FAC 03-27-2012 <C,41.19s� APPROVED MINUTES
FINE ARTS COMMISSION
Cu P E RT I N O Regular Meeting, Conf. Rm. A
10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
At 7:00 p.m., Chairperson Jessi Kaur called the meeting to order in Conference Room A, 10300 Torre
Avenue, Cupertino, California, and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Jessi Kaur, Vice-Chair Rajeswari Mahalingam, and Commissioners K.C.
Chandratreya, and Russell Leong. Absent: Commissioner Marvin Spielman. Staff present: Staff Liaison
Kimberly Smith
STAFF REPORT
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Report from Diana Argabrite on this year's activities at the Euphrat Museum of Art, and the Arts
& Schools Program.
Diana Argabrite, the Director of the Euphrat Museum's Arts and Schools Program, and Dr. Nancy
Canter, Dean of Visual Arts at DeAnza College, were in attendance and presented a PowerPoint
slide show highlighting some of the art work in the Euphrat Museum's recent shows, "Bridging
Generations: DeAnza Collects" and"Invoking Peace." Argabrite said that the Arts & Schools
Program was doing wonderful work this year and had partnerships with the Quinlan Community
Center and many area schools, and recently received a very nice grant from the college's student
body. They also still offer free classes at Nimitz, on the Cupertino border. Their work with
schools ranges from preschool through 10th grade. They will also be participating in this year's
Earth Day festival.
Discussion followed about ways in which additional outreach could be done for the museum, how
funds are currently raised to support museum activities as a teaching gallery and an exhibition
space, and how the commission may be able to help the museum leverage its annual grant from the
city into a larger income stream. Ms. Argabrite and Dr. Canter were enthusiastic about continuing
discussions with the Fine Arts Commission, and it was agreed to continue this meeting to April 24,
2012, at 7:00 p.m.
BUSINESS
2. Minutes of the regular meeting of January 24, 2012.
Mahalingam moved and Leong seconded to approve the minutes of January 24 as presented. The
motion carried unanimously, with Spielman absent.
3. Select representatives to attend the Mayor's meeting with commission representatives. Next
meetings are scheduled for April 4 (confirmed) and June 6 (tentative).
March 27, 2012 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 2
Vice-Chair Mahalingam volunteered to attend the April 4 meeting, and Commissioner
Chandratreya will attend in June. Staff Liaison Smith said she would send out a confirmation of
the meeting dates and times, since they had changed recently.
4. Consider additional collaboration with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
Discussion followed about last year's successful event at the Cupertino Library, which included a
talk about that season's performance in Memorial Park. Commissioner Chandratreya said that he
would contact the Cupertino Library to see if they were interested in another event of that type,
and then he and Commissioner Kaur would work as an ad hoc committee with the SF Shakes
representatives. It was noted that Commissioner Chandratreya may not be available later in the
year because of travel, so Vice-Chair Mahalingam volunteered to take over his role if that
happened.
5. Consider collaboration on production of the multicultural play"The Royal Falcon Musical"—
report from Vice-Chair Mahalingam.
This item was tabled.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
6. Commissioner announcements about local arts events and opportunities.
No announcements were made.
STAFF REPORTS
7. Update on projects expected to have public art components.
Staff Liaison Smith distributed a copy of the updated list of projects.
8. Distribution of updated 2012 Work Plan
Staff Liaison Smith distributed a copy of the updated work plan.
9. Announcement of Distinguished & Emerging Artists nomination period.
Staff Liaison Smith said she would send a copy of the announcement to all the commissioners.
Commissioner Leong volunteered to prepare some posters announcing the awards.
NEWS ARTICLES
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:45 p.m., the meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m., to continue the discussions
about the Euphrat Museum of Art grants and collaboration with San Francisco Shakespeare Festival.
Kimberly Smith
Staff Liaison