City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire BRC Arts and Nonprofits, 20 Dec 2021

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 12.20.2021 BRC Arts & Nonprofits Meetings

Description

12.20.2021 BRC Arts & Nonprofits Meetings

A

Good afternoon, everyone I would like to call to order the monday december 20th 2021.

A

New time meeting of the mayor's bloomberg committee on parts of non-profits.

A

um This is our final scheduled meeting of 2021 and um there has been interest expressed in continuing.

A

This group city council level that I've heard so we don't have a proposed schedule for 2022. Yet.

A

Or any idea of how the continuation of the group would be populated or any of that.

A

So we're just going to work through today, as this being the last meeting of 2021 um and we'll rely.

A

On the council, to give the incoming cops, give us direction on what's next and go from there.

A

So um we're gonna postpone the approval of our december meeting. That's until hopefully.

A

We reconvene at some point in the future because we do not have an in-person forum here and the.

A

Law requires us to have an in-person report to do any official business, so that will not take place.

A

I think the second thing on the item just this summer's a summary of the future of.

A

This blue river committee- I mostly took care of just now the farmer and I will be presenting.

A

To the city council tonight our year-end report, we circulated that everyone, so everyone's had a.

A

Chance to review that at this point and uh as you know, one of the recommendations we've made was the.

A

Continuation of this group as a blu-ray committee for 24 more months, the term of the incoming.

A

City council, with the hope that we can see through the projects that are proposed in the urine report.

A

Tonight I believe there were six different items that we had proposals on tonight. Maybe five five.

A

Or six items that we uh have proposals on to the state council um and it's likely that those will.

A

Be taken up in january by the new city council, when they're seated um does anyone have any.

A

Questions comments or concerns about the you know how the future of this committee could go forward.

A

Or the proposal that we have on the table go ahead, barbara um russ! Maybe you can help us.

B

With this, because um you were on the reopening task force a year ago- and maybe you can kind of.

B

Let us know how it might work as far as people expressing an interest in continuing or.

B

Expressing thanks and gratitude for being a part of wanting to move on from it, of course, um so.

A

You bring up an interesting topic, the reopening, because it was initially a reopening task force.

A

That was formed that I served on for seven or eight months to finish out 2020 and then.

A

At the beginning of 2021, it was transitioned to a blue urban committee which had not been in the.

A

First year and at that point um I stepped off that committee and stepped onto this committee.

A

I believe what happened in the case and nancy might know even better than I do, but I believe.

A

What happened in that case were the two chairs. The co-chairs of the reopening task force agreed.

A

To stay on as co-chairs of, or maybe at that time it was just james. I can't remember if it was james.

A

And mark that I think james and mark both stayed on. Unfortunately, market passed away after that.

A

But james stayed on definitely as the blue ribbon committee chair and then they invited.

A

Everyone who was currently sitting on the task force to continue on and some people like myself.

A

Opted to move on to different projects or step away from that particular committee.

A

So they welcomed some new committee members to that group, um and so that would likely be a.

A

Similar process to what would happen here, barbara and I would have to make a decision as to whether.

A

Or not, we want to remain on, as co-chairs of you know for at least the coming year and.

A

Then invite everyone who's sitting on the current committee to stay if they would like to say or.

A

Let's know if they need to move on for whatever reason, and then if there are vacancies we would.

A

Need to find a path to filling those vacancies and typically they're, officially filled by the mayor.

A

Correct nancy: is there anything in that that could be said better.

C

If one of the current members um wants to move on, can they appoint um somebody from their.

C

Organization to take their seat or does it go back to the mayor? It goes back to the mayor, but.

A

I think they can recommend uh people to sit on the committee. I think there were recommendations.

A

Made for the reopening blue river committee, um recommendations would be taken from anyone on the.

A

Committee and anyone in the community and people can recommend themselves for the committee. I think.

A

There's an application process that they can go through like we went through when we applied for.

A

This committee and then the mayor would review those the mayor. Often I don't know what the case.

A

Will be with the incoming mayor, but the mayor will often ask leadership on the committee for um you.

A

Know input advice on appointing new committee members with americans the ultimate decision.

A

But I I do like the idea that, if someone currently on the committee were to step aside, uh the.

A

Potential of bringing in a new committee member that was associated with either their organization.

