Full Arts Commission Meeting

1. Call to order 
2. Roll call / Confirmation of quorum 
3. Agenda Changes 
4. Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgement 

The San Francisco Arts Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramaytush Ohlone have never ceded, lost nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders and relatives of the Ramaytush Community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. As a department dedicated to promoting a diverse and equitable Arts and Culture environment in San Francisco, we are committed to supporting the traditional and contemporary evolution of the American Indian community.

Discussion and Possible Action  
 
Discussion and possible action to approve April 1, 2024, Draft Minutes  
 
Presentation Time: Approximately 5 minutes 
 
Explanatory Document: April 1, 2024, Draft Minutes

Discussion 
 
(This item is to allow members of the public to comment generally on matters within the Commission’s purview as well as to suggest new agenda items for the Commission’s consideration.) 

Current administrative, budgetary, legislative and programming developments and announcements. 
 
Staff Presenter: Director of Cultural Affairs Ralph Remington   

Presentation Time: Approximately 10 minutes 

1. Community Investment Committee – Chuck Collins, Chair 
    
   1. Community Investment Committee Report  
      Discussion  
        
      Presentation Time: Approximately 5 minutes  
        
      Report from the Community Investment Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program. 
       

2. Executive Committee – Chuck Collins, Chair 

   1. Executive Committee Report   
      Discussion  
        
      Presentation Time: Approximately 5 minutes  
        
      Report from the Executive Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.

Discussion and possible action 
 
Presentation Time: Approximately 5 minutes 

The following items are included in the Consent Calendar subject to withdrawal at the request of a commissioner.  

1. Motion to approve the March 27, 2024, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. 
2. Motion to approve the April 24, 2024, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. 
    
   Executive Committee Recommendations (April 24, 2024, link to agenda) 
   Action 
    
3. Motion to approve the loan of a 9 ft. tall bronze sculpture by Thomas J Price titled "The Distance Within," from the Hauser & Wirth Gallery, to be placed on the Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street) sidewalk adjacent to City Hall pending approval of the Mayor and the issuance of a permit from Public Works. The total estimated cost is $40,000 with funding coming from the Public Art Trust, based upon a 2018 Commission resolution approving the use of $300,000 for temporary public art projects, and a pledge of $10,000 from the Civic Center Community Benefit District. The sculpture would be on display for six months, tentatively June 14, 2024 – December 16, 2024. The Arts Commission will be responsible for maintenance and the artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.   
    
4. Motion to approve artist Walter Kitundu (Kitundu Studio, LLC) and proposal "Those Who Carry Water" for the San Francisco Water Department at 2000 Marin Public Art Project, as recommended by the artist review panel.
    
5. Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Walter Kitundu (Kitundu Studio, LLC) for an amount not to exceed $1,860,000 for the design, engineering, fabrication, transportation, and consultation during installation of an artwork for the San Francisco Water Department at 2000 Marin Public Art Project.   
    
6. Motion to approve the Project Plan for Fulton Street Plaza Activations.   
     
7. Motion to approve "Be the Change," a mural design by Cameron Moberg. The mural will be installed at 2400 Bayshore Ave. in District 10. The mural measures approximately 16 ft. tall by 100 ft. wide. The artwork is funded by SF Beautiful Grant and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.  
    
8. Motion to approve "Daydreamin’," a mural design by Andre Sibayan. The mural will be installed at 221 4th Street. in District 6. The mural measures approximately 10 ft. tall by 60 ft. wide. The artwork is funded by Public Works and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.   
    
9. Motion to approve "Dito Kami," a mural design by Francesca Villa Mateo. The mural will be installed at 790 Folsom Street in District 6. The mural measures approximately 10 ft. tall by 120 ft. wide. The artwork is funded by Public Works and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.    
    
10. Motion to approve "Vicha Ratanapakdee Mosaic Stairway Project," a mosaic stairway design by Sarah Siskin and Thitiwat Phromratanapongse. The mosaic will be installed at Vicha Ratanpakdee Way to Terra Vista Ave and O'Farrell street in District 2. The mosaic measures approximately 66 steps (dimensions average 6.5 in. riser, 10 in. tread by 3 flights by 2 landings. The artwork is funded by private funds and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.   
     
