Arts Commission

ARTS COMMISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023 – 6:00 - 7:00 PM AGENDA To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone or Zoom. Specific instructions and links can be found at www.norwalkct.org/meetings. Members of the public can call in and listen to a meeting. They will not be able to speak or see any of the meeting participants. Each meeting will use a unique Meeting/Webinar ID. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" will need to register in advance and use the Zoom meeting platform. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand indicator” and you will call on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be read into the record, they should be submitted at least three hours in advance of the meeting start time. Please email Maritza Alvarado at malvarado@norwalkct.org to provide written public comment prior to the meeting. I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IV. ADMINISTRATION a. Approve the minutes of the January 24, 2023 special meeting. V. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion on proposed Community Room Student Art Project. VI. COMMITTEE/STAFF UPDATES a. Budget Committee Update – Nori Grudin & Sabrina Godeski i. FY24 Capital and Operating Budget update. b. Communications Committee Update – Marc Alan & Sabrina Godeski i. Visit Norwalk transition. c. Infrastructure Committee Update – Brian Kaspr & Sabrina Godeski i. State progress. ii. Bloomberg grant application status and timeline. VII. OLD BUSINESS a. Arts and Culture District update. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 1  CITY OF NORWALK ARTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING January 24, 2023 I. CALL TO ORDER Board: Chairman Marc Alan, Brian Kaspr, Elizabeth Tardif, Ava Jacobs, Melissa Matuska, Steven Rust, Nori Grudin, Bob Abriola, Heidi Alterman Staff: Sabrina Godeski Other: Ernesto and Hilary Maranje Chairman Alan called the meeting to order at 6:05. A quorum was present. II. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation. III. ADMINISTRATION Approve the minutes of the November 1, 2022 regular meeting. **** Mr. Abriola moved to approve the minutes of the November 1, 2022 meeting. **** Ms. Tardif seconded the motion. **** The motion passed with Mr. Abriola and Ms. Alterman abstaining. IV. NEW BUSINESS a. Review of the West Avenue Underpass and Abutment proposals and selection of preferred artist or artist group. – Brian Kaspr Mr. Kaspr explained that a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies may be available to the Arts Commission for public art. He would like this to be used for one of the main gateways into town on West Avenue. The yellow sculpture that is there now will be moved to a new location. City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 1/24/2023 1 A call for proposals was sent out in December, and about 80 applications were received. The applications were narrowed down and sent to the infrastructure committee. The winning proposal was sent in by Mr. Manaje and Ms. Behan. The two artists presented their concept to the committee. Ms. Godeski added that she had increased her request for public art funding. If the grant doesn't come through, there will still be funds available for this project. Mr. Abriola asked why this location was selected for this project. Ms. Godeski stated that the Redevelopment office owns the yellow sculpture currently at this location, and they plan to move it and will cover all costs. The new artwork, a mural, will cover not only the wall, but both underpasses as well. Ms. Metuska added that there are some spots that need to be repaired by the city before any painting begins. The wall also needs to be power washed. Mr. Kaspr introduced the artists and they presented a mock up of their proposed work along with their required budget. The installation will take about one month and the proposed budget is $210,000. There was discussion about slight changes to the wording and images in the presentation. ****Ms. Metuska moved to approve these artists for the West Avenue underpass project. ****Mr. Abriola seconded the motion. ****The motion passed unanimously. V. COMMITTEE STAFF UPDATES a. Budget Committee Update – Nori Grudin & Sabrina Godeski Ms. Godeski presented the operating budget. There is about $3,000 left to be spent. Some will be used for gallery walls in city hall. She then went over the capital budget set aside for public art. Chairman Alan made a point that public arts in Norwalk are well supported in the current government. b. Communications Committee Update – Marc Alan Chairman Alan stated that the People's Gallery project is moving forward. The theme is Musician’s born in Norwalk. It covers a wide range of music genres and spans decades. The concept is made in Norwalk, these musician’s were born in Norwalk and raised by parents and City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 1/24/2023 2 schools that supported the arts. There are QR codes attached to the works that will play some of the music. It should be installed at the beginning of February. There will be a small reception for the opening. The Art Speaks Event has received confirmations from speakers David Green from the Cultural Alliance and Latoya Fernandez, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director for the city of Norwalk. c. Infrastructure Committee Update – Brian Kaspr Chairman Alan asked about the proposed move of The Dancing Girl sculpture. Ms. Godeski said there is now an improved contract in place. She is in the process of getting quotes from moving companies. Once the quotes come back, it will be moved to the Art Park and will officially come under the responsibility of the Arts Commission. Ms. Alterman would like to do an installation of student art in the People’s Gallery. There is plenty of wall space for expanding the gallery. Ms. Godeski gave an update on the Ealy Avenue fence. She is currently getting pricing for covering the fence. Once the covering has been decided on and is in place, artists and students can come and decorate it. VI. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Abriola suggested adding cataloging of art works onto the next agenda. He also suggested adding more social media. VII. ADJOURNMENT ***Ms. Tardif moved to adjourn the meeting. ***Mr. Kaspr seconded the motion. ***The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:20. Respectfully submitted, Amy Chaple Telesco Secretarial Services City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 1/24/2023 3  Norwalk Arts Commission Budget Summary Dept Account Summary Original Balance Expenses PO Transfer In/Out Balance 011450 5221 Printing & Duplicating $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00 5225 Secretarial Services $ 2,100.00 $ (550.00) $ (950.00) $ 600.00 Telesco Secretarial Services $ 1,500.00 $ (670.00) $ 830.00 5235 Membership & Dues $ 100.00 $ 100.00 5237 Advertising $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00 5258 Other Professional Services $ 7,800.00 $ (3,250.00) $ 4,550.00 5286 Business Expenses $ 1,500.00 $ (1,129.48) $ 370.52 5298 Other Contractual Services $ 500.00 $ 500.00 5329 Other Operating Supplies $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00  Capital Accounts Summary of YTD Expenses and Account Balances Description Department # Pro.# Original Balance Expenditures PO Avail. Bal. MLK Blvd Art 0921-1450-5777 C0792 $ 50,000.00 $ 40,500.00 $ - $ 9,500.00 PO: Julio Pardo $ 16,500.00 $ 16,500.00 $ - $ - Req: Studio 162, LLC $ 26,500.00 $ 26,500.00 $ - Arts in Public Places Program 0922-3760-5777 C0804 $ 25,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 23,000.00 Arts in Public Places Program 0923-3760-5777 C0804 $ 50,000.00 $ 50,000.00