HomeMy WebLinkAboutART IN PUBLIC PLACES BOARD - MINUTES - 03/26/2025
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 – 3:30 PM
Center for Creativity, Blue Spruce Room
3/26 /20 2 5 – MINUTES Page 1
1. CALL TO ORDER: 3:31 PM
2. ROLL CALL
a) Board Members Present – Natalie Barnes, Kathy Bauer, Myra Powers,
Renee Sherman, Heidi Shuff, Christopher Staten, and Nancy Zola
b) Board Members Absent – None
c) Staff Members Present – Ellen Martin, Liz Good, Eileen May, Victor
Trowbridge
d) City Council Liaison – Susan Gutowsky
e) Guests – Gale Whitman, Emily
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Emily introduced herself as a Social Work student doing a class assignment for
her Social Work Policy Class.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, February 19, 2025
Ms. Barnes noted that she was absent from the last meeting and asked it be
noted.
Ms. Powers moved to approve the minutes
Ms. Zola seconded.
Unanimously approved.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a) CULTURAL SERVICES DIRECTOR UPDATE
Ms. May shared updates. She first shared the name of the department will be
changing to Arts and Culture. She then shared the plan for combining the Art in
Public Places and Cultural Resources Boards. This is part of the City’s goal of
moving from complexity to simplicity. The new Board will be the Arts and
Culture Board and focus on the whole department. The Cultural Resources
Board’s grant review functions for Fort Fund will shift to community panels with
one board member participating on each panel. The Board will build advocacy
and focus on the implementation of the Arts and Culture Masterplan. Staff are
also looking at adjusting the Art in Public Places Percent for Art Ordinance.
Currently a draft of those changes is being reviewed that will be brought to the
Board for review at a future meeting. The goal is to be more multidisciplinary
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and more innovative and less transactional—engage neighborhoods and
expand perception that art is in more areas of the city than downtown.
Revisions to the Board ordinance will be reviewed at the May 20 City Council
meeting and the 1% ordinance in the fall. The Board had questions about the
frequency of meetings. There were concerns about limiting the size of the APP
subcommittee to 2-3 members—the feeling is it is not representative. They also
discussed the specialized knowledge needed for granting and how that would
be built. There was a discussion about a Scientific and Cultural Facilities District
in Fort Collins and laying groundwork for the possibility in the future. Ms. May
mentioned the recent Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Survey that has
data about Fort Collins. It will be sent to the Board. Ms. May asks the Board to
follow up with her through email, phone, or meet in person.
b) APP 30th ANNIVERSARY
Ms. Martin presented an update regarding the plans to celebrate the 30th
Anniversary. Many aspects are still in the planning stages, but Staff has been
working with the City’s Communications and Public Involvement Office to
develop a special logo. There are a variety of options that will be used that
incorporate “30” into the existing APP logo.
c) NORTHSIDE AZTLAN COMMUNITY CENTER CHILDCARE DESIGN REVIEW
Ms. Martin presented the project. Victor Trowbridge, project manager with
Operation Services and artist Gale Whitman shared details. The project is an
interior renovation of the existing childcare area and the relocation and remodel
of Center’s welcome/control desk. Artist Gale Whitman has designed Flourishing
Together, a mural that will surround the entrance to the childcare area. The
mural will be a combination of hand-painted walls and window vinyl printed with
Gale’s artwork. The effect will be a continuous panorama that is a celebration of
Colorado mammals, birds and fish in their typical habitats.
Ms. Shuff moved to accept the artwork for the Northside Aztlan childcare/lobby
project as presented.
Ms. Sherman seconded.
Unanimously approved.
d) PIANOS ABOUT TOWN REVIEW
Ms. Martin presented the project, and the selected artists based on the selection
committee’s scores. Krista Knott from the Downtown Development Authority was
part of the committee but didn’t attend the meeting. The project selected eight
artists and three alternates for the 2025 season and the ranking of the alternates
was determined by a vote during the meeting.
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Ms. Powers move approval of the selected artists and alternates for this year.
Ms. Zola seconded.
Unanimously approved.
7. STAFF REPORT
Ms. Barnes shared how impressed she is by the process for selecting art for the
Pedestrian Pavers and how it is a good way to run the process.
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Ms. Good shared about the Youth Art Month Exhibit and reception tonight. Ms.
Bauer asked about the Center for Creativity Cooling Tower. Ms. Martin stated
that we are in the process of restarting the project and will select an artist soon.
9. ADJOURNMENT 4:37 PM
Minutes approved by the chair and a vote of the Board/Commission on 4/16/25