11. Motion to approve "Gum Moon," a mural design by Corey Pang. The mural will be installed at 940 Washington Street in District 3. The mural measures approximately 6 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide. The artwork is funded by the 2024 Week Of The Young Child Fund and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.   
    
    Community Investments Committee Recommendations (April 25, 2024, link to agenda) 
    Action 
     
12. Motion to approve location change from the regular Community Investments Committee Meeting location, from War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102, room 125 to San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102, room 416.  The meeting time will change from the third Tuesday of even months at 1:00 p.m. to the fourth Tuesday of even months at 1:00 p.m.   
     
13. Motion to approve the funding recommendations of the San Francisco Artist Grant (SFA) panels, to award 50 grants totaling $1,500,000 to the following individuals, and to enter into grant agreements with each artist or their fiscal sponsor and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements for amounts not to exceed the following at this time: 
    1. Afatasi, $30,000  
    2. Alexandru Anthoniu Salceanu (Fiscal Sponsor: Somarts), $30,000* 
    3. Ami Molinelli, $30,000  
    4. Amihan (Fiscal Sponsor: Filipino-American Development Foundation), $30,000 
    5. Ana Teresa Fernandez (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $30,000 
    6. Antony Fangary, $30,000  
    7. Ariel Mihic, $30,000*  
    8. Arturo Mendez-Reyes, $30,000*  
    9. Ava Koohbor, $30,000*  
    10. Badri Valian, $30,000*  
    11. Biko, $30,000*  
    12. Breanna Sinclairé, $30,000  
    13. Bryan Nicolas Pangilinan, $30,000  
    14. Cheryl Derricotte, $30,000  
    15. Claudia Escobar, $30,000*  
    16. Conni McKenzie, $30,000*  
    17. Diana Lara, $30,000  
    18. DjeRae, $30,000* 
    19. Donna Mae Ang Foronda, $30,000* 
    20. Eric Garcia (Fiscal Sponsor: Dancers Group), $30,000 
    21. ET IV, $30,000  
    22. Genevieve Quick (Fiscal Sponsor: Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco), $30,000 
    23. George McCalman, $30,000*  
    24. J Manuel Carmona, $30,000*  
    25. Jadu (Fiscal Sponsor: Embodiment Project), $30,000* 
    26. Jungyoon Wie, $30,000* 
    27. Kathy L Nguyen, $30,000*  
    28. Kayl Johnson, $30,000*  
    29. Kevin Simmonds, $30,000 
    30. Laurus Myth, $30,000*  
    31. Lenora Lee (Fiscal Sponsor: Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center), $30,000 
    32. Lyzette Wanzer, $30,000  
    33. Marcel Pardo Ariza (Fiscal Sponsor: Galeria Studio 24), $30,000* 
    34. Maria Breaux, $30,000 
    35. Maya Fuji, $30,000*  
    36. Megan K Kurashige, $30,000  
    37. Melody Takata (Fiscal Sponsor: Nihonmachi Little Friends), $30,000 
    38. MK Wong, $30,000  
    39. Mohammad Gorjestani, $30,000*  
    40. Monica Magtoto, $30,000 
    41. Nancy Cato, $30,000*  
    42. Nancy Wang, $30,000  
    43. Naomi Garcia Pasmanick (Fiscal Sponsor: Independent Arts & Media), $30,000* 
    44. Niloufar Talebi, $30,000 
    45. Nina Limón (Fiscal Sponsor: Independent Arts & Media), $30,000 
    46. Panda Dulce, $30,000 
    47. Patrick Makuakāne, $30,000 
    48. SeQuoiia, $30,000* 
    49. Sherene Melania, $30,000 
    50. Vanessa Sanchez, $30,000 
         
14. Motion to approve the funding recommendation of the Artistic Legacy Grant (ALG) panel, to award one grant totaling $75,000 to the following individual, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement not to exceed the following at this time:  
     
    1. Rhodessa Jones, $75,000 
        
15. Motion to approve the funding recommendations of the Cultural Equity Initiatives panels, to award 38 grants totaling $3,629,978 to the following organizations, and to enter into grant agreements with the organization or their fiscal sponsor and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements for amounts not to exceed the following at this time: 
     
