Sacramento Arts Commission Meeting on Creative Edge Plan and 2024 Work Plan - February 12, 2024
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Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting – February 12, 2024
The Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission met on February 12, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the Creative Edge cultural plan, review the 2023 annual report, and outline the 2024 work plan. The meeting also featured extensive public comment regarding the Wide Open Walls mural festival, with multiple speakers alleging exploitation, cultural appropriation, and underpayment of artists.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the January 8, 2024 meeting by a unanimous vote (8-0, with Commissioners Lavulo and Tocalino absent).
Discussion Items
- Creative Edge Overview and 2023/2024 Work Plan (File ID: 2024-00497): Commissioners Winlock and Enriquez provided an overview of the Creative Edge plan, a cultural guidebook adopted in June 2018 after extensive community engagement. Staff (Jason Jong and Megan Van Voorhis) reported on progress toward the plan’s six goals: arts education, cultural equity, creative economy, artist support, neighborhood infusion, and investment. They highlighted the use of CARES and ARPA funds, a $4.75 million Capital Region Creative Corps grant, and the transition of the Any Given Child program to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Challenges include stable funding and the need for a dedicated revenue source. The commission discussed the need to reaffirm Creative Edge goals and create a public dashboard.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Creative Edge item: Marcos (artist) questioned how to improve the creative economy and noted that many commissioners were unaware of his community project. Commissioner Naranjo echoed concerns about funding bottlenecks.
- On Matters Not on the Agenda (Wide Open Walls): Over a dozen speakers, including artists, community leaders, and residents, criticized Wide Open Walls (WOW) for a pattern of harm, including cultural appropriation, exploitation, and underpayment. Specific allegations included: paying artists as low as $250 per mural, charging clients significantly more; a lack of women and artists of color in early festivals; the recent misrepresentation of a Kalinga warrior in Little Saigon without community consultation; and board members profiting while artists suffered. Speakers urged the city to fund equitable organizations, ensure transparency, and hold WOW accountable. Several artists shared personal experiences of being underpaid or disrespected. Speakers also raised concerns about the city’s role in approving such projects and the need for community input.
Key Outcomes
- The commission received and discussed the Creative Edge overview and work plan; no formal vote was taken on the item.
- Chair Enriquez and Vice Chair Lavulo thanked the public for their courage in speaking and acknowledged the harm expressed.
- Megan Van Voorhis recommended that the commission place an item on the next meeting’s agenda to clarify the city’s role and relationship with Wide Open Walls and discuss options for accountability. The chair agreed to bring a staff report to the next meeting.
- No immediate action was taken on the public comments, as the matter was not agendized. The commission will follow up with a future discussion.
Director’s Report
- Jason Jong reported on website migration, a new arts program assistant, a community mural discussion at Sutter’s Landing, Del Rio Trail progress, the dedication of the River Crossing public art piece, the Hanami Line cherry tree project, and upcoming film grant opportunities.
Commissioner Comments
- Commissioners highlighted upcoming events, including Aggie Square Public Art process (Feb 29), the Sojourner Truth Museum festival, and a “Seat at the Table” discussion at Verge Gallery (Feb 21). Commissioner Naranjo promoted the Sacramento Artist Roundtable website for grant opportunities.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. My name is Cecilia Ventress, and I will be clerking the meeting this afternoon. We'll need about thirty seconds before call to order so that our team can start live streaming the meeting online. I will advise when the thirty seconds begins. Thirty seconds has begun. Good afternoon. Let's see. Welcome to the February twelfth. Right, that's February twelfth. Twenty twenty-four um Sacramento Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Commission meeting. Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, if you can please unmute. Commissioner Smith. Here. Commissioner Boyer. Here. Commissioner Baltista? Here. Commissioner Narano? Here. Commissioner Anderson. Here. Commissioner Tokolino is absent. Uh, Vice Chair Lavulo. Absent. Commissioner Winlock? Here. Commissioner Wilson Raimi. Here. And Chair Enriquez. Here. Thank you. We have four. Thank you. I really want to welcome everyone today. Normally we don't have that many people. So appreciate everyone's interest in the arts here. Um, and I'd like to remind members of the public uh that if you would like to speak on an agenda item to please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. And I think they are down in the front. So um, and then you will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. And after the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips. Is that correct? Okay. All right, we will now proceed with today's agenda. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. Kira, could you lead us, please? To the original people of this land, the Nissan and people, the Southern Mighty Valley and Plains and Walk. Patwin Winton peoples and the people of the Walton Rancho Via. Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples history, contributions, and lives.
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