Meeting Summary
Present: West, Wright, Mang, Wagner
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Artist Grant Presentations
- The Commission received presentations from twelve applicants, including Dev Dance Theatre, Dance Ojai, and the Ojai Music Festival.
- Proposals ranged from sustaining existing programs like the Ojai World Dance Festival to launching new initiatives such as a pop-up photography school.
- Presenters outlined specific goals, such as expanding student mentorships, supporting queer performance art, and creating educational workshops for youth.
- Questions were raised regarding organizational status, fiscal sponsorship, and the tracking of art sales by individual members.
Joint Meeting with City Council
- The Chair presented a report outlining five topics for the upcoming joint session, including staff capacity, public art maintenance, and AI policy.
- The Mayor expressed satisfaction with the agenda but suggested prioritizing the first three topics if time is limited.
- Commissioner Steiner raised concerns about the relevance of the AI policy topic and the lack of a workable process for commissioners.
- Staff confirmed that IT is working to provide full search capabilities for City digital files to access institutional history.
Commissioner and Staff Reports
- Commissioner Steiner reported that the Commission received a record 40 grant applications, with an ad hoc committee scheduled to finalize allocations on November 1st.
- Commissioner Wagner highlighted recent community events and a special tribute award received by architect Fred Fisher.
- Staff Liaison Mara announced ongoing efforts to consolidate Commission information onto a single webpage and invited commissioners to submit events for the calendar.
- Councilmember Rule noted a meeting with Commissioner Wagner to address website and communication issues.
Full summary
Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance
- The meeting was called to order. A roll call was taken, noting the presence of Commissioners Wright, Tabak Bank, and Wagner, and the absence of Commissioner Steiner. A quorum was established. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Agenda Approval
- The Chair asked if the agenda looked good. It was noted that the agenda included public comments from artists and a discussion regarding a joint meeting with City Council. The agenda was approved.
Public Comments: Artist Grant Presentations
- The Commission opened the floor for public comments, specifically for artists presenting their grant applications. The Chair clarified that these presentations were not part of the formal application review process but served as an opportunity for artists to share their work with the community. Each presenter was given approximately five minutes.
- Dev Dance Theatre (Chaney and Audrey): Presented a proposal to sustainably fund artistic personnel and expand operations. Goals for 2027 include producing the original work Moth in downtown Ojai, expanding the capacity of their new brick-and-mortar business CY Studios (including class offerings, community events, and scholarship/residency programs), and maintaining the production of new original works. They noted they recently became a 501(c)(3) organization.
- Robin (Photographer): Presented a proposal for a photography exhibition titled "Flowers of Ojai." The exhibit will feature over 35 photographs focusing on light and patterns. Plans include a well-publicized opening reception at the Ojai Arts Center with local music and dance, as well as a comprehensive outreach plan involving social media, print publications, and press releases to Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties. The presenter confirmed that gallery slots at the Arts Center were available and intended to book the space.
- Dance Ojai (Isha): Presented a proposal to support the Ojai World Dance Festival. The organization has operated since 2013, offering accessible dance classes and hosting an annual festival featuring multicultural performing arts. The 2026 festival featured approximately 350 artists. The grant request is for essential production expenses (staging, sound, artist fees) to sustain the free daytime program and to invite professional dance companies for the evening showcase. The goal is to build sustainable infrastructure for the festival.
- Suzy Thatcher, Gay Jones, and Bob Telford: Presented a proposal titled "Preserving Local History Through Film and Theater." The project aims to link the histories of local residents, particularly seniors in assisted living facilities, with youth. Plans include interviewing seniors, creating storylines, and performing multimedia shows involving film and theater. The group intends to collaborate with local schools, the Ojai Museum, and local writers. It was noted that the applicant does not have a fiscal sponsor or 501(c)(3) status.
- Ojai Studio Artists (Christopher Noxon and Julie Empson): Presented an overview of the organization’s activities, including the annual studio tour, "Second Saturday" neighborhood tours, exhibitions, and student mentorships. For the upcoming year, priorities include broadening the geographic area for student awards (expanding beyond Nordoff High School to other local high and middle schools) and establishing an endowment for sustainability. The organization is entirely volunteer-run with a small budget. Questions were raised regarding membership fees ($150) and the tracking of art sales, which are kept by individual artists.
- Ojai Music Festival (Laura Walter): Presented a proposal for the Bravo program, which focuses on educational and community outreach. Programs include the Imagine Concert, Score Program, Music Fan, Internship Program, Bridge Program (connecting children with seniors), workshops, summer camps, and weekly music classes in elementary schools. The presentation emphasized the role of music in providing safe spaces, emotional expression, and community connection for children, particularly those facing stress or anxiety.
- Ojai Comics Cabal (Emma Leary, on behalf of Lucy Bellwood): Presented a proposal for two free all-ages comics workshops at the Twice Old Tales meeting room (while the Ojai Library is under renovation), two free kid-friendly graphic novel author visits at Bart’s Books, and a Banned Books Week event in partnership with the library. The proposal highlights the high demand for graphic novels among young readers in the region and aims to provide educational opportunities in the graphic novel medium.