A

Or a non-representative arts organization community to come in and fill that slot.

A

I think that the work that we're doing is so closely tied to the arts, culture and historic.

A

Preservation non-profits as a community that would be good to have strong representation from.

A

Those organizations so yeah nominations, it's not really nominations. It's a self-domination. I think.

D

That that should be those recommendations of what what the criteria should be for selecting somebody.

D

Might want might be something this committee would put together just because you know the nature of.

D

The work- I don't remember, a formal application for the opening committee. I just thought that.

E

There were, there were names, and then he selected is that yeah there was an application. Nancy yeah.

A

For the bloomer committee for our group, they're definitely west now yeah for this group, yeah.

B

Because russ and I um bruce and I discussed the some of the candidates with the mayor at the time.

B

He wanted our input, yeah yeah, and I think that that's how you know it's with the new mayor who.

D

Knows what the process will be, but I know that he will probably be very open to her.

D

Recommendations, but I think you know the nature of the work. You know the time that it consumes.

D

And I think that that's the kind of thing that the mayor needs to know going forward.

D

Excellent does that answer your question right? Okay, any other questions.

A

Okay, well before we go any further, because I'm going to forget it my way until the very end.

A

I want to take a moment here to just recognize and thank all of the committee members. I know barbara.

A

It feels the same as I do that you've done really fabulous work over the past year and because we're.

A

Moving from this meeting into somewhat uncertain ground, not sure, what's going to be happening in.

A

2022, I don't want to miss the opportunity to thank all of you for your service, especially if some of.

A

You might not stay in the coming year, although I hope that all of you will stay. I think that it's.

A

Been a really remarkable group, it's been an honor to work with all of you and I really think that.

A

um There's a lot that we could accomplish in the next two years under the city council coming in.

A

um If we're given the opportunity to do so, so thank you all for taking the time I know it's.

A

Not easy to take time away from your day pretty consistently at first, we met every week then, once.

A

A month and we've been meeting twice a month for a while now so it's a lot of time and I I hope the.

A

Community appreciates the dedication and volunteer service of everyone on this committee. Anything.

F

You wanna thank you for your leadership too. We thank you for your leadership. It's appreciated.

B

um I also want to thank um stephanie and nancy. You you've been so important for us in terms of.

B

Getting the word out on the city site and communicating stephanie. Thank you.

B

And nancy, um I can't even begin to say thank you enough to you because it goes far beyond this.

B

Committee for me, um you and I have known each other for much longer than probably we want.

B

To admit and you've always been supportive and helpful, and a wonderful sounding board.

B

And and help navigate some difficult waters at times, and I I don't assume to speak for.

B

Everyone, I think, they'd like to say the same, but I will miss you so much and I I don't. I don't even.

B

I have to stop or I'll get uh too emotional, but thank you and thanks stephanie to wow I mean.

B

Boom stephanie, could you get this out? It's out. I mean just wonderful.

B

So yes, nancy stephanie, thank you. I do have to say working with the two of you has made.

A

This an enjoyable process, not just an easy process, so thank you for for being here for us.

D

Those are really kind words really appreciated, but honestly you're, the people that make this.

D

City, dynamic and interesting and um preserving what little.

D

Artsy bohemians, we still have left here and I really appreciate that, because that is.

D

To me, what makes portsmouth so compelling and um keep them I'm not going away, keep up the good work.

D

I'm here to support help so awesome. Thank you. um The next thing on our agenda is the direct.

A

Support to local artists that we didn't have time to get to last week and it seems like a.

A

Really fitting segue into that, because we do, as a committee recognize an integral role that the.

A

Arts community, particularly the working artists within our community, play in making portsmouth.

G

What it is and what it has been for decades so nico if you want to hop on great, thank you uh so.

G

Our subcommittee, courtney and nancy had a chance to meet. On monday. We viewed a draft proposal.

B

Sorry nico: can you get closer to the microphone thanks, yeah um how's? That is, that all right.

G

Awesome, our next steps for the proposal are to uh city manager.

G

um That you presented to city council.

G

So our proposal consists of a brief narrative for us.

G

It makes a case for the value that independent artists give to our creative economy.

G

It cites these two after servings, which.

G

Outlines our pilot, uh our budget has not changed. It is still for sixteen thousand five hundred.

