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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-20 - Minutes -CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS MEETING MINUTES Fayetteville Arts Council Meeting July 20, 2022 6:00 — 7:30 p.m. Room 111 and Via Zoom Video link: https://accessfavetteville.granicus.com/plaver/clip/8170?view id=14&redirect=true In attendance in person: Abby Hollis, Chloe Bell, Emily Miller, Robert Stafford In attendance via zoom: Arts Council Chair Jessica DeBari, Dwain Cromwell, Laura Jo Hightower, City Council member Sonia Harvey City Staff: Interim Staff Liaison Alison Jumper, Director — Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs Absent: Guests: Rob Sharp, Peter Nierengarten 1. Call to Order and Roll Call The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:03pm 2. Introduction of new members New members introduced themselves 3. Approval of July 20 meeting agenda Stafford made a motion to approve the agenda Second: Miller Agenda was approved. 4. Approval of the June 15 minutes Stafford made a motion to approve the June 15' minutes Second: DeBari Mailing Address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 Minutes were approved. 5. Ramble Update City of Fayetteville — Guests: Peter Nierengarten, Rob Sharp Peter introduced the project as a downtown core revitalization project showcasing sustainable stormwater, arts and culture, etc. Did RFP process to solicit proposals last fall to find development partner for southern building. Brian Reindl Properties was the selected proposal. Sharp presented the development project in detail to the board. Harvey said it looks great and she likes the materials and she looks forward to working with the developers. She further asked about the hotel developers. Sharp provided additional background information about the company. Harvey asked about how the local art is integrated in the rooms. She noted there looks like there are many opportunities to display art an asked if there would be opportunities to buy art. Sharp explained he did not think it would be a place to buy art. DeBari said a good model to look at is the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto that has artist residencies attached who rotate out. They engaged local artists to help with the decor. Is more locally driven. Harvey thanked Sharp for the explanation and example. She asked Nierengarten about the performance space and how that is being thought about for the hotel. Nierengarten pointed out where the stage is and explained how the sound would be projecting away from the hotel Stafford asked if the sound is being thought about at the north building as well. Nierengarten said yes, they are working with someone who design for this and met with a group to think through all the possibilities even though performances are not the primary use. Stafford asked if Sharp was still involved in the north building. Sharp said no. Harvey thanked Nierengarten for thinking through the sound and noted whatever can be done to address sound would be great to do so. DeBari asked if they've talked with the WAC about not having overlapping programming. Sharp noted they are in the early stages of talking with the WAC and Experience Fayetteville. DeBari asked what is and is not set in stone and what can they make suggestions about in the plan. Sharp said what's helpful is suggestion of specific examples Nierengarten said there will be some massaging of the building before it's in its final form. Sharp said they are happy to hear ideas now. Harvey said one recommendation would be the FAC could give them suggestions about art for the hotel, or the FAC could help source art. Sharp said it would be great to have one group of the artist community to be involved in the design process. Harvey said she thinks it seems like a great way to get a formal subcommittee to create a curation team for the hotel. DeBari agreed and thinks it would be great to have continued involvement in the art. Sharp also mentioned fundraising would also be a key part. The developer would invest so much, but it's easier to raise funds through a group like this. Stafford asked about the bike path being right in front of the metro and safety concerns. Sharp said it won't be a speedway, there won't be any blind spots and noted one tricky area. Stafford asked if there is any new information on parking. Sharp said there will be a place for all the cars. Stafford noted one of his biggest concerns is the delineation between the hotel and plaza and how there is no focal point to terminate the view. Sharp pointed out they are missing an intermediate level focal point. Nierengarten said they've worked with the landscape architects about where the lines should be blurred vs. not. Stafford noted that Theatre Squared had a concern they were being cut off from the plaza. DeBari noted she would send any suggestions via email. Stafford asked if there was going to be any public art component or consideration for bringing more art to the arts corridor. Sharp responded he had not heard anything about that. Nierengarten responded there would be art available in the hotel for public display. Bell noted that one of the feedback sessions she remembered discussion about local entities having an educational component of the project. Stafford asked about the tenants. Sharp explained the typed of tenants that will be in the spaces. Hollis asked if all the spaces are