July 30, 2025 — Boulder Arts Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:05] Welcome to the meeting. It is right there. Wednesday, July 30, th 2025, and I know it's all. Present, but muted. Thank you. We'll open the meeting. The city of Boulder acknowledges the city is on the ancestral homelands and unceded territory of indigenous peoples who have traversed lived in and stewarded lands in the Boulder Valley since time immemorial. Those indigenous nations include the Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche.

[1:07] on Me Shoshony, Sue, and mute. The city of Boulder recognizes that those now living and working on these industrial lands have a responsibility to acknowledge and address the past, and must work to build a more just future. and with that I'd like to approve the agenda for this evening, if anybody would like to make motion. I I saw Jeffrey. We'll make a motion. A second, all in favor approved, and any motion to approve. The June 2025 meeting minutes. Those are part of the package. We've got a first, st second, second from Jeffrey, all in favor.

[2:01] Unanimous. Thank you. Public participation. Let's start with online anything online. There's any other one online who would like to join public participation. Please raise your hand. Okay, yeah. Committee has engaged with community members that will create a vision for productive, meaningful, and civic organizations. This vision supports physical and emotional safety for community members, staff and council, as well as democracy, for people of all ages lived experiences of political perspectives. for more information about this visit and the community engagement processes. Please visit the website on this page. The city will enforce the rules of the Forum found in the Walmar Revised Code section 6, 14. Need, including participants, are required.

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[5:05] Okay, yeah. And then, just if you can project your voice so that the camera puts you up and I'm an art supporter advocate. And I was an organizer of 2 way which passed by 75% of the revenues in 2023. But tonight I'm speaking as a taxpayer and as myself an administrator. I'd like to thank all of you for your service, and I'd like to thank the staff for all the work in the opportunity for that. First, st I'm a keen observer of the city of Boulder Budget Analysis city Budget Staff have been presenting details of departmental budgets to several of the commissions and boards across the city. Including the open space board of trustees. This transparency and open discussion is important to the community

[6:05] taxpayers and users of city services, the Open space Board, because they had that time to have a discussion and dispat, and themselves sent a resolution to council asking for more transparency, with regards to allocations which seem to be growing exponentially while open space budget itself. It's flat. We also have allocations in the arts budget. So it's something to pay attention to the remit from the Arts Commission is somewhat different. Yes. but you still have responsibility for making recommendations to council with respect to general appropriations in the Rc. The fact that the city budget staff isn't sharing the full details of the 2026 budget with the Arts Commission is a concern. I would encourage the Commission to push staff to be more transparent. And again, it's not fair. It's about the staff

[7:01] much sooner. Let's see, the conversation needs to be happening now. Secondly, Boulder's General fund should support the city of Boulder Arts staff, and overhead allocations. but to a dedicated fund should be supporting the activities spelled out in the evaluation directly grant funding for arts and cultural nonprofits, professional artists, arts, education venues and workspaces cover large and multi-tenuate program the community voted for that. and they also weighed in that their highest priority in my with 93% saying that increased support for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations was their highest priority. 3, rd many leaders in the community have now realized the significant economic contradiction which can come from the Sundance film festival at a time when sales tax revenues have fun.

[8:03] But I urge you to enforce that that message for all of the folks not just in advance when council members are prioritizing economic vitality. Now they must see the arts as a valuable economic rights. In summary, the city of Bullwick should provide you and the community the details of the 2026 budget as soon as possible and encourage a robust discussion. They should pay for city staff within the general fund. and she rededicated dollars. She goes to the arts community to achieve better outcomes and better economic vitacy. Your advocacy will help our arts, organizations, our residents, and the broader community. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Anybody. Have any questions about that. We do have time on the agenda that we're going to be hearing from arts and culture staff on the questions that you've raised kind of the process, right? So I'm sure there'll be some conversation with it. Thank you. Thanks.

[9:08] And I don't think there was anybody else signed up. But great. Okay, moving on to commission business budget analysis speaking up. Okay. so let me stand up. But while you were talking I was able to build this power this in a minute. So just very briefly, we wanted to give an overview of the 2026 budget process to just some questions and just make it very clear and open, and I'll talk about that. Oh, my goodness. I'll do that. So

[10:03] a few things. So we have followed, as in the last 11 years. To my knowledge, the budget development process that has been developed by the city's overall budget office. Right? So we are all following the same budget development process that the city boulder guides us to do so. We're all in like lockstep with all their colleagues. And so something that I think a question that has come up is if the Arts Commission is able to give input before the city managers. and our staff recommendation for the budget is live. And the the challenge is that we have to wait and follow our city processes to talk about for the Arts Commission for anybody in the public to talk about the city budget. So essentially, the city manager's budget is our also our staff budget like there's not actually right now a lot for us to talk about, even internally. We're like digging through and talking through all of these elements. Right?

[11:00] So the the normal process in which I've put up here. And I will email to all of you, too. And if you're watching from home. It'll be in the in our minutes. Or it's also just online that we release the we as in the city staff. release the city manager's budget. It's a proposed budget, and it goes this weekend on August 29.th So we have actually asked to do a presentation to Arts Commission to on August 27, th with the proposed City manager's Budget, with the full office of Arts and culture, including within the broader like Department Vitality Department, the Office of arts and culture budget, and that's including some of the concerns that have been brought forward like fund, balance. and salary numbers cost allocation all kinds of different numbers, which which also I will remind you that since we are on a sales tax, these are all going to be estimates, too, so we can estimate our fund balance for the estimate until the end of the year. We can estimate how much fund balance we have reserved. We might have, Rollover. We'll have our reserve. But

[12:08] a lot of it is also still pending because we're still getting in sales tax like we had to make an update 2 months ago, because sales tax has gone down pretty substantially. So. It's a live thing as we go through time. And then, once this is all released, there's a few different points for the public to give the direct input and feedback both to the Arts Commission, but also to the through the city processes to the City Council, so they're the ones that are going to be having study sessions and talking through the budget until they get to October whenever they will, and also in October. So through like the end of August through October is when they'll be like public discussion about the big, broad city budget which includes our Office of arts. And so does that make sense to everyone. This 2026 budget.

[13:00] It's really tight process suited for this upcoming fiscal year. And that's similar to last year to phase one where planning process led to our budget building for essentially a refund. So in future years, as we get our base electric process. Through this year's 2026 event. There will be conversations, check-ins prior to staff building, the budget that we submit to the city manager's office to then consider at a city executive level to build that budget. So this year has been a little bit different than how we would envision it for future years, because the budget proposal was that based on the blueprint process which you all have involved with. just wanted to add that copy. Our other commissions have had a chance to get a preview of what sad has been building. Your preview of Whatsapp has been through.

[14:08] That was just because I know it was mentioned in Jan's comments. Can you speak to the difference between this commission and the open space? And because I think there was another element about why they so open space does have something new. Oh, with the air conditioning on I don't know. I was asking for some additional information, because Jan had brought up the Open Space Commission. and my understanding is there's some some fundamental differences that played into why they got more information and different timing. Yeah, totally so OS, and P. From what I understand, has also different and stronger fiduciary impact on their budget. So the Arts Commission.

[15:07] as we're going to see tonight has some within the city code. Like within city law, you are advisory for the most part, and then you are advising on the distribution of the grants, the grant funding. But the Osmp has a broader scope of what they are really pledged to do in their budgeting process, too. So we're starting also this evening the discussion of the Grant budget for all of you to weigh on on so which would be great to know. And then I guess my other question for Chris is. you know, we we always, as commissioners, have the option to go to a city council member in our individual capacity. And is that something that's just going to be talking to a brick wall if they don't have the budget numbers to be reflecting on that? Or is it something that might be worth that time to

[16:00] to voice. We might be prioritization. But I'm gonna remain agnostic on that same. So it's still sausage is still there. We just spent many days this week in meetings. They're making all their decisions tomorrow. So we're all kind of in that same. We I don't know slack, either. Right? So it's this iterative process, and we want to be able to check in with our advisory commissions along the way as we're working to help influence. How that sausage! We're just not at a point yet where we actually know what it is, and Council is going to be with the same space. One thing that we could also do when we, our budget, our whole entire city budget process has changed significantly. You might remember a few years ago there was a budget book.

[17:10] big Pdf. And every department had a few pages to talk about their different programs and their budgets all a physical document. And now we've moved over to the holding Gov format, which allows for folks have a lot more access to a lot more information. But it's so much information that it's actually not as easy to adjust as budget book might have been. So we could spend some time at once. It's released and spend a little bit of time for us during this meeting, actually, physically driving into the open god platform in the arts and culture, so that folks can see in real time in the meeting, how they can find this information specifically to that will be available. It's just there's so much information. Yeah, it's hard to find.