G

Dollars which encapsulates ten individual grants, a piece and a budget for administrative expenses.

G

um Explicitly within our pilot, we decided that it's not necessary to get.

G

A very completely fleshed out grant application.

G

But key points include having an explicit call for diversity in artists.

G

uh Their medium and as well as personal identity representation, we want to have that language.

G

Clearly laid out thanks application, and we also want to have the selection.

G

We decided that it's important to not limit.

G

Applicants to by a residential department to do portsmouth rather to have a previous based.

G

Environment and to evaluate the work as it pertains to.

G

Sorry plan here to get out the overall. Let artists tell us how the work that they've already done.

G

Has impacted uh enforcement specifically, so we hope that by drawing that line,.

G

uh Between impact and their physical residence that we're being more inclusive.

G

And we want to uh reiterate that we're not trying to commission new projects, we are trying to.

G

Let artists report on work that they have done their personal practice and make a case for how.

G

That is presented some kind of public value to the community and then the selection board will.

G

Review that work, that's already been done and make those selections based on.

G

A

I'll I'll chime in real quickly and say that um I really like the proposal. I'm really appreciative.

A

Of it, barbara and I had a conversation about last week about specific funding, asks and.

A

Level of detail that we're able to go into at this point with the incoming city council.

A

On funding for these projects- and we kind of made the decision that at this early stage.

A

The best path of action would be to make a request of a percentage of uh american wrestling plan act.

A

Funds as opposed to an itemized list of x dollars for this x dollars for this and x dollars. For that.

A

um We thought that asked with four percent of the funds that were awarded to the state of portsmouth.

A

uh To cover all of the projects uh that are initiatives that were proposing in this year in.

A

Report was a realistic ask so um so in the report. When we talk about support for local artists.

A

I think what we're talking about here recognizing work, that's already been done. It's an important.

A

Aspect of that, but we also included in the year and report the potential for funding.

A

New community impact things, so that's really based on the language of the american rescue.

A

Plan act about what we can do to currently impact the community as a community comes.

A

Out of the epidemic, so you know, we feel that our funds are a good match for this, because.

A

You're talking about a disproportionately impacted population working artists within our community.

A

And echoes across throughout the world working artists were disproportionately impacted by this.

A

But also an opportunity to create something that engages the community. So you know: we've we've been.

A

A little bit more general in the year-end report, I think, what's likely to happen, is that with the.

A

New council we'll have further conversations on what the possibilities of funding are, whether or.

A

Not they want to pull out specific actions from the year and report or whether or not.

A

They want to give us an opportunity to have a decision-making process as a committee for.

A

The proposed items that we have and we can prioritize them, so I'm not sure yet whether or.

A

Not the council's going to want to prioritize what we're asking for whether they're going to allow us.

A

To prioritize what we're asking for and what's actually gonna happen with, the funding request.

A

But while the sixty thousand five hundred dollar line in your proposal is great, um we didn't we.

A

Chose not to say this much for marketing this much for have to study this much for artists. We chose.

C

Instead to say these are all the proposals that we think four percent of the arc of funds would.

C

Allow us to accomplish most, if not all of this can I just have a question in nico which everything.

C

Sounds really great, I didn't know if you discussed or even have a way to address economic need. So is.

C

That is that part of your equation. We actually did this to discuss that, and that was a note to.

G

Include it in a draft, we do want to include it as a consideration, but not the primary conservation.

G

Major choice not to frame this as a relief program, we thought it would be more sustainable as a.

G

Pilot, we found a more likely ongoing annual um project if we frame it as an incentive to engage.

A

Any other questions comments.

B

Go ahead, barbara, um who would be making these decisions about? Who would get this um money.

B

uh Some combination of our subcommittee and this larger committee would put together a review panel.

G

That imagine consists of artists and non-profit leaders such as yourself.

A

I believe that the city has a um and nancy might know better than I do they. They have.

A

Criteria for reviewing public art for our program.

A

Is there? Is there like a determined way that panel is put together.

D

D

That's that was part of our speak. uh They had that public art subcommittee and they were tasked when.

D

They were in existence to pull together a review committee, but that was specific to public art.

D

I think more three-dimensional two-dimensional are as opposed to performing art and there's a whole.

D

Series of guidelines that were adopted by art speak and have been put into practice by the city.