    1. 5 Elements (Fiscal Sponsor: Independent Arts & Media), $100,000*  
    2. A PLACE OF HER OWN (Fiscal Sponsor Asian American Women Artists Association Inc.), $75,000 
    3. African-American Shakespeare Company, $100,000  
    4. AfroSolo Theatre Company (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000 
    5. Asian American Women Artists Association Inc., $100,000  
    6. Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center, $100,000 
    7. Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (Fiscal Sponsor: QCC-The Center for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Art & Culture), $100,000  
    8. Bridge Live Arts, $100,000  
    9. Chavalos De Aqui Y Alla, $80,000  
    10. Chinese Historical Society of America, $100,000  
    11. Chrysalis Studio/Queer Ancestors Project (Fiscal Sponsor: QCC-The Center for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Art & Culture),  $100,000  
    12. Clarion Performing Arts Center, $100,000  
    13. Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network, $100,000  
    14. Emerging Arts Professionals San Francisco Bay Area (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000 
    15. Ensemble for These Times (Fiscal Sponsor: InterMusic SF), $100,000  
    16. Eye Zen Presents (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000  
    17. Foglifter Press, $100,000  
    18. Galeria Studio 24, $100,000  
    19. Inkboat Inc., $50,000  
    20. Jess Curtisgravity Inc., $100,000  
    21. Kultivate Labs, $100,000  
    22. Music Is First (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000*  
    23. NAKA Dance Theater (Fiscal Sponsor: Dancers Group), $100,000  
    24. OX (Fiscal Sponsor: Counterpulse), $75,000  
    25. Push Dance Company, $100,000 
    26. Root Division, $100,000  
    27. SAMMAY Productions (Fiscal Sponsor: Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center), $100,000 
    28. San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company, $100,000  
    29. San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest (Fiscal Sponsor: Dancers Group), $100,000  
    30. San Francisco Recovery Theatre (Fiscal Sponsor: Idris Ackamoor and Cultural Odyssey), $100,000 
    31. San Francisco Youth Theatre, $100,000  
    32. The African & African American Performing Arts Coalition (Fiscal Sponsor: The Dance Brigade A New Group From Wall Flower Order), $50,000  
    33. The San Francisco Neo-Futurists (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $99,978*  
    34. Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco Inc., $100,000  
    35. Womens Audio Mission, $100,000  
    36. World Arts West, $100,000  
    37. Yerba Buena Arts & Events, $100,000  
    38. Zaccho SF, $100,000 
         
16. Motion to approve the funding recommendations of the Arts Impact Endowment - Project Based Initiative, Arts Education/Creative Exploration panel to award twelve (12) grants totaling $1,097,678, in accordance with the priorities outlined in the Community Services Allocation Plan; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each individual or organization or their fiscal sponsor for amounts not to exceed the following at this time:  
     
    1. Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center, $100,000 
    2. Bindlestiff Studio, $100,000 
    3. Chrysalis Studio/Queer Ancestors Project (Fiscal Sponsor: QCC-The Center for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Art & Culture), $100,000 
    4. Clarion Performing Arts Center, $100,000 
    5. Embodiment Project, $100,000 
    6. Foglifter Press, $100,000 
    7. Lyzette Wanzer (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $50,000 
    8. Marigold Project Inc. (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000 
    9. Push Dance Company, $50,000 
    10. Root Division, $100,000 
    11. San Francisco Youth Theatre, $100,000 
    12. Theatre of Yugen Incorporated, $97,678 
         
17. Motion to approve the funding recommendations of the Arts Impact Endowment – Project Based Initiative, Arts Organizations Core Support panel to award eight (8) grants totaling $800,000, in accordance with the priorities outlined in the Community Services Allocation Plan; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization or their fiscal sponsor for amounts not to exceed the following at this time:  
     
    1. African-American Shakespeare Company, $100,000 
    2. Cubacaribe, $100,000 
    3. Kulintang Arts Inc., $100,000 
    4. San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (Fiscal Sponsor: Fresh Meat Productions), $100,000 
    5. The Dance Brigade A New Group from Wallflower Order, $100,000 
    6. The San Francisco Neo-Futurists (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000* 
    7. Urban Jazz Dance Company (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $100,000 
    8. Zaccho SF, $100,000 
        
18. Motion to approve the funding recommendations of the Arts Impact Endowment – Project Based Initiative, Space/Capital Support panel to award nine (9) grants totaling $841,890, in accordance with the priorities outlined in the Community Services Allocation Plan; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization or their fiscal sponsor for amounts not to exceed the following at this time:  
     
