Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - March 14, 2022
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Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting - March 14, 2022
The Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission held a teleconference meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022, from 2:09 p.m. to 3:53 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a quorum of nine commissioners present. Key actions included approval of the consent calendar, adoption of the 2022-2024 Cultural Arts Awards Grant Program allocating $950,000 to 69 organizations, and receipt of informational reports on the commission work plan, director’s report, and chairperson’s report. Public comment was heard on several items, and commissioners discussed strategic priorities including public art policy, permit streamlining, and advocacy.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Meeting Minutes (Feb. 14, 2022): Passed by a motion (Commissioner Wilson-Ramey / Commissioner Hastings) with a vote of 6-0-5 (Commissioners Blumenstock, Enriquez, Gott, Lavulo, and Perez absent). Approved the minutes as presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Item 3 (Cultural Arts Awards): Two speakers addressed the commission. Vijay Singh questioned the use of panelists from outside Sacramento, asking about best practices. Brian Holloway (representing Sacramento Music and Performing Arts Center) announced a community meeting for a planned music venue and invited commissioners to attend.
- On Item 4 (Director’s Report): Three speakers: Marie Costa thanked staff and grantees and urged the commission to move away from using budget size as a funding factor, citing historic discrimination; she also reported that the California Arts Council halted a decentralization process due to harm to BIPOC organizations. Vijay Singh raised concerns about the small size of film incentives and the challenge of insurance and workers’ comp requirements for new creatives. Alpha M. Bruton praised the transparency of the grant process and the diversity of the panel, and highlighted the Florence Boulevard Conservation Project and pop-up research.
- On Item 5 (Chairperson’s Report): Vijay Singh again spoke, thanking the commission and reiterating the need to address permitting and equity issues. Alpha M. Bruton’s hand was raised but did not speak.
- Matters Not on the Agenda: None.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Commission Work Plan (Oral Report): Cultural and Creative Economy Manager Megan Van Voorhis presented a draft work plan focusing on strategic issues: public art policy (including art in public places, mural policy, monuments, maintenance), arts and entertainment regulatory review, Creative Edge Goal 6 (investment), creative space and cultural facilities, and grant policies. Commissioners discussed the need for a public art master plan, inventory of existing art, maintenance funding, and the importance of embedding racial and cultural equity in all areas. Commissioner Naranjo raised concerns about preservation of aging murals and the history of a vision for art on every block from Old Sacramento to the convention center. Commissioner Hastings and Commissioner Blumenstock noted that such a specific plan was not previously known, and emphasized the need for comprehensive collection management. The item was received and filed without a vote.
- Item 3 – 2022-2024 Cultural Arts Awards Grant Program: Arts Program Coordinator Melissa Cirone presented the staff recommendation to approve first-year allocations of $950,000 for 69 nonprofit arts organizations. The new funding rubric emphasized diversity, equity, inclusion, artistic impact, community impact, and organizational accountability. Funding combined base awards, performance awards, and top 10% awards, resulting in grants ranging from $5,000 to $34,162. The panel recommended that six lowest-scoring organizations receive condition of award training. Of 69 applicants, 22 were new grantees, and 47 were returning. The program now funds organizations serving Iranian, Hmong, Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian, Brazilian, Latinx, Indian, African American, disabled, and LGBTQ+ communities. Commissioner Naranjo questioned the disparity between the highest score and the highest award, which staff explained as a combination of budget size and score. Commissioner Lepore asked about the scoring process. Several commissioners expressed strong approval of the diversity and fairness of the process. Motion by Commissioner Lepore, seconded by Commissioner Gott, passed unanimously (9-0, with Commissioners Enriquez and Perez absent).
- Item 4 – Director’s Report: Megan Van Voorhis reported on the final approval of $10 million in ARPA funds for the creative economy, successful Clean California grant applications (including the Florence Road Beautification Project, Del Rio Trail public art, 21st Avenue Art Street, and others), updates on the Sacramento Film and Media Incentive program’s third round opening, and the arts and entertainment regulatory review RFP. Commissioners discussed the importance of streamlining permits for arts activations and film production. The report was received and filed.
- Item 5 – Chairperson’s Report: Chair Dr. Steve Winlock emphasized the need for commissioner advocacy, noting his meetings with County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy and Councilmember Katie Benizwella, and a planned meeting with Councilmember Rick Jennings. He praised the Cultural Arts Awards process. Commissioners Naranjo and Hastings encouraged the creation of business cards and name badges to aid in advocacy. The report was received and filed.
- Commission Comments-Ideas and Questions: Commissioner Gott praised the public participation. Commissioner Wilson-Ramey asked about a timeline for returning to in-person meetings; the Deputy City Clerk responded that no timeline was set but updates would be provided.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent calendar (meeting minutes of Feb. 14, 2022).
- Approved first-year allocations of $950,000 for the 2022-2024 Cultural Arts Awards Grant Program, funding 69 organizations (Motion passed 9-0).
- Received and filed the Commission Work Plan, Director’s Report, and Chairperson’s Report.
- Commission to develop a strategic work plan addressing public art policy, regulatory review, and equity; staff will work with the chair and vice chair on priorities and timelines.
- Staff to pursue creation of commissioner name badges and consider business cards.
- The next meeting is anticipated in April 2022 (no specific date given).
Meeting Transcript
Chair, looks like we are live on the web page, so staff is ready. And when you're ready to call to order, good to go. Thank you. Good afternoon and welcome to the Monday, March 14th, 2022, Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish your quorum? Yes, thank you, Chair. Commissioner Blumenstock. Is absent. Commissioner Gott is absent, but maybe joining us. Commissioner Hastings. Absent. Commissioner Lapore. Here. Commissioner Meta. Here. Commissioner Naranjo. Here. Commissioner Perez. Is absent. Commissioner Wilson Raimi. Here. Vice Chair Enriquez. Absent. And Chair Winlock. Here. Thank you, Chair. We do have a quorum. The meeting is virtual via Zoom. For members of the public who wish to join, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you've joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment speaking period for your desired item. Online, if you're online, click on the raise hand on the bottom of the screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tap. Uh telephone. If you are calling by a telephone to raise your hand, dial nine, star nine, then to unmute or mute, dial six, star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You will have two minutes to speak once you're called upon. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of the Sacramento Indigenous people and the tribal lands to the original people of the land, the Nissan Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu, the Valley, and the Plains Miwok, and the Putwen Wentun people and the people of the Witten Wilton Ranch Ranchera. Sacramento's only federally funded recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk behind us today on this ancestral lands by choosing to gather today to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Please rise for the uh opening acknowledgement in honor of the Sacramento Indigenous People Tribal Land. To the original people of this land, the Nissan people, the Southern Maidu, the Valley and Plain Miwok, the Pontun Wintoon Peoples, and the people of the Wilton Ranchiera, Sacramento's only federal recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral grounds by choosing to gather together today in an active practice of acknowledgement and the appreciation for the Sacramento Indigenous people history contribution lives. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public who'd like to speak on the consent agenda? Thank you, Chair. I have no speakers with their hands raised to speak on the consent calendar.
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