[18:02] Think that might be helpful for me on the 29.th Yeah, is this Commission's feedback, and it's the public feedback that the meeting that get represented at the meeting or the we have to think about how that goes through that but there's like, I said, there's multiple steps for the public to interact with the city council between that August 29th and like up to 3.rd So I think if we I have to ask how we send forward information. I imagine that like individuals wanting to interact interact, so it would be through email or hotline, or like directly to the Council. But we we as a commission. Don't have a unified voice in best for us to respond, we will. So once. So

[19:01] at the September meeting, we will have. We will know exactly what the So at that meeting we would love to, you would have a formal recommendation from the Commission in support of, or with with feedback that we will then pass on to council any type of global budget. We'll do the same thing with all of our other missions that have advisor controls revenue. I'll buy some training show that if you see August 29th is a sales session. And so that's staff presentation, especially the October meeting that we'll help here. Council actually gives them. So that's not

[20:02] at the 29.th There's not. They can rush it by this staff exactly, and that's awesome. So after that study session. That's when, as an individual council, they have, between the august study session and the October meeting to have their revisions with each other. Chris. I think that I think there's a lot of obviously a lot of interest from the community about the direct relationship between 2 main money and the Arts Commission and Arts Budget. so will will that be transparent? What? What is projected for 2. A funds coming in, and how that translates to the funds that are going to be transparent to all of us. In this review

[21:01] our senior manager of business services is our expert on all of our dedicated funds, and he is conveniently on vacation right now. And so I don't want to volunteer for exactly how the format is going to play out. But we've heard the feedback from both commissioners and community on how the 2 way monies are presented in both our budget presentations for commissions, and also just split it up of platform, so we'll make sure that we have taken them stepping back to account as we come back to you all. Yes, our intent certainly is to not try to

[22:00] present things in a way that it's not. Does he understand what where the 2 way lines are? But I think if I could. I think that we are. We in the community are just looking at for transparency on the on the budget, and we'd like to have. I think we want to have a unified voice input on budget. Think of things I could replace. Thank you. Anything else for you. No, thank you. Thanks. Everybody great matters from commissioners. We have some time to do our liaison updates. We all have new liaison groups. I can say for myself, I don't have an update from my organization because I'm still working on scheduling and meeting with people and

[23:01] so I'm sure I'll have a lot to say at the next meeting. Oh, I also have not been fully on the ball with meeting everybody yet, but I did get to go on the Streetwise Arts Mural Tour a couple of weeks ago. And what a fun morning I learned so much about Boulder, so much about art that I want every day. Yeah, I I highly recommend it. 2 thumbs up. It was fantastic, I learned, I mean now I forgot, but for like an hour and a half afterwards, I get a bunch of the retention is not. I had a bunch of great Gmail communications with my liaisons. I emailed everybody yellow and introduce myself and ask them to

[24:01] send me updates and add me to the newsletters and just some quick updates of Cassandra. They're having the second annual Friendship Festival. That's September 6th to 7 in Louisville. They've been really doing a lot of concerts this this August, the summer. Sorry, not August in Boulder County. It has been very well received. Streetwise is fundraising now for the September mural festival. Boulder ballet ends on the 13th to 15th they have a adult somatic photograph. and on September 12th they have a full circle, open rehearsal, and September 13th is their season. Opener, Chautauqua the new friends, and October 25th and 26 is the dancers. Choice at the Dairy Art Center sent a great update to Lauren and me, except that to Ellie to add it to practice next next month, but I think what really stood out is.

[25:11] they are pretty high for enrollment, and with their students coming in they reach almost a hundred 20,000 students annually. That's based on the work that they do. Amazing. They've opened a new recording studio in April that's not yet open to the public. It's just really for these students, but they were only hoping by 2026 it'll be open to others. I did make the introduction between Cardano and Bruce, who's another liaison with the books that they can connect, and it seems like they've already been having conversation. Which is a good segue to roots. Their music festival is in October. and it's going to be super exciting. It is one night, though, does coincide with the John Summit night at Bolton field so that Saturday night. But they have tons of good programming. Friday, Saturday, Sunday. During the night, and during the day. They had 2 big brainstorming sessions. I was at one of them.

[26:11] some great ideas. They were really able to integrate the benefit that it's going to be today. Currently given the the festival and hosting a fundraiser for a customer and my own. One. September 12, the whole groups and music festival in to help them raise money to help them continue this this busy festival in the years to come. Then the other. It's not liaison, but just Jlf related. I don't remember I was connected to them, to somebody had seen you, and I've been talking to them, connecting them to potential donors, because one of the things that's happened is Post Covid. They've just not seeing the comeback in audience. More funding. And it's been that's been challenging for them. And so we were just talking about how to get

[27:05] for younger audiences and to bring more diversity. And so I connected them with a bunch of potential speakers and donors. And thanks to the Bbsd President of the Board, Nicole Rajpal, they got a connection to the community person at Bbsd, and they're too late for this year. But hopefully, next year they'll be required to bbs to do some program in schools or whatever. So that was a really good connection. And Cindy and I and Lauren met about Boulder Arts Week, which has become a personal fashion project of mine. And so as you all reach out to your liaisons, you know. Just remind them that Boulder Arts Week is coming. And to please start thinking about programming and what they might want to participate in. It doesn't have to be free. They charge for it. But you know, just just remind them, and also remind them that we have very limited $500. Scholarships like not sponsorships for people if they want to sign up and apply for that. And we're hoping to raise

[28:09] another small amount from the community to private donations, so we can increase that $500 per person amount. Make it a little bit more. So. Kind of help, please. 11. That might be wrong, Warren. I just send. I did forward the letter that I've been like the email that I've been sending to to my liaisons. I just want to point out. We printed these out so there's a couple on our desk with some updates from the ballet, and we wouldn't put them into that packet. But we couldn't send anybody the updates. Thank you. And the ballet. Okay, anybody else? Yeah. I can share some updates from couple of my new appointee organizations.

[29:04] eco arts. I didn't know a whole lot about it. Sounds like has some really strong partnerships. In some underserved neighborhoods in Boulder San Larzo San Lorazo Boulevard, Home Park in particular, and that they have They're working through fears around ice deportations in that area. It also sounds like ecoarts has been affected by Nea Fund changes and some grants that they're not able to apply for anymore. It's unfortunate. got some updates from Nick from town, learned a little bit more about them. Being a very, you know, large organization but and having a larger annual budget. But really they've worked to break even just about every year, and haven't been able to do that the last few years. So they are really pushing for transparency around 2 a dollars, because it does feel like allocating as much of that money as possible to organizations would have a big impact on them. They are excited about sundance and are making really great connections with sundance.

[30:17] I'm meeting with groundworks lab on Monday, so hopefully have some more updates from them got some info from new. Local. This really sweet program on Sundays, where it sounds like it's free art and music on the lawn in partnership with Orlando. Also the Boulder ensemble Theater Company does free Theater and improv storytelling workshops that's happening every Sunday outside on Pearl from 10 to 12 they did their 6th public hall for work and had 200 applicants, which was really big for them. And then it also sounds like August 21st is another big event coming up for them, called draw downtown Boulder Arts Walk. There's in partnership with a bunch of restaurants, galleries, and probably along Pearl Street, and then frequent flyers productions is in the middle of their aerial dance festival, which is their big 2 week.

[31:15] Areas from all over the country, fly in to take workshops to teach, and then shows this weekend, and I'll be going to the show on Friday. I reached out to all my liaison organization. I shared with them the agenda for today's meeting, told them about the upcoming changes for the grants, encourage them to either attend the meeting or review the video so they can send us feedback in general, I wanted to acknowledge did you all see that Andrea Gibson, Colorado poet Gloria passed away and she introduced the Cultural Organization Summit in 2023, and she just had everyone made tears. Just a

[32:00] really beautiful clothing. So it's not involved. She there's a good New York Times article about the report. I attended at the end of June. The experience in public art lecture notice on the public art program. But there is another experiments of public art lecture coming up tomorrow night. It's a two-part series tomorrow night, Saturday. Fantastic artists. So please go. It's at the Boulder Library. I reached I talked to flatirons, community orchestra. They are so excited by this brand. They have their It's an opportunity for local artists to perform orchestrating the works, and in a supportive environment. They are over capacity with interest. I think they sent all of you, but they're very excited by the grant, and they are already finding ways to really expand their capacity. They did express some challenges with venues, so Cindy connected with them for filling out the venue form. They have a concert coming up on August 9, th at 4 o'clock at the United Methodist Church, had coffee, with holders showing up for racial injustice. They as well are excited by the grant. They felt the Grant process is a little more extensive than other grants, and both organizations gave you a big shout out, Help!