    1. Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, $100,000 
    2. Galeria Studio 24, $100,000 
    3. Kearny Street Workshop Inc., $100,000 
    4. KOHO (Fiscal Sponsor: Kultivate Labs), $100,000* 
    5. Little Boxes Theater (Fiscal Sponsor: Independent Arts & Media), $100,000 
    6. Mannakin Theater and Dance, $100,000* 
    7. Mixed Bag Productions, $100,000 
    8. Theatre Rhinoceros Incorporated, $41,890 
    9. Youth Art Exchange (Fiscal Sponsor: Tides Center), $100,000 
        
19. Motion to approve the funding recommendations of the Arts Impact Endowment – Project Based Initiative, Grants for Individual Artist Support panel to award seven (7) grants totaling $350,000, in accordance with the priorities outlined in the Community Services Allocation Plan; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each individual or their fiscal sponsor for amounts not to exceed the following at this time:  
     
    1. Arturo Mendez-Reyes (Fiscal Sponsor: Acción Latina), $50,000*  
    2. John Jota Leaños $50,000 
    3. Kathy L. Nguyen, $50,000* 
    4. Panda Dulce, $50,000 
    5. Michael Warr, $50,000 
    6. Rizal Adanza, $50,000 
    7. Sean Dorsey, $50.000 
        
20. Motion to approve the funding recommendation of the Dream Keeper Initiative (DKI) panel, to award one grant totaling $50,000 to Trayvon Smith*, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement not to exceed $50,000 at this time. 
     
21. Motion to approve an increase to the grant amount of $50,000 (authorized by Resolution No. 0306-23-038) by $50,000 for a grant agreement with Youth Speaks Inc. for programming to commemorate Maya Angelou and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement for $100,000 at this time. 
     
22. Motion to approve an amendment of the Software as a Service Agreement with SmartSimple Software Ltd (authorized for $100,000 by Resolution No. 0507-12-143 ); to add additional funds of up to $200,000 over five (5) years from 2024-2029 to the Agreement to provide software licenses and technical support for the San Francisco Arts Commission grants management portal; and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract not to exceed $300,000 at this time.
    
    Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (March 20, 2024, link to agenda) 
    Action 
     
23. Motion to approve "Portal," four mural designs by Mike Ritch. The mural will be installed on four utility boxes at St. Francisco Circle, at the intersection of West Portal, Sloat, Portola, and Junipero Serra in District 7. The four mural measures approximately 72 in. h by 44 ½ in. w by 29 in. d; 57 in. h by 12 in. w by 13 in. d; 72 in. h by 116 in. w by 30 in. d; and 48 in. h by 17 in. w by 17 in. d, respectively. The artwork is funded by an Avenue Greenlight grant held by the San Francisco Park Alliance and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection. 
     
    Executive Committee Recommendations (March 27, 2024, link to agenda) 
    Action 
     
24. Motion to approve the following artists for the StreetSmARTS Mural Program Artist Pool as recommended by the Artist Review Panel. The pool will be valid for a two-year period, expiring at the end of Fiscal Year 2026:   
    1AM Projects / Daniel Pan    
    Adrian Arias    
    Bay Area Mural Program / Andre Jones    
    Nico Berry    
    Timothy Bluitt    
    Nora Bruhn    
    Christopher Burch    
    Juan Manuel Carmona    
    Amir Fallah    
    Amos Goldbaum    
    Chris Granillo    
    Vida Kuang    
    Alice Lee    
    Fei Fei Lin    
    Olivia Losee-Unger    
    Amanda Lynn    
    Fernanda Martinez    
    Carmen McNall    
    Lindsey Millikan    
    Robert Minervini    
    Desi Mundo    
    John Osgood    
    Nathan Phelps    
    Joshua Powell    
    Precita Eyes Muralists Association, Inc. / Susan Cervantes    
    Josue Rojas    
    Erika Rosendale    
    Harumo Sato    
    Gaelen Smith    
    Nigel Sussman    
    Claudio Talavera-Ballon    
    Talking Walls / Cameron Moberg     
    Ximena Zhao

Discussion  
 
(This item is to allow the Commissioners to introduce new agenda items for consideration, to report on recent arts activities and to make announcements.)

Action