Fine and Performing Arts Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

March 2, 1999

Attendees:

Robert Chapel (Chair), Samantha Beer, Marcia Day Childress, Julian Connolly, Wayne Cozart, Dean Dass, Angela Davis, Edward Davis, Lear DeBessonet, Joan Fry, George Garrett, Larry Goedde, Jeff Hantman, Jill Hartz, Richard Herskowitz, Denise Karaoli, Judith Kinnard, Phyllis Leffler, Marita McClymonds, Jane Penner, Jack Robertson, George Sampson, Beth Sutton.

Meeting Summary:

Robert Chapel informed commission members that detailed meeting notes go to commissioners, and brief minutes are posted on the Virginia 2020 website. Student members discussed their plans for forming a student sub-committee so that they can discuss ideas and represent students’ interests in the commission’s work. A community advisory group is being formed as well, to inform the community of the University’s plans for the arts, and to incorporate the community perspective in the commission’s thinking. Alumni will also be informed and invited to contribute ideas in the arts planning process. A two-day commission retreat is being planned for fall 1999, when the heads of benchmark arts programs will come to Virginia to discuss the process by which they achieved excellence. A community retreat is also being planned. The program chairs are identifying benchmark programs, and commission members discussed the organizations that rank programs, the methodology, and the validity of such rankings. Music’s current and future programs, staffing, and space were discussed, including the issues of part-time performance faculty. The meeting ended with a discussion of a possible combined newsletter to promote all the arts and agreement that the arts should work together to coordinate themes and events. Such collaboration will enhance the visibility and the impact of the arts at Virginia.