D

um I think just listening to what nico just said about you know having representatives of this.

D

This committee, you're gonna, have to have it's city money, so you're gonna have to have somebody from.

D

The city and some finance controls on how that works, so that probably has to be determined.

D

After we get to the point hey, this is a great idea. Now, let's really drill down on it, because.

D

um You know this, this is a mayor's blue ribbon committee and it's not.

D

A part of a legislative regulation: it's not a part of our city, ordinance.

D

It's if you will in terms of a committee, so I think that has to be sorted out.

D

But I think, what's what made the percent for art um successful is that you know professionals were.

D

uh Consulted about public art, you know art in the public realm put it that way and- um and it was the.

D

Guidelines were very good in terms of quality control and those kinds of things. You know that.

D

Kathy sununu did a lot of work on putting that together and that is in the absence of art. Speak.

D

We've had a couple of um proposals for public art and we've gone back to those guidelines and pulled.

D

Together, an independent small committee to review those specific um requests or proposals for art.

F

um The one is the one: is the painting um related to the peace treaty when you walk in the hallway.

D

Into this room and another one was the sculpture that went into the north middle pond park.

D

So um because we don't have you know a formal committee other than this, I'm.

D

Not sure how that would work, but we certainly find people that have expertise. You know maybe.

D

Not unlike what we do for performances at the at the blind, mall state, you know.

D

James from the music called russ and um joel joelwickson, people that are performers.

D

Or that review, performances and and advise us so something like that, makes sense.

A

Any other comments or questions.

A

Okay, thank you, nico. That's super appreciated and we'll, hopefully be moving forward with some.

A

Of the stuff very soon, um the next thing we have is a marketing update and jason informed me that.

A

Barbara and I that he wasn't going to be able to make it today, but ben is here to.

E

Give a quick update on that yeah. It will be a brief update, a couple of things. It has been.

E

Decided, I think we discussed this at the last meeting that potentially moving the campaign.

E

Start until march, that was agreed upon by the marketing subcommittee, certainly supported by.

E

The team and darcy creatives that'll be starting in march, uh which is great because we've been.

E

Refocused they can't paint more of a spring messaging and will allow us to capture some.

E

Of the momentum for prescott park and other seasonal events, uh things of that nature, so.

E

We're excited about that in the short term. uh Well, before march, we want to. um We want to start on.

E

The public relations side of this we have our pr firm out of boston that is anxious to get to work.

E

um The challenge for them is, they need to become educated and really learn. The ins and outs of the.

E

Arts community, so when they're talking to writers and and editors and things of that nature, they can.

E

Speak intelligently and plant story ideas, so what we'd like to do with the help of this group is to.

E

Over the first few weeks, or you know first through january, uh have a series of meetings uh with.

E

Different segments of the arts community because that when you start breaking, you guys all know.

E

As we start breaking arts down, there's there's several large chunks. uh There there's a lot to.

E

Talk about so we we've kind of split that up into a couple different subgroups and we'll put some.

E

uh Zoom meetings together to talk about those different areas so performing arts or or.

E

Venues or galleries, you know we'll somehow and it will be perfect, we'll somehow develop some buckets.

E

Where we can have some zoom meetings and talk about those subsets of the arts community, so.

E

That our public relations teams can become more informed and start their their work to reach out.

E

Because, ideally, we would bring artists writers to town february and early march so that we can.

E

Have some of these articles hit uh throughout the march april? May timing of yeah there's.

E

Always a couple weeks lag time after a writer visits before anything hits uh the shelves or.

E

The papers, uh so we will be working on that and at the same time, the next short term, um perhaps.

E

In conjunction with these meetings, we're going to be asking for any visual assets that can be.

E

Loaned to the team at darcy created. So if there's you know great video of shows at different venues.

E

Or photography of artists at work that can be can be borrowed and used uh by the rc creator to put.

E

Together these marketing pieces um that'll be much more cost effective than us having to hire uh you.

E

Know photographers and videographers, but those come with a pretty high price tag. We all know.

E

And uh and it'll just be a faster and more streamlined way of putting this together.

E

So we'll be making those requests in those same meetings, so um you know we will uh work with.

E

uh Hopefully, barbara and ross to potentially put together a meeting schedule and share it and then.

