City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Commission on Cultural Affairs  
City Hall  
Monday, October 14, 2024  
4:15 PM  
Regular  
701 E Broadway  
Council Chambers  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Spear called the meeting to order at 4:16 p.m.  
Staff present: Sarah Dresser  
8 -  
Present:  
Kristin Gadsden, David Spear, Molly Froidl, Linda Helmick, Diana Moxon, Stacey  
Thompson, Kate Nolte and Ryan Hobart  
3 - James Melton, Kathleen Murphy and Vera Elwood  
Excused:  
1 - Cameron Dorth  
Unexcused:  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
Introductions were made. The Commission welcomed new member Ryan Hobart.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Motion to approve the agenda made by Nolte, seconded by Moxon; motion  
carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to approve the minutes from July 22, 2024 made by Moxon, seconded by  
Gadsden; motion carried.  
Minutes from July 22, 2024  
Attachments: 7.22.24 Draft Minutes  
V. SPECIAL ITEMS  
Commissioner Service Acknowledgement  
Dresser stated that two current Commissioners have terms ending this month - David  
Spear and James Melton. She presented David with a special recognition frame for his  
service, November 2021 to October 2024. She also thanks Melton for his two full terms of  
service, from November 2018 through October 2024.  
VI. OLD BUSINESS  
VII. NEW BUSINESS  
None  
Nominees for Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary  
Dresser referred to the handout that was sent ahead of the meeting and printed for people  
today that gives an overview of the officer positions and various committees. The first  
order of business will be to select officers for the coming year. Each can serve two  
consecutive one-year terms. The Commissioners discussed the various duties of the  
positions.  
Froidl nominated Thompson for Vice Chair. Thompson nominated Moxon for Chair, and  
she also nominated Froidl for Secretary.  
Motion to approve the slate of officers of Moxon for Chair, Thompson for Vice  
Chair, and Froidl for Secretary made by Gadsden, seconded by Hobart; motion  
carried.  
Funding Process Sub-Committee Membership  
Dresser stated that the Funding Process Subcommittee will convene in the coming  
months. There can be three core members and two alternates. Typically the Chair of the  
Commission also Chairs this committee. The current members are Froidl, Helmick, and  
Thompson. With the addition of the new chair Moxon, Nolte volunteered to serve as an  
alternate.  
Motion to approve the Funding Process Subcommittee members of Moxon,  
Froidl, Helmick, Thompson and Nolte made by Moxon, seconded by Thompson;  
motion carried.  
Columbia Arts Fund Advisory Committee Membership  
Since there are a few Commissioners missing today, Dresser suggested the group bring  
back this item to a future meeting. The Columbia Arts Fund Advisory Committee will not  
meet until the spring.  
VIII. REPORTS  
Commission  
Secretary's Report  
None.  
Standing Committee on Public Art  
Gadsden reported that the committee met last week to review applications for the Shops  
at Sharp End, which features artists work on a rotating basis. There was just one  
applicant for this cycle, from artist Weihua Zhu, who was recommended to move forward.  
The artists work was shown.  
She also presented photos of the newly installed traffic box art by Battle High School  
students at Bethel and Nifong as well as the bug sculptures in Clary-Shy Community  
Park. Dresser stated that a ribbon cutting may be scheduled for later this month for the  
park, and she would let them know when there is a date set.  
Nick Cave Recognition  
Moxon reported that she has heard back from the manager/partner of Nick Cave. The  
reply email stated that the artist is honored to receive acknowledgement and would like to  
have a bit more information about timeline and proposed budget. Diana will be reaching  
back out to continue the conversation with Cave's manager. Diana and staff will also work  
to build some local connections to start the conversation about what type of project might  
be possible with Nick Cave.  
