City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Commission on Cultural Affairs  
City Hall  
Monday, October 9, 2023  
4:15 PM  
Regular  
701 E Broadway  
Council Chambers  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order at 4:16 p.m.  
Staff present: Sarah Dresser  
7 -  
Present:  
Kristin Gadsden, Lee Ann Garrison, David Spear, Frances Lakatos, Cameron Dorth,  
Jim Little and Molly Froidl  
3 - James Melton, Kathleen Murphy and Keondre Harrison  
Excused:  
Absent:  
1 - Natalie Thomas  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
Introductions were made.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Motion to approve the agenda was made by Garrison, seconded by Lakatos.  
Motion carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Minutes from July 10, 2023  
Attachments: 7.10.23 Draft Minutes  
Motion to approve the minutes from July 10, 2023 made by Gadsden, seconded  
by Little. Motion carried.  
V. SPECIAL ITEMS  
Commissioner Service Acknowledgement  
Chair Spear made a note that Natalie Thomas' term on the Commission is coming to an  
end this month. She has served two consecutive three-year terms, starting in November  
2017. There is an engraved City tile to recognize her service, which staff will be sure to  
deliver to Natalie since she could not be at the meeting today.  
VI. OLD BUSINESS  
VII. NEW BUSINESS  
None  
Nominees for Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary  
Spear stated that the Commission needs to take action on nominating officers of Chair,  
Vice Chair and Secretary for the coming year. The current officers began their terms in  
May 2023 when D’Andre left the Commission. The nominations and adoption of new  
officers would be beginning of first full one-year term for all three, if they wish to remain in  
current positions. James Melton has indicated he would like to open up the vice chair  
position to other volunteers.  
Jim Little volunteers to step into the role of Vice Chair. David and Kristin confirmed they  
would be willing to remain in their current positions.  
Motion to accept the proposed slate of officers of Chair - David Spear, Vice-Chair  
- Jim Little, and Secretary - Kristin Gadsden, made by Garrison, seconded by  
Gadsden. Motion carried.  
Small Request Funding Application  
Dresser reported that since October 1 was the beginning of FY24, the small request  
funding budget has a balance of $3,000. We have received the first small request  
application for the fiscal year from Dismal Niche Arts.  
The $500 request will go to a visual arts exhibition titled “Space is the Place Exhibition”  
to be held at stop-gap project Nov. 3-18, 2023. This event will take place as part of our  
8th annual Columbia Experimental Music Festival over the first weekend of November.  
City funds will be used to rent the space ($250), to market the exhibition ($150 posters,  
printed materials, social media ads), and artist support ($100 including shipping artwork  
and supplies needed for shipping).  
Motion to fully fund the $500 small request to Dismal Niche Arts made by  
Garrison, seconded by Dorth. Motion carried.  
VIII. REPORTS  
Commission  
Secretary's Report  
Kristin encouraged the group to think of correspondence that should be going out.  
Lee Ann Garrison brought up following up with David Wilson who spoke to the group at its  
June meeting. She suggested sending a letter to invite him back to be part of the agenda  
on future arts funding.  
Another suggestion for correspondence was following up for Celebration of the Arts with  
letters to the artist, event hosts, and venue. Letters sent to artists who have completed  
public art projects would be another idea.  
Kristin stated she would work on some drafts to bring to the next meeting. Dresser said  
she would inquire with the City's Creative Services department on if we could have official  
letterhead for correspondence.  
Standing Committee on Public Art  
None.  
Staff  
Columbia Arts Fund Update  
Dresser reported that the current balance is $343,980.93. We will also be participating in  
the CoMoGives campaign, so planning has begun for that initiative.  
Celebration of the Arts  
Dresser thanked all who volunteered and attended the event. We had a great turnout, with  
over 200 people. Total net revenue came in at $15,671.23, which will be transferred from  
the City to the Columbia Arts Fund. With the addition of $2,630.00 from the silent auction  
(that went directly to CAF). So the total funds raised for CAF ended up at just over  
$18,300.  
Dresser mentioned that some planning is already in the works for next year for the event  
to be held at Boone County History & Culture Center. OCA is working with BCHS to  
collaborate on the Commemorative Poster that will also have incentives for artists to be  
featured in an exhibit at the Montminy Gallery that will be a backdrop to the event.  
Agency Assistance  
Dresser stated that she is working with Sara Leonard at New Chapter Coaching to offer  
capacity building workshops for our funded arts agencies. The “Board School” will be  
offered for board of directors as well as executive/administrative staff, and free of charge  
for these agencies. The workshops will be two, 2-hour sessions, likely to take place in  
January 2024.  
Status of FY23 & FY24 Funding  
Dresser stated that for FY23 funding, final reports are due from The Missouri Symphony,  
Columbia Entertainment Company and Jazz Forward Initiative.  
For the FY24 funding, contract agreements are planned for the Oct. 16 City Council  
meeting. There are a couple minor agreement changes that still need to occur for The  
Columbia Book Festival, which will go on a future meeting agenda. Finally, because of an  
overlap in funded projects for Vidwest with the existing City contract, that organization will  
be submitting an alternative proposal for the Commission to consider at its next meeting  
before the agreement can move forward.  
IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Commissioners shared information about upcoming arts events.  
Jim had a question if Treeline had received OCA funding; Dresser stated that OCA only  
funds nonprofit 501c3 organizations, so Treeline was not funded by us.  
X. NEXT MEETING DATE  
Next meeting date is Monday, November 13 at 4:15 p.m.  
XI. ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. made by Garrison, seconded by Lakatos; motion  
carried.