[33:26] Outbound! Engaging, you know, or responsive. So I think we hear that across the board on how the transparency and just responding, so shout out to you, exactly they have boulder showing up for racial justice. They have a movie at the Boulder Public Library this Saturday borderland, and then conversation that falls. Colorado Music Festival. Their final performances are going on this weekend all their fests. They'll have their annual house concerts and preview in for 2026 on October 19, th and if you all have not been to one of these, I really recommend it. Other artistic

[34:07] director of brilliance, and just to see music in that one was great. Sorry. Well, on my second page, but also being woke up. We are as I think you know this, we finished the programming. They finished the programming phase, the architectural design they're currently working on the concept design. So that's looking at space layouts for both the building and the site, and they'll be embarking on a neighborhood road show series of community gatherings in North Boulder neighborhoods, including golden meadowsa ponderosa, go to ridge holiday armory, and wander lakes to really show what's going on and answer questions. So I think the state of the arts from my pulse of these is very vibrant. And from what went last year, too, there's a lot going on. Jeffrey. Anything new or.

[35:02] Yes, I've reached out. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay, great I've reached out to all of my new liaisons. There were only 2 that I wasn't familiar with. I'm familiar with them, but don't know their programming well enough. And I've been taking in a lot of performances just to escape the world, and I've been seeing about 4 or 5 things per week over just the last 3 weeks, though none of them are my current liaisons. But there's there's again, like everyone else is saying, there's lots of vibrancy. There's lots going on, and there's lots of escapism if you know how to and when to seek it out. And I did mean to mention that the Boulder opera, this weekend at the band show in the Park has performances on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is 7 o'clock, and Sunday. Is that, too? So I'm gonna go check that out to be really cool.

[36:04] We're heading towards. That's beautiful. We're heading towards the end of the season for Colorado Music Festival. We're seeing the Mahler 9 on on Sunday, Colorado, Shakespeare festivals got about 2 more weeks left central City opera closes, I think, this Sunday also, and we made it up there this past weekend and just really fantastic productions. Awesome. Thank you. All right. And any updates on commission work items. So the small committees that we're working on outside. let me see this stuff. I'll tease that. I think you'll have an update. Yeah, I I think the same for us, too. Yeah, Caroline, I've I I responded to to your your item that you'd sent across to me. And there's I don't have any edits. So I think, when when we're able to share with it with the Commissioners, I like the fact that within each of the categories, when we're talking about coaching on building capacity and community engagement and marketing and

[37:05] board development. There's basically a question with each one of those categories that a Commissioner would be potentially comfortable, asking rather than going through all of them. And so I thought it was a really great format. So I'm looking forward to sharing that with everyone. So congrats on, on compiling. I will get that to Lauren then and have her send it up perfect. Thank you. So you guys can look for that. That'll just be a kind of a guide or a template to help have some conversations and get more information shared with your organizations. Cool. All right, Sarah. We're going into the grants programs percent. Oh. I just skipped right over it. Bulgar arts blueprint. Who cares about that? Right? I gotta set it up to hand it off.

[38:02] Not gonna stand up. That was a fail when alright damn well, everyone we wanted to give you an update on the builder arts blueprint before, and especially before Sarah gets into the step. One of the grants program, because you should be able to see how some of that all seats into each other. I'm gonna go through these very, very quickly, but I realize I should give like a very high level. What is the what? Just so you have this like framework in your mind. So the blueprint is a framework. We're going to be establishing a citywide vision for our office for all departments and ideally for the arts, community and arts leaders. We're aligning to a lot of city guiding documents which you'll see shortly but primarily the sustainability, equity, resilience, framework, but also the strategic plan and city council priorities and

[39:07] strategic plan again. And the Comp plan. we also are working next to the Comp plan to both inform their policies and make sure that we're reflecting their policies and their changes while they're working on the comprehensive plan update obviously ensuring our responsible stewardship of the tax. And then this is as you'll see it now. It is leading into guiding us into programs, into funding into policy, into how we are encouraging the arts community, encouraging other departments. Right? I think you all know this, but it's us with some consultants. I've called them the cats lovingly. Psp, and and for the second part it'll just be Psp. We'll be cleaning with them. And then obviously also working with other departments, to be sure that we're like collaborating in the right ways. We're sort of ending phase one right now. Which I'll talk about, and then phase 2 will go through one of 2026,

[40:16] and this blueprint and these summaries, and this information that you'll see both from me and from the Grant program, ideas and recommendations are coming from a whole lot of engagement that happened in this phase. One so community voices, stakeholders, focus groups, benchmarking best practices and advisory committee expert insights, and then also trying to work in how we can, guiding and trying to work towards city guiding plans. What and why now? The planning horizon for our previous cultural plan was reached in 2024, and also simultaneously the new tax was approved in 23 kicked. In this year we saw some challenges from Covid which we're seeing. So, as you mentioned, like with Villa, for example, Rick, and then the arrival of sundance.

[41:15] It's pretty. It's actually remarkable timing and overlapping with the Comp plan. Our advisory Committee. Oh, she's a little fuzzy, but our advisory committee is excellent. It's a really broad range of from Cu local small organizations, artists, individual artists for profits. Architects. Well, the Arts Commissioners. And then, before I get into this kind of the framework itself. I wanted to give you this little graph, which I found very helpful, and our little progress today in phase one. So we had a discovery report which covered a lot of benchmarking with 5 other cities, some very initial impressions, but also it was very like big landscape. We have a lot of research in this office. I'm very proud to say so. Putting a lot of that together, and then extensive engagement, as I've mentioned, also integrating research from our office. Like the arts and economic prosperity research.

[42:21] We developed a framework aligned to the goals and have reviewed at least the grants program with the race equity tool, which will be taking different parts of it. A race equity tool is a tool we use at the city to like, make sure that we're considering race whenever we're rolling out new programs and actually don't just did that with us for the big neighborhoods program, too. Right? So it's a really useful tool to help us think through decisions that we're making. But we do that with staff and sometimes community members. So we've gathered all of this content. We've put it in at least into a framework. And then the next piece is going to be building out like, actually, the firm goals, focus areas, etc.

[43:04] So I printed this out because this is our. It's our guiding document of the city boulder. These are the city's community. I really like that way of saying it. These are long term, very big, very broad, generational goals that the community and the city boulder tries to look towards right. This is the sustainability with equity, resilience, as you can imagine, safe and healthy and livable. But we also use these in our budgeting processes and our organizing processes. It's a helpful tool for all of us to be able to speak to each other through the city as a broad institution, and to have their consistent goals with each other. And so you have it all here. This would like doesn't happen. So what we have done in part is to take all this content, all this feedback and build it into how

[44:07] the arts can help us achieve these long term goals. And there's sort of 2 elements to that. There's how the arts can help us achieve those right? But then there's also, how can we help these elements in the arts, community itself? So the 1st example. The arts can encourage inclusive public spaces, safer healing public spaces, but they can. We also want to have a safe, connected arts community, for example, the Arts Commission 2 years ago, worked on this statement against harassment when somebody was being grass hanging up signs for a trans event. So how do we both encourage this within other departments within the community, and then also make sure the arts community is feeling the the safety that we are as an entity supporting the safety of the arts. Right? And within each of these

[45:00] goals we've considered these different pieces. These will be elaborated on the website. And I'll talk about that in a second. But this is essentially giving us. Taking all of this content, I mean all of this, and putting it into different kind of chewable goals that are. Let's admit they're visionary. But if we still have, there's still a place of all right, we can work on them directly. We can try to encourage other departments to work on them, or we can partner with other departments at the city, or we can like try to encourage these in the community with soft power or with funding or collaborations. Right? This is another. These are the last of the circles. There's 7. So certainly, economic revival is one that I think we're going to be leaning into as we have sundance come online, right? Encouraging tourism, business talent, creativity or global workforce.

[46:00] And then also, how are we making sure the community knows how to talk about themselves as an economic driver like what I just said with roots, being able to show their impact in the economy we have. We built tools for that. But we we built tools so the arts community can help talk about their own work and their own impact on the local economy. Right? Okay, I'm almost done. But I mean feel free to ask if you have any questions system. It's been a fascinating process. So and then these are some themes from the community that we are going to be integrating directly with those shared goals we interpret as art goals. but these are ones that came up very particularly that people are interested in us, digging into seeing how we can help in these different capacities. and I'm thinking, like with with these options. Obviously, it's a ton of things. It's a ton of opportunities. And so now we're going to get into prioritizing, having some of those difficult conversations of how we prioritize what the funding towards and what the time and energy towards these are not in any priority order.