Staff  
8 -  
Present:  
Kristin Gadsden, David Spear, Molly Froidl, Linda Helmick, Diana Moxon,  
Stacey Thompson, Kate Nolte and Ryan Hobart  
3 - James Melton, Kathleen Murphy and Vera Elwood  
Excused:  
1 - Cameron Dorth  
Unexcused:  
City Budget Update  
Dresser reported that City Council passed the FY25 budget at its September 16, 2024  
meeting. The increase in grant funding to $200,000 was approved.  
Celebration of the Arts Recap  
Dresser thanked the Commissioners who participated in the Celebration of the Arts in  
August. It was a very successful event and beautiful evening. We were so glad to be  
hosted by the Boone County History & Culture Center, which was the ideal venue for this  
event. Artwork by Gloria Gaus was unveiled and the special recognition to Jo Stealey was  
presented by Mayor Buffaloe.  
Overall, we had attendance comparable to past years. Our total net revenue was down  
slightly from last year, we were not able to recruit the additional $2500 poster sponsor.  
We also did not have a silent auction this year, which brought in $2,600 in 2023. Dresser  
said that the Columbia Arts Fund did have a bump in revenue this summer due to a  
number of memorial gifts (total around $1400), plus there is an attendee who intends to  
support CAF during CoMoGives as part of their sponsorship, so those funds are still to  
come in. The committee will likely meet earlier in the spring to strategize some fund  
raising ideas and our overall vision for the event before the logistics of planning take place  
later in the spring.  
Columbia Arts Fund Update  
Current balance is $393,611.47. This does not include the distribution of $16,500 that will  
come out before the end of the calendar year. In addition, the net proceeds from the  
Celebration will likely hit in January.  
CoMoGives  
CAF will also be participating in CoMoGives this year in December.  
Columbia Values Diversity Celebration  
Planning is underway for the 2025 Columbia Values Diversity Celebration, which OCA  
coordinates on behalf of the City. It is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2025 at the Holiday Inn  
Expo Center. We are finalizing participants for the event and tickets will go on sale in  
November.  
Also, please consider submitting a nomination for the Diversity Awards, deadline is Nov.  
15. This year, the public will help with the selection during a voting period in December.  
Agency Assistance  
This past weekend was Artist Inc. Express workshop both Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm  
at the Armory. This was presented by the Mid-America Arts Alliance with support from  
OCA and Missouri Arts Council. There were 22 artists who registered (a few less who  
attended) for the professional development weekend. Ages ranged from college students  
to seniors. Overall, success opportunity that OCA was happy to help promote and to get  
scheduled in Columbia.  
No set plans yet for Spring 2025 opportunities, but possibly something related to  
audience engagement that OCA can target to our funded arts agencies.  
Moxon commented about if there is a way to better connect our local arts agencies with  
BIPOC community organizations, in particular as it relates to audience engagement. She  
noted that most of the agencies OCA funds talk about being diverse and inclusive, yet  
there is often not as much diversity as wished. Dresser also stated that she is meeting  
with various City department staff about ways to bring our arts agencies together to  
address some of these issues along with ways to reach other organizations and their  
programming who may not currently be served by City resources.  
Status of FY24 & FY25 Funding  
Dresser noted that final reports for FY24 grants are coming in. FY25 grant agreements  
will be on the Oct. 21 City Council agenda. We will also hope to meet wit the Funding  
Process Subcommittee in the coming months to determine process for second grant  
opportunity this year and any changes to FY26 application, process, etc.  
IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Dresser noted that there will be two vacancies with James and David leaving. Those  
openings will be posted at the end of this month, for appointments to be made in  
November.  
A guest to the meeting gave remarks about promoting artists and their work in Columbia  
and overall in the state of Missouri. He was interested in a more robust effort for  
marketing and promotion.  
Commissioners talked about past and upcoming arts events.  
X. NEXT MEETING DATE  
Since Nov. 11 is a City holiday, Dresser will send an email to the group to inquire if Nov.  
12 would be a suitable alternative date to meet next month.  
XI. ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to adjourn made by Gadsden, seconded by Froidl; motion carried.