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"** <br /> May 2025 Minutes <br /> Monday, May 12 1 6:30pm <br /> Zoom Meeting <br /> Attendees: Crystal Wu, Chair,Wendy Smith, Katie Murray, , Denise Duffy, vice chair„ Linda Williamson, Sec., <br /> Josh Rosenstein, , Lindsay Metivier, Francesca Talenti,John Claude Bemis, Gideon Young <br /> Absent:Alexa Velez, Renee Hayes, Celia Gibbs, Heather Washburn, Krista Bremer <br /> Meeting Location: Zoom Meeting <br /> 1) Call to Order at 6:34 by Crystal <br /> 2) Wendy moved to approve the April 2025 Board Minutes and Francesca seconded.All approved. <br /> 3) Board updates <br /> a) UNC Student Liaison - Katie met with Alexander Gast for the new UNC Student Liaison recommended by <br /> Celia. He has submitted his application. Katie will send the application via email for review/approval. We <br /> must vote electronically. After that, his application will go to the BOCC. If approved, he will join us in the Fall. <br /> b) Alexis Velez- has stepped down due to increased demands for work and other activities. <br /> c) Board Vacancies - Katie reviewed the board break down between areas of arts representation,geography <br /> and race. We have two open positions at present.The board discussed potential candidates that Katie <br /> should meet with from the pool of available people. We are still trying to recruit a teacher. <br /> 4) Director's Report: Katie Murray <br /> a) FY26 Budget request updates -the recommended budget from the County Manager is going to the <br /> commissioners for approval including one new person for Katie's staff. Katie also got a slight increase in <br /> programming and operational funds. The programming budget is below what is needed for the new year so <br /> will have to be updated from other funds from the Alliance. The program coordinator position is out of a <br /> different fund and has already been approved. However,the standard County event funds that have always <br /> been in the budget were not included this year.The County funds for artist and arts organization grants is <br /> still flat and have never gone back to the amount the arts used to get. Katie would like to see the outside <br /> agency fund go to a percentage, so it is more obvious how much the arts receives. So good news and bad <br /> news, but overall a good budget cycle for Katie and team (pending BOCC approval). <br /> b) Uproar update - everything moving along. Risk Manager for the County and Katie came to an agreement on <br /> how to proceed with the art installation work. Artist and Art are fantastic for this year. The tourism board is <br /> doing a lot to promote Uproar. <br /> c) RFP update for rebrand - Committee and Katie held interviews with the 3 finalists this week and they have <br /> picked the final candidate. The goal is to be done by the Fall and have an unveiling with the 401" anniversary. <br /> d) Cloth Mill space - Katie reviewed with Arts Alliance board. They put together a steering committee to see <br /> how we could use the space. It would be a priority for arts events, but we would need 3 to 4 private events a <br /> month.The County Manager gave it a green light to move forward with the plan. The team will take to BOCC <br /> at a meeting in the future for approval. Katie is putting together an affordability survey to go out to arts <br /> organizations and non-arts organizations to help determine what is considered acceptable event space <br /> rates/rentals. <br /> e) More volunteer help is needed this month due to related activities for the gallery show- Hidden Voices. <br /> Also, HAC Last Friday and the Library event give us an opportunity to have tables to share information about <br /> Uproar and summer camps. <br /> f) 2025 Grant Cycle - organization and artist grants open June 1. Our panels will be in July- dates TBD. <br />