[47:13] but this will be. The next step is to really start prioritizing, like what we really can do. And you'll see these. Certainly. Some of these come through in the Grants program, too, because of the timing we are building the plane as we're flying it right? The Grants program. Because of the time of the budget. We took a lot of this content, built it into the recommendations to the Grant program. So you're going to see things like accessibility, lifelong learning, climate adaptation, experimentation already built into the Grant program. Because we're like now moving in this direction. And then Sarah has also been working with the cats on tailoring it and looking at best practices and things. We're a little bit ahead with the Grants program, because that's what we ask them to focus on in phase one. Alright, I have a question. Yeah, from these themes, like, none of them seem unusual. Yeah, seems like things that

[48:02] you know photo already does like. Did something stand out and be like, Oh, my God, we need to pick them up. Oh, my the one I really enjoy. But I was, and I was kind of surprised that it came up. So high is the creative person taking an experimentation. It came out very strongly. It's like the boulder. Weird funkiness, I mean. Our comprehensive plan, too, has a recommendation to try to infuse funkiness. It's a weird word for it, but infuse kind of like, just weirdness. Yeah, and it came up really strongly, like, I don't think that's out of character. And I don't think any of this is really surprising, right? But the way that we consider building it into the Grant program in a way that we had it before is. And it's really, I think, super fun right to think of like, how does government try to work towards making weird stuff right? But, for example, we're going to do a mapping project in collaboration with the comprehensive planning team to. They asked us to do this. So mission has been granted to put like marks on a map, where, if we kind of had temporary policies or kind of loosened policies like for sundance, hey? If you could have, like some lighting

[49:14] temporary releases on this permitting for like 2 weeks in this time, you should do it here and here, and that would really support like a creative environment, right? Or could you work on like noise? Or I don't know if it's gonna work or not. But they've asked us to dig into what might be helpful for the creative community to like. Allow for this in a permitting and policy and governing way, which is really exciting. Yeah. is there a difference between the stuff and the talks? Thanks for asking. Yes, in a in a bit of a way, these other items came up. But as we as I sort of envision them, and this is something the consultants are going to have to like. Help me work out because it's not my forte, but smarter people than me. But the top ones are these sort of topics and items, and the bottom seem to me to us to be like principles for everything so trying to work on affordability across the board, trying to work on diversity and equity inclusion? Right? So how do we make it a

[50:11] principle practice like, use the race equity tool with the programs. That's a great example of how to do this with everything right. Can we do that massive room I have, and Jeffrey have his name. Oh, thank you. Yeah. I had the exact same question about Font. Okay. Great Maria, did you want to add anything to like as we're going through this with Christine? oldest thing, this is a little bit of tangent, but I like the way you presented it. I think think that if you look back in your previous slides I thought that was really well done like that might be. Thank you for saying that. Yeah, thank you.

[51:03] And then I'm putting this back up because this really helps me. I like a bright graphic. So the Sarah framework are are shining north stars bringing it all in. And this came from the cats, too, bringing it all in. And now we're going to work towards suspicion and towards priorities, which I think is going to be really like a tough part. But I'm gonna work on everything. I want to support everything, goals, focus areas, priorities and then actions. Oh. as I've been thinking about it in these like concentric circles, what our office can do the funding. We have the capacity. We have incredible staff. We have to work on this. What we have in this department, what we have in other departments. How can we partner and encourage? And then what is in the broad right? And how can we encourage that? And the connections and support? What's happening? Cool? Oh, oh. cool! That's it. Excellent! Oh, sorry! I guess I should say so. Next steps are also. I'm going to be posting an executive summary of the phase, one report online. So and also we will be doing some tailored engagement around priorities and different focus areas. So we'll be reaching out for any of that. Or if there's public events that we should tell you about, that, we're going to actually an event at San Lazaro next week. So like start things and public engagement should be cool.

[52:24] And yeah, thank you. Any other questions before we transition to Sarah. Very good, Sarah. all right. We have a pretty packed agenda for the Grants program today. 1st up, we have the arts, education decisions as a reminder. The Commission may approve all of the grants for the panel's recommendation, approve individual grants, approve individual grants while submitting specific questions or postpone approval of individual grants pending the answers to specific questions.

[53:03] Here we have the scores from the panel. Can we go back for a second and second. and we do have someone from his sleep room? All right. Anybody like to make a motion. I move that we approve the following organizations for the 2025 arts, education project, France, skin, studio and gallery in Orlando, boulder, ballet, boulder, Philharmonic create Aya. Frequent flyers, Colorado Chantrea festival, the Catabounds movement great and discussion. Is there anybody who's at these meetings for the decision process any question. Who does that

[54:06] talk a little bit about desired? We we had a sorry that was any point we had a very. This was sort of a 2 part process. Correct me if I'm wrong, as I know. This is how I remember it's 2 part process. One was a preliminary scores and a pretty robust discussion with through all the grants. And then, second meeting, some of the Panelists went back and restored just a bit. And so some of the feedback was discussion changed some of their opinions a little bit, but not fully and they all felt very confident in the ones that were being awarded the Grants. So again, I feel like the discussions of the panel are they're they're really talking about the impact. And they're very thoughtful, especially the quality of the Grant writing the quality of the program. I would just add the panel wish that they could fund more documents.

[55:15] There's some funky phone calls. We had a discussion all right, ready for a vote all in favor. That's unanimous. Thank you. All right. Now we have the recertification of one of the 2022 to 2025 general operating support grants from Jlf, Colorado. You can either approve this report, approve the report while submitting specific questions. Those point approval of the report pending answers to these questions, or not approve the report, and that would cancel the final patient. setting the promotion. I make a motion. As stated, I'm assuming. Go ahead, Jeff.

[56:02] I make a motion. The language is up on your screen. Oh, I move that we approve the following report, for the 2022, 25 G OS grants for Jlf, Colorado. Thank you. Great discussion. Big kudos to Lauren and to Sarah for being wonderfully quick and proactive. When I reached out to them and found out that they hadn't recertified, and they had some leadership changes over there. They thought it had been done and it hadn't been done. And so they swept in, and within 36 h it was done. So thank you. I just noticed in the report just how much the support was able to provide them in terms of staffing supports and and some some new software, I guess.

[57:00] So I thought that was really encouraging and great glad to see them continue to succeed. anybody else ready for a vote, all in favor unanimous. Thank you. Okay, and then, finally, for action items. We have some grant reports from 2024 awardees. You can approve all of these reports approve individual reports while submitting specific questions, postponed approval of individual reports pending the answers to specific questions or not reports. If you want me to therapically the database. If we. the reports, are foundry Art Center, Rick's Music Project Foundation and notice. So if we can have a motion with this language just for the dairy art center, you guys out of the room. So we would like to make that motion.

[58:03] I've been doing for mid area. So a second. But I have a question here great, our discussion. They mentioned that they have the in the assets of the creative Nations managing director, and then, you know who is managing the programs? Do we? Did they say further on, or do they? Does anybody know what the status of having that director position. I didn't know why. The report said that it was a what kind of a stand in direct. Oh, yeah. yeah, Mary Amber Martinez, facilitating that. did see in the report on that. But. I know personally that they've got a number of people that have been long involved, and have just kind of stepped in to do what they need to do to get them across the next to the next phase.

[59:04] I didn't see it in the budget, but I did notice, and just kind of in the spirit of what we talked about last year. That they specifically said that the dairy art center was serving as a fiscal sponsor, which is completely like well used process and relationship. I just did not see on the budget if there was, if they were waiving the fee for that, or if there's fee going to the dairy for that fiscal sponsorship administration. Do you happen to know Jeffrey. I don't know that that level of the of the workings. That would be nothing that's going to interrupt my vote, but just some information that would be nice to follow up question. Besides, the new managing director. What was your question? My question is whether they are paying the dairy fiscal sponsorship administration fee, and how much they're missing

[60:07] now, like a new organization that was formed out of creative nations. I think their application for arts, education. They showed themselves as a 1st time applicant. So yes, I was thinking back on conversations I remember, like there was desire for for them to be submitting the application themselves as an entity. So yeah, 30,000. Exactly. So yeah. just appreciate this, maybe an update on. I really, this commission to support us, speaking for everybody. But I think we'd just like to know better what's going on with their director space and their plans

[61:02] in the future, till I don't know if they can invite them to come in or send us, you know. Yeah, I would love that good. All right, all in favor of this motion. Unanimous with Gaia. Yes, and I will reach out to them with those questions and report back. Thank you. And we're ready to do a motion for the other 2 organizations. I'm sorry. Let's do that. I move that we approve the Grant reports for Ruth's music project and Lewis Theater. One second a discussion.

