Committee preview: Branch Arts Live, Halloween in the Park and Christmas market; risk-management insurance now required for many displays
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Summary
Committee members received updates on Branch Arts Live, Halloween in the Park (Oct. 25) and the Dec. 6 Christmas event; staff said risk management and permitting changes now require certificates of insurance for many on-site displays, which can limit artists’ ability to display or sell work at city events this year.
The Arts and Culture Committee received updates on several fall and winter events and on internal changes to insurance and permitting requirements that affect artists and vendors.
Staff said Branch Arts Live preparations are under way and that the event has a new venue this year; artist submissions were already arriving and the submission deadline was the week of the meeting. Staff and committee members encouraged volunteers to sign up to help on event day.
Halloween in the Park is scheduled from 5 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 25, staff said, and “boo passes” are available; a committee member mentioned a $7 nonresident price but said the figure was not confirmed in the meeting. The committee discussed volunteer staffing, family-oriented activities and some adult attractions (for which there would be age-appropriate restrictions for safety).
Staff said a Gateway of the Globe task force will kick off in November and provided a short preview of the Dec. 6 Christmas event (5–9 p.m.), which may include a Christmas market indoors, new attractions and a “snowbender” feature instead of ice skating. Staff asked committees to consider community-driven activities and more interactive experiences at events.
Separately, staff told the committee that the city’s risk-management and legal teams now require certificate-of-insurance coverage at a different level for activities on city property. Staff said that change has practical impacts: displays, pop-up vendors or artist sales on city property may require higher insurance limits and additional paperwork, and staff are working through those requirements with risk management and legal. The committee agreed this affected their ability to allow artist displays or sales in the current season and recommended revisiting vendor/display rules once risk and legal complete their review.
Ending: Staff said they are working with risk management and legal and will provide updated vendor and insurance guidance to the committee; committee members will continue to coordinate volunteers for Branch Arts Live and other fall events.