out to local artists for insight, noting that individual artists are deeply invested in the creative community.
• Janine Cristiano (former Metro Arts staff) and Cecilia "Alusila" Trible (former Metro Arts staff) called for individual accountability and honesty. Trible urged commissioners to review her HR interview and to understand institutional racism as a system of resource distribution. She offered to meet with commissioners to help move the institution forward.
• Councilperson Joy Styles (District 32, chair of Public Facilities, Arts, and Culture) announced a specially called council meeting on February 26 at 6 p.m. to discuss transparency and the voting process. She invited commissioners to attend.

Discussion Items

• Approval of Minutes (January 25, 2024): Minutes were approved with one abstention.
• Artist Spotlight: Stephanie Pruitt Gaines, a poet and social enterprise entrepreneur, shared her journey as a working poet and engaged the commission in a collaborative poem about Nashville arts.
• Chair’s Report: Acting Chair Heather Lefkowitz read a letter from Chair Diana Perez appointing an ad hoc Budget and Administrative Oversight Committee to collaborate with Metro departments on financial and HR issues. New committee assignments were also announced (e.g., Heather Lefkowitz as secretary, Depree Love as chair of the Grants Committee).
• Metro Legal Letter Discussion: The commission added this item to the agenda via motion. The letter, dated February 7, 2024, noted that $2 million in surplus funds could be made available but that an audit committee had approved a review of financial management. It also stated that multiple staff had reported workplace conduct violations, prompting an independent investigation by attorney Luther Wright. Commissioners expressed concerns about grant oversight, the increase in consultants from $220,000 to $440,000, and the lack of clarity on how Thrive grants and micro-organization grants are monitored.
• Grants Process and Oversight: Commissioners questioned how grants are audited and the objectivity of rubrics. Grants manager Sydney Davis stated that the current rubric was created by a consultant and not adjusted for this cycle, and she had been told she cannot make changes until April. Director Singh defended the trust-based model and the increase in BIPOC applicants, while commissioners pressed for clearer standards and accountability.
• Consultant Contracts: A motion was made to terminate the contract of consultant Dana Parsons. Staff indicated that her work was complete and that they could proceed without her. The motion passed with one abstention.
• Human Relations Commission Update: Reverend Tucker reported on a Title VI complaint investigation by MHRC, focusing on the July and August votes regarding grants. He noted that 70% of Metro Arts funds have historically gone to 10 institutions. The report is nearly complete and will be presented at the next meeting.
• Cultural Planning Update: Martin Cullen of Cultural Planning Group described the process as stalled due to internal transitions. He outlined a mixed-methodology approach involving community engagement and emphasized that the plan is meant to establish the municipality's role in supporting creative life. He noted that Justin Lang’s contract is a subcontract under CPG. Commissioners asked about the cost and timeline.
• Anti-Racism and Equity Training: CARE committee chair Diana Perez (via Lefkowitz) reported on ongoing work. There was debate about proceeding with training amid pending legal claims and HR investigations. Commissioner Wade argued that delaying equity work perpetuates the problems. Director Singh reiterated that the foundational misalignment between CARE’s mandate and the commission’s actions must be resolved.

Key Outcomes

• Ad Hoc Oversight Committee Formed: Chair Perez appointed an ad hoc Budget and Administrative Oversight Committee (members: Lefkowitz, Cheek, Watts, Perez, Neflin, West, Jester) to work with Metro departments on financial and HR issues.
• Motion to Discuss Metro Legal Letter Passed: The agenda was modified to include a discussion of the letter from Metro Legal.
• Motion to Terminate Consultant Dana Parsons Passed: The commission voted to immediately end the contract/purchase orders with Dana Parsons. Motion carried with one abstention (Commissioner Watts).
• Public Art Items Deferred: A motion passed to defer all public art agenda items to the next meeting (April 18, 2024, or a specially called March meeting).
• Special Meetings Scheduled: The acting chair agreed to send out a Doodle poll for a specially called commission meeting in March and a separate grants committee meeting in March.
• Minutes Approved: Minutes from January 25, 2024, were approved with one abstention.
• Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 18, 2024 (no March regular meeting).