[62:00] I think we should acknowledge the great work that Lotus did, having their nea funding defunded, and the support of county commissioners and City Council folks that attended the events to support. and I'm just amazed at how much roots has been able to really carry forward on their mission. And how many musicians, just seeing. going through that process, what what they reported on the extent of how far people got with their projects and their skills. And so I think it's really exciting. They're doing that all right, ready for votes, all in favor. That's unanimous. All right. Here we go. Okay, we'll begin our preparations for the 2026 cultural Grants program by introducing some recommendations and then opening the floor for questions or input. From there we'll continue gathering feedback and making adjustments through September, and the final version of the Grant program will be brought to the Commission for an official vote at the October.

[63:15] Keep in mind a lot of heart and research went into staff recommendations which are based on community responses, the sustainability, equity, and resilience or share goals, best practices from around the country as well as our fellow funders in Colorado. We're hoping for feedback on the processes for and general structure of the Grant program to determine if there are any red flags sooner rather than later in the process, and your feedback will inform our work. As we start to address more of the details. I'll start with some suggested process. Improvements having gone through the cycle of our grants program. Now, there are a few changes I'd like to make as grants manager. Some are pretty cut and dry, but others are more complex and very interested in the discussion at 1 point. First, st I am recommending, we add, a very short pre-application to the port of process. I don't know specifically what these questions will be, but they will assess eligibility and probably purpose and scope.

[64:08] Having their answers of staff. We can let them know if their project would meet minimum eligibility requirements. I receive a lot of fully fleshed out applications that are ineligible, and that is a huge bummer for that applicant. The panel can also provide initial thoughts before they take the time to submit a full application. The review panel saw common themes like the need to have a clear goal and clear dates for projects. Essentially, this is intended to be an application. Strengthening communication without a whole lot of writing required. Other regional funders ask for a letter of intent. But this can be kind of vague, and applicants don't really understand what is expected of them in a letter of intent. So this is more specific. I'll pass my feedback. I liked this idea, and and especially not having to have the the full letter of intents, and that's a good direction.

[65:00] I'm curious how the timing works like, how much time for that? Maybe you don't know. Yeah, we would have to have a separate deadline for the pre application, and then the application. I I don't have a timeline. I really am just thinking about having people. And just to put it on the record. I did have that question that you already asked of like, well, how many people are we actually addressing with this? But if you are getting a lot of ineligible full applications. I'm really interested, yes, or applications that could really be strengthened with one tweak. As to specificity in the process. so Sarah is the fair that they will fill out this. the application, and then this would be evaluated by humans. Yes, so I would like enough time between the pre application and full application deadlines. Because if something comes to me and it's ineligible, because, say, the project doesn't take place within the zip codes that you allow, I could then

[66:09] send that information back to them, they would have a chance to submit another pre application that would be eligible. But after I do the eligibility check as staff, we would not review for content whatsoever that would go to the panel to have their thoughts. I mean, I just encourage you to think of an AI way to help you with the pre application, because you're gonna be spending a lot of time looking at the applications and moderating them. So if they're. you know, for being such a tech hub, if it's somebody willing to step in and help them go an AI tool for him to put the applications through. I think it would save you a lot of time, and and we'll be able to get back to companies. That personally makes my job easier. So I'll keep an eye if I lost him.

[67:04] Your thoughts on this in particular. It's good heaven. okay. So this, I understand, is going to be probably more controversial for the record. I really respect reasons to not implement my recommendation. Nonetheless, here is my reasoning. The intent of the ability for applicants to respond to preliminary comments and scores was to bring applicants into the review process and have more transparency. It also allows applicants to clarify points that they didn't make clear in their initial application, in the hopes of their score would increase. I personally think both of these goals are noble, but as grants manager, I suggest we lay the intention behind this step with the reality of its effects. I heard feedback and frankly resentment that application that some applicants did not think the time it took to write a response was worth it, and not everyone had time to write a response. So there's also an equity issue there. while the reviewers appreciated the responses and discuss them in the panel meetings. Very rarely did they feel these responses actually merited a change in score based on the rubric. For the most part, what was valuable and what composed the preliminary reviews was feedback for changes that could be implemented between Grant rounds. This feedback would still be provided to the same results if the applicant response was taken out of the process. I'm sure there's thoughts about this recommendation, so

[68:23] I disagree with eliminating that because we've had scenarios where our panelists we'll give a lower score, and then wondering why you don't have the chance to do it. Address that, and I figure you send it to that next time. But I I think we should keep it, that maybe there's a way to Streamline and saying. 3 bullet points, submission sentences. Address this. We'll have to set up a quick meeting. Yeah, specific questions for the applicant. I also know that I definitely would keep if if this was implemented, the panel meeting and the ability to restore.

[69:04] Because I think a lot of valuable discussion does come out the panel meeting, and it can be pointed out that oh, I think you misinterpreted this, or you missed this point of the application when you read it. But yes, that is another option. Yeah, I would I. This was the the point that was most questionable to me also, and the 2 points that come up for me is curiosity around the differences between how the Commission changed our votes because I feel like we had big changes in our votes that came out of the vote holders, and maybe that did not happen with your committee. And so I wonder if that's part of it. And then I'm curious about the resentment. And if that's like a hiring and training process for the committee, or

[70:02] if this is the best avenue to address it, so maybe some feedback on that point first, st I mean, I think it's still unclear to the applicant how much their response sways to the panel. Often they were essentially rewriting their application in the response with an entirely different project. So that put the panel in a difficult position. So, Sarah, where in the process is that gonna make to this process of the panel looking at. So they review it. And where in the process to the applicants, this opportunity. and then I hope this I haven't. There's a penalty. I have a question, and we go back. The applicants that what's happening? Yes. And is that happening? Because it's a very close score like between getting it and not getting it, or is it just?

[71:04] It doesn't matter like, even if you're not likely to get it at all. I still want that? Yes, so even even if the application is not necessarily strong one, they still have the opportunity to provide a response that seems like a huge issue. I mean, it's I think it's huge waste of time as a nonprofit. And I'm not gonna get it anyway. Like, why would I submit a letter of being like this is why I should get it. I'm not gonna get it. And that's where the resentment I can speak to my experience as Commissioner reviewing. Is that? Well, we 1st of all we had a benchmark, that if you gave a low enough score you had to give a reason, and about those. Those were usually a lot of times, frames and questions, or like areas or pertinent, or I could give you no point that. And so then those responses were kind of collected by the program, the Grant program manager and sent out to the applicants.

[72:11] For me. I felt it was really really useful particularly for newer applicants who just did miss Sessions, but did miss ways that I was more likely to get points because we all have our subjective ways that we're reading the rubric. And if I felt like they didn't really address an area. it was an opportunity for me to be like, no, really here, here's here's how you can get some more points if you just explain this part or come up with a plan. Now about how you're going to the the feedback session like he didn't really spell it out, if that's my thought. But I'm I'm also I'm like hearing. The resentment is worrisome, for sure, it's a beautiful bunch of frustrating

[73:06] sound, like like effective, like workshop set of things like, how do you write a brand? Or. yeah, we're going to do several this year. We have one in August. We also have the Grant writing fund, so people can apply to hire after. So that should eliminate. I mean this has been going on for a while way of hosting these events. I mean, I can't speak super long ago, because I just started a year ago. But I think there is generating workshops so like organizations have this opportunity. Understand the process like, I'm just thinking that I feel like some of this is just error. The part of the applicants like they are not filling out something correctly, you know they're not filling out something to the best of its capacity. they sending it, maybe an application that they're not happy with. And they're doing. This is an opportunity doing it. But I don't think we should be wasting their time if they're not going to get it. Anyway, I think

[74:02] we have a cutoff score, and then we go back to those people. Ask for clarification. Then if there's something that's going to push them one way or the other. But let's not go back to everybody all the way down the list, you know, if somebody's number 10, and you're going to put it up at 10, and it's going to determine whether or 11. And it's going to determine whether they go to 10 or say 11, then I think it's wait. But if they do this thing at 11, why. I will say 90 to 95% of the submissions we get are submitted like hours before the deadline. And so I think, knowing that they have this opportunity to write a response is incorporated into how they've advanced as well. Right? So they're not filling it out as best as they've been given this on genetic characters. Hi and I, Jill. Sorry. Jeffrey's had his name up for a while.