E

It'll be really need help from this group to get that word out as the chamber, we have certainly.

E

Great contact information for our membership, but outside of that it gets tough. So as we're trying.

E

To reach individual artists, for example, um you know that's going to be a hard group for us to.

E

You know capture, so we will certainly need help from this group to get the message out about those.

E

Opportunities, so that we can really educate our pr firm and get as many people engaged as possible.

E

Any questions for me.

G

Yeah, um I guess you touched on it already, but I'm curious to learn more about how.

G

Artists or organizations that aren't directly represented in this group might reach writers.

G

Materials they can make sure that their practice.

E

Yeah, so it's um it took a bit of doing, but we have uh we're starting to get our hands around.

E

How all that can be that's what these meetings will really be. All about is forming these.

E

Sub groups of the arts community about what the plan is, how they can be involved. uh We've.

E

Found ways to include them on our website without you know putting them into our membership.

E

So we had to do some technical wizardry by other people to make stuff like that happen.

E

But we work through some of the so through these meetings we will be, you know, putting people onto.

E

The artist pages of the website, we will be asking them for information about their art and their.

E

What it is they do and that's different prairie heart medium, so that our pr firm can go out and.

E

Speak intelligently to prospective writers and the way that works is, you know, they'll.

E

Go out and kind of pitch editors and writers about coming into portsmouth and experiencing.

E

All that is great about portsmouth and putting focus on our hearts and then once the writer.

E

Says, oh, I think I can make it these days. Let's put something together, then our pr agency with.

E

Our staff, the chamber staff, will arrange everything for them, so we will reach out to um you.

E

Know certainly find them a place to stay, make sure they have great meals and go to great restaurants.

E

And then, depending on their interests um and being the type of publication or whatever they're.

E

You know whatever makes sense, we will reach out to the artist community.

E

To say, okay, who who'd be willing to you know host this person in their studio or or if they.

E

Were interested in performance, you know who has an event going on this weekend that we could you know.

E

Maybe get them tickets to a show or whatever it is. You know it's going to be different depending on.

E

Each circumstance- and so we cast a pretty wide net with that.

E

And the way it works is everyone responds back to us and say yeah? I have this show going on.

E

Or you know whatever have you, whatever here's all the options, and then we sit down with the pr firm.

E

And you know kind of pick and choose what we think the best experiences will be. So if there's.

E

You know if there's two shows going on and they only have time to go to one we're going to have.

E

To make a call: well, we think you know this would probably fit them better or they might enjoy this.

E

Better based on their interest, so it's a bit of a recraft the right experience for them as best.

A

Any other questions comments.

A

I just want to make sure that the all the consideration goes into uh supporting.

A

The arts, culture and historic preservation in the community um outside of performance too, not just.

A

A purely basis performance, so you know the the artists that are showing galleries or above the.

A

Factory schools different things that are happening, maybe in the arts community, so.

A

Making sure that all of it's represented somehow yeah, certainly the challenge will be that that.

E

That that's a pretty broad thing you know like once we, you know, there's a lot of stuff going.

E

On there, so for um so for us to cast as wide event as possible and learn as much as you can.

E

That's what these meetings are all about, so the more we know the more um we get these story, ideas.

E

The better off we can pitch them to editors and writers and get the right people to come to town.

H

Yeah I just wanted I'll turn on my camera. um Stephanie knows far more about this than I do.

H

Well, there's just going to comment that on both ends of the spectrum of what you've just described.

H

Both you and ben and russ, um having worked with the chamber, and particularly with martha sullivan.

H

Their pr people, their brilliant pr person at strawberry bank, martha knows portsmouth pretty.

H

Well, she knows the high spots, the kind of the the usual suspects, and she knows the the diagon alley.

H

Kinds of aspects as well, so I wanted to say that a she's- it's not this, isn't somebody new to the.

H

Whole destination and what we are and what we do, but, on the other hand, for those of us who have.

H

Been working on national level, pr for our respective organizations.

H

Martha knows who our pr people are when I was at strawberry bank. She knew that if there was.

H

A strawberry bank angle or history angle, she would talk to me and it's not. I haven't ever.

H

Found it to be a duplication of effort, I've found her always to be supportive of what I was doing.

H

With national media on behalf of strawberry bank, when I was there, so I think it works really well.

