General Affairs Committee hears two gubernatorial nominees for Nebraska Arts Council

Senator Rick Oldcroft, chair of the General Affairs Committee, opened a public hearing on gubernatorial appointments to the Nebraska Arts Council and reviewed committee procedure, including the three-minute time limit for testifiers and the deadline for written submissions via the Legislature—lectronic portal. "Written position comments on a nominee to be included in the record must be submitted by 8AM the day of the hearing," Oldcroft said, adding that submissions should be made at Nebraskalegislature.gov.

The hearing featured two nominees who spoke in person: Julie Jacobson of North Platte and Jeanne Salerno of Omaha. Both described long records of community arts involvement and fielded questions from committee members about priorities for the Nebraska Arts Council if confirmed.

Julie Jacobson, introduced by Oldcroft as "from North Platte," told the committee she had served 20 years as a biochemist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and later worked as a volunteer organizer in local cultural institutions. "Both my husband and myself support the arts and humanities and see firsthand the impact of cultural arts on rural economic development," Jacobson said. She cited work on local projects including the Art Study League of North Platte, the North Platte Children—hildren's Museum (restoring the Carnegie Library building) and Creativity Unlimited Arts Council (the Prairie Arts Center conversion). In response to questions from Senator Victor Rountree, Jacobson said she hopes to focus on creative arts districts and on ensuring funding reaches all communities statewide; when asked how many creative arts districts exist she responded, "38, I think." Jacobson said she is "very grateful that Governor Phelan has considered me again to serve on the Nebraska Arts Council board."

Jeanne Salerno, who identified herself as "from downtown Omaha," described long-term involvement with museums and arts boards, including an 18-year association with the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) in Kearney. Salerno said she had helped coordinate a capital campaign for MONA and cited a recent campaign goal to "raise $38,000,000 to double the size of the Museum of Nebraska Art." She also described managing the contemporary art collection at a private law firm in Omaha and serving on the board of Gallery 15|16, a small performing-arts and exhibition venue. Asked about public access to the QTAC (law firm) collection, Salerno said it is not generally open to walk-in visitors but that prearranged tours have been provided; she told Senator Caball that the collection "was usually during the off hours" for organized groups.

Committee members asked both nominees about priorities and local arts institutions. Questions touched on rural outreach, the mechanics of creative arts districts, museum fundraising and whether nominees could meet the time commitments of council service. Both nominees said they could. Oldcroft noted for the record that two additional nominees submitted letters instead of appearing in person and that the committee received no public comments for the record on the gubernatorial appointments.

Oldcroft closed the hearing by saying the committee would take the nominees up in executive session on the posted agenda. There were no public proponents or opponents who testified in person and no formal vote during the public hearing.