[75:00] Yeah. I? You know that that's fine. I I echo Caroline and Marie. 100%, although I probably disagree with the the elimination of this even more vehemently. I explained to the panel this, too. that I often would score things low on the 1st round, and would would consistently, and make sure that the questions were consistent across the group of of candidates that I was asking questions that were geared to. You know understand what what the reaches and how the marketing plan look like. And what's the the anticipatory? what's the anticipated engagement? And I was doing that across the board to to basically make better applications

[76:03] for all of the folks that were filling them out in a consistent manner, making sure that we weren't leaving folks out at the same time. On the second round there were some that stayed the same as far as the the scoring goes. Not once did the score go down, but a majority of the time for me. A score went up. and making sure that each of the applicants do have the opportunity to to reply with questions, because they are getting questions from, you know, 5, 6 of us. And they're going to be different questions. So so even if they score very high at the beginning. I think it's important that that they have the chance to respond because they are going to get different feedback from different panelists. Oh, yeah, as a past applicant, I can see both sides to this. I have valued the opportunity to respond to questions, provide clarity. It is a challenge when you're given 300 characters to respond to like answer a question in a grant application. So sometimes the space that you have to even articulate, the program

[77:14] isn't allowed for. And so then, when when the panel is able to ask questions, I think that there's that opportunity to be able to elaborate ways that you weren't originally. So if it does get eliminated, I would ask that we take the time to just make sure that there's the space to answer all the things that we want to know about it. So there's that clarity in place, even if the application starts to go along. But like, I think that we can be really clear about. You know, what do we mean by goals? What do we want to see from these answers, so that it's clear from the beginning. and in workshops, you know, allow for the opportunity for the applicants to learn, you know, to understand how to fill it out from the beginning. But yeah, I think that's just one piece, and it's always challenged. I also think that the process is pretty cumbersome. So sometimes, then, having to go back and try to fit an answer to all these questions into a single page is in itself a challenge, too.

[78:13] yeah, I feel like I have one more thought about it, and then we'll come back to it in the interest of time. I suggest, maybe after a few minutes moving to the next one. Because we are going to come to a decision today, and I think we'll bring your feedback, for example, maybe making it a very short questionnaire instead of a 1 pager. I can come back next month to all of the different, potentially like I. The the one additional point that I have is to me. It's an equity issue in terms of organizations that have professional grant writers and experience as well as organizations that do not have English as a 1st language speakers and like to me it provides a more robust opportunity for them to get even playground

[79:01] right, and organizations that have a large enough budget to afford professional. Yeah, yeah, I know. And I I feel both ways about this, too. I wonder those I'm thinking about some of the questions that I remember seeing like people like, we all have sort of our themes someone's always like. Well, how many people are going to reach. How many people are going to reach? Which is such a legitimate question, and that, like some of those questions, maybe we can identify, and they can just be very short answers in your brain. Yes, so that you don't have to trick you into. Oh, whoops! You didn't tell us how many. Thank you. There's a lot of that with evaluation. There's a number of games. Okay, moving on. And thank you for your recommendations there. Moving on to work samples. I recommend that we work samples to general operating support applications and more clearly encourage them for project grants. This would make it easier for applicants to demonstrate the work that they do, especially for Anglophones. The panel would review the samples for mission alignment and community impact, not for excellence which traditionally has been loaded. Time.

[80:21] How will they upload? That's a good question. It could be offered for them to put a website link so it could be the social media website. Link. Pdf, I mean, there's lots of different art mediums. So different things make sense to do. I'm in favor of this as long as it doesn't drift into an expectation that people have a work sample because there are new organizations or new types of projects that just don't have them. How would you limit it?

[81:00] In the past I've managed transfer limited to 2 work samples, but that can definitely be turned on. Just don't want you spending like 6 h next to do something he's like not. And this is more specifically to individual art grants or not. This we currently offer supplemental materials for our project grants. So I'm also suggesting that we do it for general operating support grants. So the panelists would kind of confused about what is the work that you actually do, because some things don't translate to text that. Well. I recommend that the directions for scoring encouragement points on our be further clarified. Additionally, I think this is an opportunity for us to include blueprint vision while the blueprint blueprint is in progress from the community engagement we've seen thus far. Some themes are already emerging. Lauren referenced funkiness earlier, but also wanting to amplify the work of bipoc disabled artists, which is already of the intent of encouragement. Points. So this is

[82:11] just kind of a technical point that we just spell out. I'm definitely tired of Cleveland, right? I liked the idea of being able to kind of come up with a list of speaking of larger planning, vision and goals. We currently ask applicants to speak to racial equity in the application. I think additional city topics like disability, access and sustainability could be encouraged to view our grants a similar way for one, just as current applications linked to the Commission statement on cultural Equity. The new applications could link to accessibility and sustainability self-assessments. I already have examples of these. And then I'm just curious what this might look like but I would definitely push for our office to go through these assessments 1st as an example. But I also realize that this could potentially could make the application more onerous. So there are definitely other options like we could incorporate them into regardless. So this could look like a lot of different things, but just trying to find a way to plug these topics into their applications, etc.

[83:22] I share your concern, but it seems like we're adding more and more layers and complexity. The grants panelists expressed disappointment that any new applicants could not be funded in competitive project. Grant cycles, given the higher award that would be for bedrock organizations that could support their projects. I recommend that they not be eligible for competitive grants in order to make the process right. I've kind of struggled with that for my entire time on the Commission is like State wanted organizations. Get the G. OS. And then they've got a bunch of projects.

[84:13] So these are some changes that I'm going to implement because it's basically just more work for me. But we've mentioned before how our website does not have great search filter capabilities. And so now to find out that you're eligible, for you have to go, Grant, by Grant. So in lieu of better website capabilities. I would like to hire an artist to create a 1 page eligibility guide designed by an artist. So, for example, I have a business work owner, where do I go? So yeah. inquiry form on the website, I proposed structure for the Grant program is based on what I can glean about demand for our grants for competitive grants. I can compare number of applications to those we're able to fund. But for non-competitive grants it's a little less clear because, in order to not waste people's time, I close the portal as soon as the funding runs out, so the only metric I have is how fast the funding runs out. But to get a better idea, and as a way for people to reach me, having an inquiry form where they can ask about specific grant

[85:13] or the Grant program in general. Gonna try it. No one reaches out to me. You can reassess that later. Grant guidelines with the glossary of terms. This is helpful applicants and reviewers. As an example, there is some lack of clarity as to what actually constitutes a collaborator in the project. and also shortening the Us. Cultural index survey. We definitely still want to collect data for research and and reporting purposes. But I'm asking for advice as to what is best practice that we actually will need in use, and would have stood up at this time that knows the best. and then 2 cycles for as many grants as possible extended timeline, basically, for our noncompetitive grants as it stands now, if someone hears about us for the 1st time and reaches out in May. I have to tell them? Well, wait until next year, because they're all gone. So if you aren't in the know to apply January 1st each year. It's very difficult to get that kind of 1st time. First.st

[86:17] Okay, fun part. Now, sorry. There's 2 panel meeting. This is just administratively. yeah, just another yeah phase one of the blueprint. I did consider that with competitive grants, but knowing how much we pay the panel and wanted to be considered a 3rd time I wanted to. Okay, phase one of the blueprint provided recommendations on a budget and structure that is responsive to current community needs feedback from the blueprint engagement process clearly stated that current award amounts are too low, especially for the administrative hours needed to complete the application, and required reporting by increasing award amounts, and consequently reducing the number of grants overall.

[87:06] The boulder estimation can simultaneously incentivize high performing innovative institutions while providing more substantial grant amounts. However, you've also received feedback that we should fund as many organizations as possible and have less competitive grant cycles. So there's clearly a trade off there. The question is, what is the main goal. We want to fund as many organizations as possible. Or do we want to substantially fund and expect community outcomes here just sidebar conversation, and that we read and I think where we where the group was circling around. But this is not, it's just. you know. Conversation was to set a minimum baseline and then divide the money amongst the top tier organization or something. So did I say, yeah, like some version of that, percentages of breakdown or

[88:01] top and bottom tiers. I mean, there's certainly a bunch of other that we should also look at dividing funding in different areas. It actually might be helpful to show the the budget breakdown to just give a general overview, if you don't mind. Yeah. So, skipping ahead. Sorry. I think I moved this slide. So I apologize. I think I'm guessing what you're referring to. And this initial structure has competitive general operating support tiers still based on annual revenue. However. I know Carrie Paul is already has an equation where it's the word of mouth is the percentage of their budget with the admin floor. Additionally. you can have tiers not based on revenue at all, but on organizational effectiveness. There's an example of that in San Francisco with metrics that I can get into later. Is that what you're talking about? Yeah.