H

The fact that it's martha is is terrific, um so I just wanted to say that to allay the concerns of.

H

People who have their own pr folks saying wait a minute, I'm already doing that. Martha works really.

H

Well on that right and if I could just make one more comment, it's the level of detail involved in.

E

This is pretty uh significant, you know it and I'll I'll just use visit beth over there. The other day.

E

um You know it's one thing to know that 3s has a gallery right. We all know. 3S has a gallery.

E

But the the exhibit right now, you know is, is perfect to uh you know, publications that have a.

E

You know angle to them and a diversity angle to them so to know that the next artist that's.

E

Going to be featured in that gallery has this going. um You know, in their background really.

E

Allows them to fine-tune the pitch and the ass to the right publications and the right.

E

The right writer, so it's getting down to that really kind of you know next level deep.

E

Of information so that she can be informed and really make a strong case for the right.

E

Writer to come and have the right experience, which creates the right article or publication.

F

Excellent, any other questions for ben or comments.

A

All right, thank you. Ben super helpful. um The last thing we have on our agenda before public.

A

Comment is the uh afta arts economic prosperity study? I don't know if there's any updates there.

A

Oh yeah go ahead. Mommy take that her name said: okay, yeah um yeah. So first of all we did send.

C

Out to this committee, um the definition of what a participating organization is and ask you to look.

C

At the spreadsheet and correct your ad, and so for those who have done that, thank you for those who.

C

Haven't there's still time to do that um renee and lauren rosen, and I are meeting tomorrow to finish.

C

A kind of draft, um an email that's going to go to all of the non-profit organizations and others.

C

It's going to as simply as possible describe what the after plan is and what our schedule is.

C

And then we're going to invite people to come to a question and answer zoom meeting for those.

C

Who think they need to there's people who've done this a dozen times? They don't need to.

C

But we'll be saying we're going to have a q, a zoom meeting for you board volunteers or.

C

Anyone we're looking at january 26 for that date. I will ask stephanie to check on that to see if.

C

We can have a zoom link through the city um and the other thing I wanted to ask this group.

C

Really quickly for something like that, I don't remember what day of the week it is wednesday.

C

um Is there a specific time, that's good for something like that um in the morning at.

C

Lunch end of day, I find that end of day. People are too busy, but does anybody have any advice.

A

I mean for me, mid-morning always works best, but I might be unique in this crowd. I like mid-morning,.

F

Good morning, okay, yeah mid-morning, and that would again that would be um we're gonna try to.

C

Let everybody know you know what's going on, so they can read it and it would be a q, a session.

C

Then we're gonna have two actual orientation trainings for the how to participate. We have to.

C

Wait until we get our stuff from national, but we're hoping to have february 23rd in person.

C

um Probably at the library and a 24th repeat of all that organism repeat of that by zoom. So.

C

People who didn't want or couldn't come in person on the 23rd hopefully could come on the 24th and.

C

That would be more of a training on how to do the audience intercept survey and by then we might.

C

Know a little bit more about um the financial information that each organization will have to.

C

Go online and submit for afto, um so that's the track we are on um and we do have to wait.

C

To get new dates and stuff from there good night anything else nope you covered it all. That's great.

A

Well, thank you both of you for your work on this super appreciated um any questions or comments.

A

For them, I just have a comment, um and it relates back to the recommendations from the city council.

D

The first one is direct support from the arts upcoming.

D

I don't know if what you meant by that is.

D

The actual survey fee, because we've already sorry people hit that we've already paid.

D

The speaker fee to come, um and we have recently just received approval for budgeting the.

D

um Expenses, the travel expenses which are low budget, but um hopefully we can.

D

Maybe work with ben and who can help us? You know, get a discount to put up the.

D

Executive director um out for one night just one night, so it's flight and putting him up and.

D

And his meals um and then the other piece is, I just need to get the city manager's signatures.

D

Today I have, I just got all the paperwork from the attorney's office for um to hire a project.

D

Manager for 200 hours, so um so, just when you give the report tonight, you know these things are teed.

D

Up already yeah, I think this is part of your part of the presentation tonight. Is that correct.

B

I think it is yes and russ, and I talked about this nancy- that it was already.

B

Already in the works, so I don't know if, if you want us to discuss it tonight or or just leave it.

