City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Commission on Cultural Affairs  
City Hall  
Monday, February 12, 2024  
4:15 PM  
Regular  
701 E Broadway  
Council Chambers  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order by Spear at 4:15 p.m.  
Staff present: Sarah Dresser and Andrea Jira.  
10 -  
Present:  
Kristin Gadsden, Lee Ann Garrison, David Spear, Cameron Dorth, Jim Little, Molly  
Froidl, Linda Helmick, Diana Moxon, Stacey Thompson and Kathleen Murphy  
2 - James Melton and Keondre Harrison  
Excused:  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
None needed.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Garrison, seconded by Moxon;  
motion carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
A motion to approve the minutes from Jan. 8, 2024 was made by Murphy,  
seconded by Garrison; motion carried.  
Minutes from January 8, 2024  
Attachments: 1.8.24 Draft Minutes  
V. OLD BUSINESS  
VI. NEW BUSINESS  
There was no old business to report.  
Small Request Application  
OCA received a small request application from We Always Swing Jazz Series. This is the  
second small request received this fiscal year, so there is a balance of $2500 in the fund.  
The current request is for $500 for a project titled A Taste of Pittsburgh - “We Knew What  
We Had: The Greatest Jazz Story Never Told." This is a documentary of the same name,  
originally produced for WQED-TV, Pittsburgh's PBS-TV affiliate, and aired nationwide on  
the public television network on a limited basis. The Jazz Series looks to offer the  
community at large the opportunity to see the film and meet people involved in the  
making of the film on March 18, 2024, 6 p.m., at Ragtag Cinema. In an attempt to reach  
as wide an audience as possible, the event will be offered to patrons at no cost.  
Marty Ashby, the film's producer, will be on hand to introduce the film and afterward will  
participate in a Q&A with the audience. If the proposed project is approved, OCA funds  
will be applied to help offset expenses in the following areas: artistic personnel, venue  
rental, production of related materials, such as descriptive information in the form of a  
handout as well as being applied toward marketing-related expenses through both the  
Jazz Series and Ragtag Cinema. The goal here, in part, is to attract and merge jazz and  
cinema audiences as well as increased awareness for and interest in jazz.  
Motion to recommend the small request to "We Always Swing" Jazz Series for  
$500 made by Garrison, seconded by Murphy; motion carried.  
Traffic Box Art Program Changes  
Traffic Box Art program changes: At the last meeting, Dresser stated that there were  
some planned changes to the city’s Traffic Box Art program. The Commission requested  
a follow up report to review at the next meeting, which is being presented today.  
Dresser shared a bit on the history of the program, which started in 2007. Currently, City  
staff has been tasked with looking at our existing programs and ensuring that they are  
equitable and aligned with our current City Strategic Plan. The two strategic priority areas  
we are focusing on with this program evaluation are the areas of Inclusive & Equitable  
Community and Resilient Economy.  
The proposed changes include the following:  
- More equitable process: To align with being more equitable and to remove barriers to the  
artist community, staff is recommending changes to the process for the application, artist  
agreement and installation process.  
- Equitable outcomes will include less upfront costs to artists in terms of insurance  
requirements, supplies and labor. Staff also believes that with fewer barriers for entry that  
would encourage pre-existing work to be submitted, an increase in applications would  
result. In addition, OCA would own the design files and be able to handle any  
maintenance issues that arise (or also use design on additional boxes around town).  
-The shift in budget for this program may also increase the number of boxes to be  
installed each year (from one, to 2-3 boxes per year).  
The City Manager’s Office has reviewed these program changes and are in support of it  
and how it will better align with the strategic plan.  
There were some questions from the Commission on application process and execution.  
A few recommended that applicants still be able to view a sample template of the box so  
they have an idea on how artwork would translate to a box format. The Commission  
asked how an artist might be involved with the final layout of the box. D  
Motion to support the program changes to the traffic box art program made by  
Garrison, seconded by Murphy; motion carried.  
VII. REPORTS  
Commission  
Presentation to City Council  
Spear shared how his presentation to City Council went from January.  
Funding Process Subcommittee  
The subcommittee met a couple weeks ago to review the annual arts funding process and  
look at the application and other materials. Staff has a few recommendations on updates  
to questions. The subcommittee was in support of most of these changes and offered  
some additional feedback on wording, etc. No major overhauls to the process are planned  
at this time. Staff plans to make updates to the application for it to be open to arts  
agencies to begin working on them by early March. Deadline will be the last Monday in  
April.  
There will be some slight administrative changes - such as moving to a grant process  
instead of a contract for services process (this will alter the agreement). We will also shift  
the date range for funded projects (12 month period, November 1 through October 31  
each year).  
Staff also will note that we will be approaching this funding cycle as we have in the past  
with the amount of funds available. Should more funds become available for FY25 during  
the budget process, we will have special committee meetings and address this with the  
Commission on how to allocate those additional funds next year.  
Secretary's Report  
OCA cards are available to all Commissioners to use to thank arts organizations or to  
send congratulations. Dresser will bring them to the next meeting.  
Standing Committee on Public Art  
Staff plans to open applications for next Traffic Box Art program later this month.  
Staff  
Columbia Arts Fund Update  
The current balance is $342,259.83. This includes the 2023 CoMoGives campaign funds  
that were just deposited.  
Columbia Values Diversity Celebration  
Jira shared that we had a successful event last month at the Holiday Inn Expo Center.  
Commemorative Poster  
Staff shared that applications open through March 8.  
Agency Assistance  
Dresser shared that we had a very successful two-party workshop series last month with  
our funded arts agencies. We had 13 organizations participate, with approximately 35  
individuals.  
Status of FY23 and FY24 Funding  
Dresser shared that the following have final reports due this month for FY23 funding -  
GreenHouse Theatre Project, Jabberwocky Studios, Maplewood Barn Association,  
KOPN, and Orr Street Studios.  
OCA Office Move  
Staff shared that the group is invited to join us at our open house next week on Feb. 22,  
3-5 p.m. at our new office in the Gentry Building.  
VIII. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Staff and Spear shared that Arts Advocacy Day at the Capitol was successful.  
Commissioners are encouraged to attend next year.  
IX. NEXT MEETING DATE  
Next meeting will be March 11, 2024 at 4:15 p.m.  
X. ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to adjourn at 5:23 p.m. bad by Moxon, seconded by Garrison; motion  
carried.