- Ojai Film Festival (Tisha Morris and Sven Sjögren): Presented a proposal to expand the festival’s impact by incorporating events throughout the year, not just the annual November festival. Plans include quarterly mini-festivals (e.g., documentary, screenwriting) and increased outreach to schools (elementary, middle, high, and college) for internships and interaction with professional filmmakers. The 27th festival is scheduled for November 4–9, featuring 74 films from 12 countries.
- Michelle Chakra / Ryan Biegler: Presented a proposal for a queer performance art initiative in Ojai. The initiative includes a self-expression/drag workshop, a large-scale drag extravaganza in conjunction with Ojai Pride, and a production of the original play King Louis XIV. Queen of Dance. Funding is requested for venue rental (Veritas Theater), costumes, lighting, and performer fees. The proposal emphasizes providing sanctuary and empowerment for the queer and neurodivergent communities.
- Alana (Photographer): Presented a proposal for a pop-up photography school in Ojai, an offshoot of the Kalish Workshop. The weekend event would be free for participants (excluding rentals/honorariums) and feature 48 photographers teaching digital and film photography. The goal is to test demand for a potential long-term photography school in Ojai and to create a community resource center for photography education.
- Sonic Butterfly / Andrea Brooke: Presented a proposal for school field trips in partnership with the Ventura County Resource Conservation District. The program involves transforming environments into musical instruments (e.g., strung structures) and includes film, garden building, and performance. The goal is to engage fifth graders and promote environmental awareness and artistic expression.
- Ojai Pottery and Clay School (Chris): Presented a proposal to continue and expand a summer fellowship program for students. The previous year’s program was successful but placed a burden on teachers; the new request includes increased compensation for teachers and additional funds for promotion to reach a younger demographic.
Consent Calendar
- The Chair moved to approve the minutes from the September 17th meeting. The motion was seconded. There was no discussion. The motion passed.
Discussion: Joint Meeting with City Council
- The Chair presented a report outlining topics for the upcoming joint meeting with City Council. The topics included: 1. Staff capacity for projects. 2. Music in meetings. 3. Ojai Day and branding events. 4. Public art maintenance and staff training in art curation. 5. AI policy application to commissioners.
- The Mayor has reviewed the topics and is satisfied with the agenda. The Chair noted that the Mayor suggested focusing on the first three topics if time is limited.
- Commissioner Steiner (absent, speaking via report) expressed concern about the AI policy topic, questioning its relevance to the Commission’s work and noting a lack of a workable City-approved process for AI use by commissioners.
- The Chair explained that the City recently passed an AI policy covering all volunteers and officials. Currently, commissioners are restricted in their use of AI for City business, though they have access to a limited "co-pilot" tool for searching City digital files. The policy aims to provide a searchable archive of institutional history, including past meetings and decisions.
- Staff Liaison Mara confirmed that the IT department is working to provide the Commission with full search capabilities for City digital files, which would allow access to historical data such as past Arts Commission agenda items and votes. In the interim, staff can assist with manual searches.
- Commissioner Rule noted that the AI policy would allow for comprehensive searches of past City Council and Commission discussions, providing valuable institutional history.
- The Chair moved to receive and file the report on the joint meeting. The motion was seconded. There was no discussion. The motion passed.
Commissioner Reports
- Commissioner Steiner (via report): Reported that the Commission received 40 grant applications this year, the highest number to date. The ad hoc committee is currently reviewing them. Applications have been organized into folders for first-time, second-year, and legacy applicants, with individual and organizational applications separated. Some applications were disqualified for incomplete submissions, late filing, or applicants not residing in the Ojai Valley. The ad hoc committee will meet on November 1st to finalize funding allocations, which will be presented to the Commission for vote on November 17th.
- Commissioner Wagner: Thanked staff for work on the Commission’s website and calendar. Noted that architect Fred Fisher received a special tribute award from the Santa Monica Conservancy for his work on historic places. Highlighted recent arts and culture events, including the Ojai Studio Artists Tour, a welcome event for Teddy Abrams (new Artistic and Executive Director of the Ojai Music Festival), and exhibitions by Katie Van Horn and Nancy Whitman. Mentioned an upcoming meeting with Sunset regarding the strategic plan.
- Staff Liaison (Mara): Announced that a proclamation will be presented in November. Reported on ongoing work with IT to consolidate Arts Commission information (public art, community art, events) onto a single, more user-friendly webpage. Invited commissioners to submit arts events for inclusion in the calendar.
- Councilmember Rule: Reported on a meeting with Commissioner Wagner regarding website and communication issues, which were addressed with the staff liaison. Expressed interest in the diverse range of artistic presentations heard during public comments.
Public Comments (General)
- The Chair opened the floor for general public comments. No members of the public spoke.
Adjournment
- The Chair announced that the Ojai Music Academy and Living Theater’s production of Dear Evan Hansen opens the following night at Matilda Haugh Auditorium. The Chair thanked the commissioners for their service and adjourned the meeting.