C

Can I jump in real quick, I don't know nancy you haven't been into um there.

B

Are other expenses involved they're going to be minimal in a sense, but but there will be.

C

Administ other administrative things there's going to be a brochure that we're going to we're going.

C

Gonna want to produce eventually there may even be something we want to get right now, like a button.

C

That you wear to say that identifies you as somebody doing with permission to do the surveys.

C

Which we did a number of years ago, so those are going to be small but they're, definitely yeah even.

C

Refreshments, I think the strategy for tonight was for barbara to acknowledge the fact that a lot of.

A

This has already been funded by the city and that what we're seeking to do is see it through to the.

C

End of the project, I think that's the perfect yeah and we can't thank nancy enough yeah. No, I agree.

D

I have a turnover.

D

And we have someone to carry this forward because our co-chairs for this committee have.

D

Lots of other things on their plate, so this is great other comments or questions on this.

A

um If you've had a chance to look at the report, that's gone through tonight, we used.

A

A lot of the data from the last app to survey to set up everything in the year-end report.

A

And this does feel like, like the easiest of the asks to the city, because it's been something.

A

The city has consistently participated in for the past 20 years and uh probably 20 plus years, so it.

A

Would be a shame to not continue it at this point and obviously the funding is already there for it.

A

All to happen, so it's the most minimal of the asks that are on there, but we do right up front.

A

Acknowledge the funding that was transferred from heartspeak for the pilot of the marketing program.

A

With the chamber of darcy, creative and the funding, that's been provided for to have to study uh and.

A

We are clear as part of our report, that these are things that are already underway and accomplished.

C

Russ, can I ask one more favor um if we can fit it in the email? We don't want the email to be a book.

C

But tina from a representative from a large organization, could you shoot rene or I a.

C

One sentence why afta is important to you to your sure and barb as a smaller organization,.

C

um If you have a moment, could you shoot a one or two sentence? um You know why, after is important.

C

um And again, we'll try to fit that in that email with our bullets, that's great, hey robin.

F

I was going to ask you: do you have a location um determined for the the meeting on the 26th.

F

The meeting on the 26th is zoom. Oh, it's zoom, okay, gotcha! That's why I was asking stephanie if she.

C

Could look up that date and provide a city you know, then we could have a city link and a city.

C

Someplace to send them great if ever in person stuff is needed. You know we're.

F

Happy to see if it can work on our calendar down the road, so thank you.

F

Any other comments or questions so robin do you want to massage an actual.

H

Time or set it right now, so I can put the wheels in motion.

C

uh Let's set it right now and I'm thinking mid-morning to me means 10. sounds good to me.

C

That's appropriate okay, because then then stephanie we could actually. I.

C

Mean obviously we're going to put it in the email, we're going to say you know, but that way it will give you the zoom link and there isn't right now there.

H

Isn't anything else on the calendar? The only thing for the 26th is a citywide neighborhood.

H

Committee meeting at 6 30 that night, so thank you. It's also my mother's birthday. That's important.

A

But I can smear 10 a.m, trip for this and see mom later in the day, any other questions or comments.

A

Okay, excellent, I don't see anyone from the public here. So um there's no one! That's logged.

A

On a zoom or no one in the room, so we're not gonna have a public comment today. So go ahead.

A

Niko, I just had a question about the report. Tonight, yes, go ahead. What are the next steps.

A

um I I cannot predict what the city council would do tonight, the current city council. So it's I I.

A

Don't really have an idea of what they would do. um I think that the way that we're approaching it.

A

With the council is to provide the current council that has charged us with our mission to with the.

A

Information about- what's happened over the past year, what our recommendations are for going.

A

Forward and with a request for this council to forward this information to the incoming council,.

A

You know so that's that's what our hope is that we can afford this and then, when the incoming council.

A

Comes in in one of their first few meetings, we're hoping they'll be able to address this. I assume.

A

I probably shouldn't assume anything, but my guess would be that the first thing that they would want.

A

To address is the continuation of the blue ribbon committee and and how that would work um and.

A

Then the next thing would be funding for projects for this particular committee, because we're going.

A

To be very clear with them, I mean what they've asked us to do is to provide ways that the city.

A

Can support arts, culture and historic preservation recovery from the pandemic, and you know.

A

From my conversations with the many professionals in this group, we're probably looking at another.