tenants and not hotel owned. Sharp said the restaurant would likely be. Miller asked if these are the only public restrooms and noted there should be contractually obligated. Sharp explained the public restrooms would be separate. Bell asked how they see performance needs being balanced with the hotel. She also asked about price point of the hotel. Sharp said the economics imply that it will likely be expensive. Bell asked if there could be a commitment of ratio of local to national art. Sharp responded he thinks that's where the committee could help. Stafford said the FAC focus is local and regional art and will always push for local. Miller noted they can elevate and capitalize on the craft aspects of the building and spaces to make it look and feel local. Miller asked about the mixed use of the parking deck. Nierengarten said it will include FPD, retail and an option for additional floors for residences. Hollis noted a concern about the original project started as an arts corridor and now it seems a cool path and hotel space with leftovers for the arts and asked about the budget for art. Nierengarten explained the design can be thought of as an extension of art, the space for performing art. They are working on building an annual budget for arts programming. Hollis would like to make sure there is a plan for art and programming. Harvey noted this hasn't been made largely public, that it came to this group first, but it will be going to City Council for approval and will be more widely available to the public at that point. 6. Theatre Squared City Council Proposal Stafford gave a brief description of the Theater Squared proposal. The Council tabled the item indefinitely. Stafford noted there must be parity in funding. He added that if the City Attorney is against it, he personally would not want to advise anyone against it. Harvey added she began a conversation with Martin Miller several years ago about artist residencies, etc. and the conversation morphed over time. Stafford noted the City Council threw the proposal to the FAC to them to fulfill their advisory role. Harvey confirmed the City Council asked for the FAC to provide a recommendation. Hightower added that she is employed by T2 and asked what protocol is. Stafford noted that the FAC is working for the citizens of Fayetteville not the respective employers and may have to recuse themselves. Hightower elaborated on the education services requested and continued to offer background on the Theatre Squared educational programming. Miller clarified what they were doing at this meeting, whether voting on a solution or just discussing the item. She noted she thought we have a duty to support diversity of disciplines. Theatre Squared is doing a great job and there may be other organizations with greater needs and doesn't think the support is warranted at this time. Hollis agreed. Harvey noted that if any arts organization comes to her, she is going to bring it forward. She asked where a list of our art partners is. Stafford said FAC had started a list but then realized CACHE was also creating a list and was managing that list; however, he hasn't seen anything come from that. Bell noted the directory is in progress; however, it is down now but it is in the works. She noted she enjoyed participating in T2 programs when she was in high school but assumed part of that was grants. It could be more appropriate for funding to come elsewhere if the efforts are statewide. She agrees with the parity. Stafford asked if the FAC would take some time study and consider the proposal and come to the next meeting with thoughts. 7. Fay Jones Woods Programming Jumper gave a brief overview of current thoughts around programming are for this year as a pilot year. She noted staff had been discussing themes including art, music, education and fitness and are developing a rough schedule for programing three to four times per month for community -based programming. This is just the beginning and a more robust plan will be developed as the Arts Director comes onboard. Miller suggested the Environmental Education Association might be able to help with some of the sessions around environment. Stafford asked what the expected opening date is still fluid. Nierengarten noted the date hasn't been set yet due to construction delay, but should be ready in the next couple of months Stafford asked about the $50,00 budget could be used for this programming. Jumper responded yes and additional funding would be requested for future years. Bell noted passive programming would be great but didn't want to focus only on events or installations, but a mix. Stafford asked if A&P had an annual budget for similar projects. Bell noted she has many ideas about programming and would love to be involved. Stafford noted we could work with the High School Theatre. Miller noted a Veterans group for therapy — Midnight Ramble — that might be something to consider. Stafford asked if the Fay Jones Woods is part of the Outdoor Refreshment Area. Nierengarten responded yes. Bell continued to share other ideas for programming. Hightower echoed the desire for Shakespeare In the Park. Stafford asked about property to the south. Nierengarten said the City doesn't own it, a private developer does. 8. Other business and public comment Harvey thanked media services for the technology that is making Zoom such a great experience. 9. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:01 pm