[89:01] to to your original point about like this conflict between more or more organizations or more money. How much do you suspect having that drop organizations will impact that like ability to actually be giving money out to more organizations? It it will, I think my again, this is my best guess, because I have no idea who will be considered a bedrock organization, or what the requirements will be. So, noting that I have no idea how many bedrock organizations will have. I think maybe estimate 10 less organizations would be funded that we currently and just everybody. Everybody's familiar with the bedrock organization. Yeah, I'd like to know what the lines are. That is another slice.

[90:07] Should I go to that slide? Yeah. Yeah. Okay, the initial blueprint analysis suggests that funding tiers for general operating support award should incentivize impact rather than just budget or growth for its own sake. using San Francisco as an example, additional questions could be added to the traditional general operating support application. If an organization wants to be considered bedrock, these organizations would ostensibly demonstrate their participation in community engagement collaborations work with underserved communities contributions to economic infrastructure, innovation and or neighborhood activation. If we institute these bedrock grants, we'll need to obviously define what makes a bedrock organization. When we ran this question through the rapid response racial equity tool, many of the points on the screen came up. Some of these points also come from our community engagement and our desire to align with the city's broader goals. The details are obviously everything here, and we aren't quite there yet, but we would like to get the Commission's initial date. And again, this will definitely be a work of service.

[91:12] And then the other question is. is it a number of boxes you have to check really heavy points in one box? But I was, gonna say, all of those to hit all of those seems very challenging, and some are doing like some lend themselves better. 45. Oh, can you go? What are the benefits to me. Why do I want to be a bed recommendation? Because I did see that there was a limit that I might not be able to apply for other grants. As much of that, doctor. So why do I want to check all those boxes? The higher Grant award amount? Essentially, they'd be getting a general operating

[92:02] support award increased by 18% for increased costs. plus the equivalent of an arts, education and Project Media project there without having to write. But there'd also be more responsibilities, or we would expect more outcomes from these types of organizations in the term of the additional awesome and the feedback you heard during the blueprint on the statement that Sarah just said is. you tell us what you're looking for as far as the outcomes still sleep fast, but judges, after the fact needs to be clear about this. Sorry. Go ahead. Thank you that, as Cheryl said, nobody is gonna check all these blocks. There's A. It's not going to get through our account social security card in this country. They might pick 2 from this box like 2 pieces of Id and this or that, and then you sort of pick. You know something that makes your that makes me allows you to get your social support like it has to be something like that. Where, like, we pick 2 important things that are important for the and to the submission. And then one thing from another box, and one thing from another box. So maybe they have 4, but they have to go. I think that makes it

[93:22] attainable to pick up or message, and then gives them gives them a chance. Think that a lot of these organizations they have a lot of information and data that they can share with us finances. I'm sure measuring of some of the other software. And I think that's something like you said you just come through. Accept that in advance. So that information, for sure they don't.

[94:06] But I do. I like this idea of a better conversation. Obviously, I think it really helps those that are doing very good. I think it gives them an option. I do wonder, though, if there's some way somebody's gonna call in heaven about this item, because they put in something in the product that you know how we have, like 1% goes towards public art. Is there something to say, like a certain percentage of this grant funding close to it in helping another nonprofit doing a Co production with them or like something else like that. Maybe it's 1%. I don't know. Maybe it has to be more. But you know, maybe it's like a few 1,000 incrementally doing something

[95:00] like this nonprofit that has not received potentially not perceive the brand, because it would change the way. Let me do the ones hang on. And it could be a good way to build just new collaborations really quickly. and we could match them like, if there's an XYZ. Or doing something around. I don't want kids like maybe 2 months old with this theater company that they get, or like this orchestra that didn't get the funding to see. I hope the rate don't have to go the link down to them. Jeffrey's good. Do any of us think that any of our current Gos Awardees are not committing and doing at least 3 or 4 minimum of these things as they're going through their daily work.

[96:00] And I and I, I feel like we, this would be backing up our existing organizations that have come to rely on. This is almost a betrayal where we're moving the cheese because we got them to rally around the 2 a. And all of a sudden. Now we're changing the rules on it. And are we backing them up against the wall to to qualify it instead of 3 or 4 of these things? Now you have to do 5 or 6 of these things to even maintain what you've probably already budgeted for the following year. And is it sustainable to provide this level, this this percentage of funding to an organization? And what's the minimum? Are they getting it for one year, 2 year, 3 years? Because then the spigot is shut off and do, are they able to to continue the capacity and and the work that they were doing once the funding? Either they don't qualify for any longer, or they don't receive it.

[97:00] I see where it could be transformative, but I could see where it could also be something that just runs its course within 2 or 3 years, because they're not able to to springboard to the next level. I had a similar thought to Guy, and that I I understand. But again, we don't want the same organizations to feel like they're receiving all the funds for all of the Grants. But we'll say that a project Grant with I've always seen it is an opportunity to do something that maybe isn't. The organization isn't able to do with their general operating revenue. And so in applying for a project they might be bringing in artists or doing a free free shows or something like that for the community. And so those project funds. I don't. I guess I just don't see it as necessarily like supporting the general operating of that organization, but rather this like additional project. So, yeah, I don't know. I'm kind of of the mind that like

[98:05] being able to apply for project grants. I still continues to benefit the community beyond that organization if that makes sense. But if we go this route, I could see the potential for identifying a project in that organization's strategic plan that they want to execute that has partners or something like that. And unfortunately, that. But they're going towards that project so that you know they're able to highlight something that they want to happen. Lauren, you brought up something about venue spaces. Oh, just something from the research. And one of the like. This is a recommendation from some of the research, and something they also considered was asking bedrocks to offer venue space, like the new space, is such an affordability in general, such a big challenge in the community. So

[99:01] To add to this list, I think, with the venue spaces. But the other things the sort of framework that we're looking at is one from San Francisco, and they haven't come up. I said that like I was hoping it would just slide by. Thank you. To ensure that whenever you're signing this like we have agreements right that, hey? As a better act as an anchor organization, the Anchor Institution, you will fulfill ABC beyond what you would normally be doing as a general operating support guarantee. So we are setting higher expectations for those organizations and expecting that to happen over time. you're not forcing them to take the money right, and they don't have whatever it is. But I don't want the agreement. I don't want the money, so we'll have to. Yeah option.

[100:04] I wish we applied for the general operating support grants without depends on expectations. Right? And actually, I keep thinking. Matt described this much better than I do. But or that I'm about to. But that's to say that when you're weighing these 2 sides of, do we do more broad support? Are you supporting more broadly in the community. Are you like, how are you thinking of how you're shipping funds? Right? Are you trying to do something impactful and trying to very directly impact these things that are important by doing this? Or are you trying to support more broadly and create a different sense of community by like funding very broadly, but maybe not making a lot more impact as much impact with like this bigger, limited work. bigger, impactful outcomes. Right like this is an outcome based focus. We're trying to get things to happen. In other words, like, How did I? Do you want to add to that? Oh, yeah, he said that.

[101:09] Yes, certainly. This was a starting point of these points to get the conversation going before as staff. We've put a lot of resources, time, energy, etc, into creating a draft temperature check on the concept of a bedrock organization in general. I think I'm I'm interested in that. I'm curious about it being based in San Francisco, and how long their experiences and like, if you could give us need feedback from how it has changed impacts for them. I would imagine for the organization sitting on the you know the devil's in the detail. What it? What does

[102:01] What does commitment mean? What does a living wage in Holder mean? I mean, I just so, I think. What are we asking another layer of sale? And I think the organizations? There's someone who's more think, as you know, what what they are sudden. It needs another level of vetting criteria. San Francisco asked. Or they score based on mission alignment, creative partnerships. Uc area oversight, job creation, neighborhood activation that could look really different in boulder. But yes, I will do research as to what the impacts of moving to that system is think it's interesting because there's also potential for have nots organizations. Yeah.

