City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Commission on Cultural Affairs  
City Hall  
Monday, January 8, 2024  
4:15 PM  
Regular  
701 E Broadway  
Council Chambers  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Spear called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.  
Staff present: Sarah Dresser and Andrea Jira.  
9 -  
Present:  
Kristin Gadsden, David Spear, Cameron Dorth, Keondre Harrison, Jim Little, Molly  
Froidl, Diana Moxon, Stacey Thompson and Kathleen Murphy  
3 - James Melton, Lee Ann Garrison and Linda Helmick  
Excused:  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
None.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Motion to approve the agenda made by Murphy, seconded by Dorth; motion  
carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to approve the minutes from December 11, 2023 made by Murphy,  
seconded by Dorth; motion carried.  
Minutes from December 11, 2023  
Attachments: 12.11.23 Draft Minutes  
V. OLD BUSINESS  
Correspondence to City Council  
Spear thanked the Commission for their input in creating the letter to be sent to City  
Council. It is planned to be on the January 16 City Council agenda as a report. Spear will  
be at the meeting to present the key highlights of the letter to City Council.  
VI. NEW BUSINESS  
Accepting Gift of Art Proposal  
Dresser shared information about a proposal received for accepting a gift of work of art to  
the City. There is an ordinance for accepting donated art; after the Commission reviews a  
proposal their recommendation is passed along to City Council for acceptance.  
The proposal is for artwork in Clary-Shy Community Park, which is home to the Activity &  
Recreation Center (ARC), the MU Health Care Pavilion, utilized by the Columbia Farmers  
Market, and an agriculture park managed by the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture  
(CCUA). The Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, in collaboration with CCUA,  
have proposed a series of insect sculptures to be integrated into the built environment of  
the park. The sculptures would represent a variety of native insects as well as add artistic  
interest to the various buildings and structures throughout the park. The sculptures are  
designed and created by local artist, Stephen Feilbach.  
Artwork: Created by artist Stephen Feilbach, the sculpture depicts a praying mantis,  
which has been constructed out of metal, industrial foam, Line-X bed liner material and  
automotive paint. The dimensions are approximately 5 feet long, 4 feet tall and 2 feet  
wide. Since the sculpture has been created from very durable materials, there is no  
annual maintenance required. The value of the artwork is $6,500. The proposed display  
site would be on the east-facing awning of the CCUA Schoolhouse, which is just off the  
path to the center entrance from the parking lot into the MU Health Care Pavilion. The  
sculpture has been created with loopholes in its lower four legs that will allow it to be  
bolted to the roof of the awning. Parks and Recreation staff would plan to install the  
sculpture, requiring little cost to the City.  
Donation to the City: The donor of the sculpture is Dr. Taylor Sirois who will retain title to  
the sculpture, but grant its use to the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation  
Department, with an initial agreement of a long-term display of 10 years in Clary-Shy  
Community Park.  
Timeline: The praying mantis sculpture is complete and ready for installation. Columbia  
Parks and Recreation is currently in discussion with the artist about proposed future  
insect sculptures to be created and donated to the City. When those details become  
available, proposals will be presented to the Commission on Cultural Affairs and City  
Council.  
The Commission had a few questions regarding the donation under consideration. Some  
were concerned about the weight and size of the piece at its location. Staff said that  
these concerns had been discussed on site with the artist and the Parks & Recreation  
team, who all seemed to find no issue with the sculpture and its planned installation.  
Motion to recommend the acceptance of the sculpture donation made by Dorth,  
seconded by Harrison; motion carried.  
VII. REPORTS  
Commission  
Secretary's Report  
There was no secretary's report. Spear asked if we could send thank you letter's to Dr.  
Sirois and the artist Stephen Feilbach thanking them for their donation. Also, Spear  
asked that OCA staff send correspondence to our City-funded arts organizations alerting  
them to the Commission's correspondence to City Council with the request for more arts  
funding.  
Standing Committee on Public Art  
Staff reported that there are no open calls for art currently. The next Traffic Box Art  
program call will likely be open at the end of February. Staff is looking into a potential  
restructure of the program. The Commission requested that report on proposed changes  
to the Traffic Box Art program be presented at the next meeting.  
Staff  
Columbia Arts Fund Update  
Dresser reported that the current balance is $328,037.35. This does not include funds  
raised from CoMoGives.  
CoMoGives  
Dresser reported that $2,800 was raised for the 2023 campaign. We raised $2,200 for  
2022 campaign and $3,705 in 2021. We did have a bit of a boost in 2020 with $5,215  
raised (suspected that giving was up that year because donors has more discretionary  
funds to make larger gifts).  
Murphy asked if we get the names of those who have donated and if we include them in  
all of our fundraising asks.  
Columbia Values Diversity Celebration  
Jira reported that the deadline to purchase tickets is this Wednesday. Currently we have  
less than 300 seats left.  
Commemorative Poster  
Staff shared that the call for entries for the 2024 Commemorative Poster opens today.  
The deadline is March 8.  
Agency Assistance  
Dresser shared that response has been good for the Board School training series planned  
for 1/17 and 1/31 - with currently 9 organizations registered including staff and board  
members (appoximately 35 people). The deadline for groups to sign up is this  
Wednesday, so we might see another 1 or 2 organizations sign up.  
Status of FY23 & FY24 Funding  
Dresser reported that for FY23 arts funding we currently have final reports due from North  
Village Arts District, Access Arts, and TRYPS Children’s Theater.  
OCA Office Move  
Staff shared that the department is now located in the Gentry Building at 1 S 7th Street.  
We plan to invite you all to an open house to take place later this month or early  
February. Date TBD but watch your email inbox for more details.  
VIII. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
None.  
IX. NEXT MEETING DATE  
The next meeting will be February 12, 2024.  
X. ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. made by Murphy, seconded by Dorth; motion  
carried.