A

Four years of recovery to get out of this mess that we're in I've been thinking for a.

A

Long time that it's likely a recovery and we're just finishing the first year, so um it's kind.

A

Of going to be a long grind, and I think the next couple of years are going to be critical.

A

Because a lot of the safety net that was there through the ppp loans, the s5 grants the nerf.

A

Grants all the different things that happen, we're all pretty much 2020 and 2021. we're not planning.

A

On seeing much of that in 2022., so the the risk and the danger for our arts organizations our.

A

Artists is still there and the concerns that our audiences have have not gone away.

A

So um so that's really the message she said. They've asked us to supply.

A

The city with ideas on how the city can help support the recovery. These are our ideas, so.

A

We're going to work on work from there does that answer your question.

A

Any other comments or questions before we call it a year. I just I I don't know that.

I

This is appropriate, but I thought it might make sense to just call attention to.

I

What happened at the seacoast rep this weekend um and I'm not sure that everyone is aware so.

I

Because rep was hosting a family-friendly, drag show that they've done for a very long time.

I

Called a honey punch of pals, and it was, um I guess you could call it ticketed by.

I

Probably, between 15 and 20, neo-nazis with signs equating.

I

Drag to pedophilia- and you know various other epithets being screamed at people as they.

I

Walk past, as well as personally attacking the artist that is um the drag queen in the show.

I

um So it's I think, challenging as a as a presenting organization that supports artists.

I

Of all kinds um to be presenting in a community and be confronted with something like that.

I

But I think we should all be thinking about how we can demonstrate unity, but also think about.

I

Moving forward what that looks like- and I don't have an answer to that, but I think.

I

I'm having these conversations and an awareness.

I

Amongst all of the arts, organizations and culture organizations in portsmouth is important.

A

I agree: stephanie was your hand up for this. No, it wasn't sorry. Oh that's. Okay,.

A

Yeah I I agree wholeheartedly. I was very disturbed by the video I saw from the the group being in.

A

Front of seacoast rep this weekend and um it was really disappointing to see um and the the.

A

I guess one of the nice things that I saw come of it was a lot of support for seacoast rep.

A

Financially, as a result of this, there were a lot of donations that came in uh over the past.

A

48 hours as a specific result of what happened, I believe it was on saturday. So um it's it's still.

A

Very recent: um it's not the first time we've seen something like this start to creep up into.

A

The community there was something that happened on the middle road overpass a couple weeks ago.

A

With some signage that the police came and took down shortly, after which, I think was organized by.

A

The same river, similar group, so um I wouldn't be surprised to see more of this happening.

A

Although I'm disappointed that it does happen, but I know that we are very committed as an.

A

Organization to accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion, and it's my understanding from the work.

A

That I've done with all the other organizations that are involved with this group that we're all in that boat, together and really working to further that work within our community. Within our.

A

State within our country and throughout the world, so um I'm glad you brought it up. Courtney and.

A

I think that more people in community need to be aware that things like this are happening.

B

Go ahead, margaret um and and in no way as serious or as important as as that topic.

B

But I also wanted to mention, because I've been getting questions about it, um you might have.

B

Seen this in the paper, dover installed a bunch of ice sculptures all over their downtown for.

B

The holidays, and they they didn't even make it overnight last week and they were destroyed and.

B

We're we are still planning to do uh an installation in front of north church for.

B

First night and unfortunately that behavior isn't uncommon and it's happened to us in the past, where.

B

They don't even survive the night of the 31st, but um you know uh I I wanted to let this grow.

B

Group know that as well that we're gonna move ahead with uh things first night and.

B

That also includes uh fireworks at eight in the evening over um the south mill pond.

A

Thanks, barbara yeah, I'm glad that's what happened to you um any other comments or questions.

A

Stephanie disawango yeah sorry to have my hand up before practical question when.

H

Do you want me to post your report onto the page, this groups page on the website.

H

Do you want it now or do you want to wait until, after I'm seeing problems.

A

A

All right well without anything further. Thank you so much for your service this year.

A

uh We will be barbara and I will be in touch as we know what's going on into 2022, but we wish.

A

You all a wonderful happy new year and and hope to see you all very soon. Thank you thanks. Everybody.

F

Happy holidays, happy holidays, bye, everybody.