Fishers Arts Council elects leadership, schedules special meeting to decide $75,000 grant round

At a Fishers Arts Council meeting, members elected Angie Fraser as chair and Drew Braley as vice chair and approved the meeting minutes and the January 2025 financial report. The council spent most of its discussion on the 2025 grant round, including scoring procedures, quorum requirements and the schedule for taking action on about 13 applications.

The leadership changes came after a nomination for Fraser for chair and a separate nomination for Drew Braley for vice chair. Both nominees accepted, and members approved each election by voice vote. Council members then moved and seconded approval of the meeting minutes and the January 2025 financial report; those items were also approved by voice vote.

The council reviewed financial context for the grants program: the 2025 appropriation for the arts budget is $75,000 (an increase by action of the City Council and the mayor), and a separate revolving downtown building fund balance was reported as $124,000. Members clarified that the group does not have to allocate the full $75,000 this cycle; unspent money would revert as determined by city procedures. Members also noted the council may award more than an applicant requested if the applicant agrees.

Staff described the grant-review process and timeline. Thirteen grant applications are available in OpenGov for commissioner review. Reviewers will score applications on multiple criteria (alignment with core values, community impact, timeline and execution, location, budget clarity, grant utilization, creativity and innovation, artistic quality, experience and prior success). Commissioners are expected to enter individual scores in OpenGov, which staff will aggregate before the special meeting. The council set an internal deadline for commissioners to submit scores by Jan. 27 so staff can compile results ahead of the special meeting scheduled for Jan. 28, at which members aim to vote to allocate funds.

Members raised practical questions about access, scoring edits and quorum. One member noted that reviewers added later might see different OpenGov screens; staff said they would check permissions so all reviewers have the same view. Commissioners asked whether they could edit scores after entry; staff said scores could be updated and that staff would aggregate final totals the morning of the meeting. The council confirmed quorum for formal action is four of seven members; members discussed remote participation as a contingency if some reviewers are unavailable for the in-person special meeting.

Staff also provided several program updates: winter break camps closed recently; a VA Whole Health woodworking program at the Maker Playground will start next week (funded by the VA); vendor applications for the farmers market are opening and the arts council is exploring an artisan component; and two part-time positions (a farmers market coordinator and a foreman-style role) are open. Staff announced a formal groundbreaking for the White River Park project, described as roughly 126 acres along the White River; staff said the official event is planned for the 22nd with time to be confirmed.

The council removed the Fishers Heart Council from the grant review pool this year; that organization will be handled under a separate professional service agreement across departments. Staff told commissioners they had contacted applicants to clarify unclear proposals and encouraged commissioners to leave internal comments in OpenGov when they have clarifying questions; internal notes are visible to applicants as email notifications when entered in that system.

Next steps: commissioners should complete OpenGov scoring by Jan. 27 (whether or not they attend the special meeting). Staff will aggregate scores and distribute results the morning of the Jan. 28 special meeting, where the council intends to vote on awards. If quorum is not achievable on that date, staff indicated the decision would be deferred to the next available meeting.