[103:06] I mean, you're not going to win right? There's always going to be somebody who's going to be met. But that's that is the that is the idea. But I think, as a group, we have to say, Well, there's always going to be somebody who's looks like that. and we have to solve for that. But then, hopefully, we have to solve the losing this funding well and to if we are going to more outcome-based funding in general like this seems to lend itself to that goal of going to more outcome-based, impact-based. That's the direction we're going in. This looks good, but we have to solve for nonprofits that will struggle and be unhappy, and I don't know how to solve for them today. But it's something to think about. So they don't feel this like. Yeah, I'm just out of the mobile app. or I'll never have this really get up that that ladder, I mean, there's something that's you know

[104:07] the other thing that I'm considering, and I'm because it's so. It's so office. So not sure how it will really work. But I'm wondering if this is just in place thing like the whole commission and oversight of the funds onto these organizations, and like bypassing all of our very carefully thought out criteria for money, like we're saying, here, we want bedrock organizations to go out and and supporting, you know, partnering with other organizations, so that bypass are we were citing them somewhere? I don't know that it does. I'm just wondering when we put this through the racial equity toolkit that did come up asking them to distribute the funds. They kind of answer to different people, and they can work with the more curatorial lens that the public interest in

[105:08] Jeffrey. Thank you. I will look forward to the case studies from San Francisco, specifically based on what what this is and what's some of the success. Stories or challenges have come out of that on the surface. To me it just seems exclusionary. And and and I'm trying to compare Boulder to San Francisco. We're we're we're a city of a hundred 1,000 people. But at the same time I would. I would bet that we have more arts, organizations per capita than a city like San Francisco. I would suggest that we have more investment from the city and the taxpayers in the arts than San Francisco. If you're looking at the number of people per capita again. I I don't want to leave people out, particularly those that have been relying on us for so long and

[106:06] and and thinking about those organizations, and how many people they employ, and how many of those folks live in the city of Boulder, or at least within Boulder County, And how many folks that they're collaborating with within the city? And how has that impacted the vitality and economic vitality of the city, as well as just providing art for the residents. To be completely transparent. When I put together again very early draft form of the of the Grant budget, I accounted so that the same number of small and mid-sized organizations could be funded that we currently fund. As Gaia mentioned, there's always been people who are unhappy. There wouldn't be less organizations funded specifically, those would be organizations with very large budgets that cannot show community outcomes.

[107:03] Perfectly fair. Thank you for that. Thank you for the clarifying that. In other words, you're saying, hey, let's throw that to Gauntlet and throw some impact in a couple in a couple organizations. See what that does. So again, I'll look forward to the case, studies. Where's mud, Sarah? Is there feedback helping? I think, since we have 7, 49, I can entertain some more feedback, but I'm also very reachable all of the time. Also, if the members of the public who are listening certainly email me or our office, or the Commission. and then what is the plan into? What's our homework on this? How how can we make the best use of whatever time we allocate at the next meeting? What's gonna help you the most. I I would certainly be interested if there are ideas from the Commission about Bedroth organizations.

[108:10] Okay? Great. Oh, I also wanted to know lifelong learning. You may notice a new Grant program name. Potentially, we're looking at no longer an arts education project, Grant, but an arts education. Grant that supports longer term programming. And what we've received from the blueprint is that people want intergenerational programming, and they want safe 3rd spaces for young people. So we don't have the details yet, but that is something that that we're thinking about developing this arts education. And is, that is that related to? I saw some notes in about the pipeline, the leadership pipeline. Yes, we are proposing that that would function better as a sponsorship scholarship than a grant. Okay.

[109:07] so that's not listed. Okay, make sure. So there's no the arts education for would turn into multi generational. Yeah, especially, they need bringing in creative aging programs that we've worked with. Yeah, I solid against them. Not that I'm against creating anything, but I think this is our pipeline for that thing we have to. And I think schools are cutting arts programs. I mean, we need to advocate for arts and people. And it is still 5 people to continue already music, programming orchestra arties. This gives a little bit wild with our current situation, sensitive.

[110:05] So I think we want to be very, yeah. I'm definitely trying to to incorporate the community feedback about generational programs for education programs. We're gonna we're gonna move on to the next topics. The only thing that I'm hearing also that might be helpful for people is beyond an executive level summary for those of us who want to dive into the report and see what the feedback was like directly from the community. And where all these ideas are coming from, would that be helpful for people on commission? Hopefully not hard to be clear. and I have to do have to look into that, because their version that we have now is like, Okay, yeah. So I think I'm sorry before we move on, Sarah, if you remind a solid schedule of how this process will go for advising the grants. And again, where the community can have their input.

[111:17] right? So wanting to get a bit more granular hopefully each time moving in a specific direction. There'll be proposals at the August draft proposals of the August Commission meeting September Commission meeting and then trying to finalize it. We'll definitely finalize it. So we really want to have some guidance from you on yay, or nay, on this idea bedrocks by next meeting, right? So that then we can actually start the really difficult work, which is, what does that actually look like in practice. Additionally, I think in phase, 2 of the blueprint there's going to still be community outreach about this. I think, for the Grants program potentially. But it's going to be focused more on like bigger priorities, public art sundance

[112:06] or different priorities, I should say just about the second 3.rd But public arts and dance venues and affordability with venues is more of the place to work really because the Arts Commissioner's advisory to the parents budget. This is really now getting into where we are really testing and thank you for your input. This is really excellent, like, I really didn't have thought of some of this stuff. It's great. So we're going to really be leaning on you for this to talk through the Grants work, and anybody at home to please like, send us your feedback and their commentary. It is like very granular for the general public to talk about this kind of stuff. So that's why we also kind of. But certainly all of it was informed by thousands of people involved that feedback for all of us, and then we can have a discussion around that. I just want to make sure that we're understanding. But

[113:11] I think on the community feel is the best way to move forward as we talk about it. Yeah, I can certainly keep track of who I have talked to in terms of reaches out. Okay? Noting that we have 5 min. And we've got a public art program which I'm assuming. Matthew's gonna update us on Brendan's actually at home. Oh, I didn't know he was online. Okay? Great alright, thanks again. Buddy, I've been here the whole time. Great meeting. That looks like a hostage. Should I pull up the presentation? Are we ready, or. Yeah. No. Okay. Great. Thank you.

[114:02] Alright great. So I have a presentation here for you. All this is the Gregory Canyon Creek Project. It's a new 1% for art project. We have whoops. Sorry about that. We have 1% for of construction of the new Gregory Canyon Creek Project. This is actually a project through the utilities here in Boulder. They're building a new water line along with Gregory Canyon Creek, and they are including 3 Parklet areas as part of the construction of this project. So this is just to say that most utility projects, their projects are, have no finished public space. This is a different one that does have finished public space. So it does qualify for the 1%

[115:00] allocation of funding. So we would like to commission an artist to create unique, permanent site-specific work. For these 3 small parklets along Gregory Canyon Creek we will include a call for entry for artists, and we have assembled an art selection panel, including a technical review committee. So here's kind of a map of where this project is taking place. It's above the hill. Adjacent to flatirons, Elementary school and the Columbia Cemetery, and it kind of weaves its way through the neighborhood. Any questions about the location of the project. Brendan, am I correct that the the top of the of the map is pointing east. The top of the map is pointing east. Correct? Okay, great. Thank you. All right. So our total budget for the art is $167,000. And again, this is from the capital fund for utilities.

[116:02] We're thinking about a potential call for one artist to do art in all 3 locations, so that there is some cohesiveness there. The total contract budget will be around 150,000. We have an honorarium budget of up to 4,500 for 3 proposals for panel stipends totaling out at $2,000. And then the cost of the online call is 500 plus holding a bit back for contingency. So we'll kick off this project. Here in the next month or 2 with an orientation meeting and our community selection panel includes Jill Katzenberger, our arts Commissioner Liz Kwan, our artist, Sarah Chestnut, our arts professional. She's a graphic design, and also lives in the neighborhood. Liza Getches is a community member. Her her both of her sons went to flatirons elementary, and then Emily Booksenbaum. She's a community member as well, and the art teacher at Flatirons Elementary School.

[117:03] Our Technical Review Committee includes Kristin Capitayes. She's the Civic Engineering Senior Project manager for the Gregory Canyon Creek. We have Angela Rago. She's the communication Senior project manager for the project. Of course, Mark Garcia from planning and development services. Kurt Bauer is from the mile high flood district, and Cassie Kaslan is the landscape architect for the project. Any questions about the budget or the selection panel? Right? Any questions about the overall project or comments. All right. Anybody like to make motion. I move to the Gregory Canyon Creek, Public Art Selection Panel and project initiation be recommended to the city manager for approval.

[118:03] It's happened. Any discussion one bigger. You make a message. Thank you. That was it. That was it. And thanks to Maria for mentioning, yeah, tomorrow, we have a experiments in Public art Lecture Series at the Canyon auditorium at the Boulder Library that starts at 7. And then we have another version of that lecture, plus a panel discussion with 2 local textile artists on Saturday that begins at 1130, and the panel discussion begins at 1 30, so hope to see some of you there. I feel better. Yeah, thank you. Thanks for being here, even though you feel bad. Alright any questions about the manager's memo. Probably a lot. But I'm I'm sure all of that's going to be part of the ongoing process. Yeah, yeah.

[119:02] So we can organize our thoughts and continue to discuss great. All right. Well, let's adjourn. Thanks, everybody. Thank you. Sarah and Lauren reminded me that we do a feedback survey found, so I can also ask part of the questions. Great.