Jennifer Wybarge, presenting for the Boise City Arts & History Department, told the Arts & History Commission that the department secured a $100,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Fund and will use it to fund a two‑year, grant‑funded staff position at the Irma Hayman House.

The award, Wybarge said, will pay $50,000 a year for two years. “We did secure a $100,000 grant from the National Trust For Historic Preservation, African American Cultural Heritage Fund,” Wybarge told commissioners. When a commissioner asked who wrote the grant, Wybarge replied, “I did.”

The grant funded position is temporary, she said, and city council and the mayor adjusted the city budget to cover the difference needed to make the role full time. Wybarge also said the department will post a revised history/programs manager job early in 2025 after a national reclassification effort and that a new staff hire in January will manage volunteers and interns.

Why this matters

The grant and new hires are intended to expand programming and visitorship at the department’s cultural sites — including the Irma Hayman House and the James Castle House — and to support community engagement ahead of a citywide celebration tied to the national America 250 commemoration. Wybarge said the mayor asked the department to lead Boise’s local America 250 activities, a yearlong period of programming between July 4, 2025 and July 4, 2026.

Public art and volunteer plans

Wybarge outlined multiple upcoming public‑art selection panels and projects. Two airport projects will begin in the first five months of the year: a large exterior mural on a new airport facility and a federally funded family restroom artwork. She said both airport selection panels will require roughly 10 to 15 hours of commissioner time. Two public‑works‑funded projects — a water node for the Foothills Learning Center and an asphalt art installation on the Greenbelt at Warm Springs Golf Course — are slated for spring; the Warm Springs installation must be installed by June, Wybarge said.

The department will also restart a volunteer group, renamed the Arts and History Advocacy Team (AHAT), to expand resident involvement. Wybarge said staff will manage recruitment and day‑to‑day supervision: the job description for a January hire includes responsibility for volunteers and interns so commissioners will not be expected to manage that workload.

Student partnerships and mentorship

Wybarge described a partnership with Boise State University studio‑arts classes that yielded a student piece installed in an art court on Grove Street. The student artist selected, identified in presentation materials as Serena Zadkowski, created work that will rotate every two years. Commissioners and staff discussed using selection panels and mentorship to help emerging artists develop proposals for larger public installations.

Cultural sites, access and archives

The department is aiming to broaden audiences at its two cultural sites and to offer repeatable, predictable programming. Wybarge said staff plan more intergenerational and youth programming at the Castle House and Irma Hayman House, and are exploring ways to increase visitorship including outreach to schools. On parking and access to the Irma Hayman House, Wybarge said she is in active conversations with nearby private parking‑lot owners to address a persistent parking deterrent.

Wybarge also briefed commissioners on a records and archives consolidation funded in the current city budget. Danielle Grondell, the department archivist, is coordinating a transfer to the city records center on Overland that requires cataloging hundreds of thousands of pages and upgrades to create a public research space with computers and tables. Wybarge said the move is intended to improve transparency and reduce some public‑records request burdens by making records more accessible for public research.

Program demand and adjustments

Wybarge noted the department’s grant applications and program demand have outpaced available funds and staff capacity. She said staff will pursue fee‑based programming and other revenue strategies to increase sustainability while continuing to prioritize accessibility and community partnerships. The energy forum series was retired after two decades because attendance no longer justified the staffing investment, Wybarge said.

Votes and meeting business

At the start of the meeting commissioners approved the minutes from the previous meeting; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Tom and was adopted by voice vote. At the end of the session Commissioner Miller moved to adjourn and Commissioner Ashley seconded; the motion carried.

What’s next

Wybarge said commissioners should expect a fuller schedule and more details at the department’s February meeting, including formal calls for art, volunteer recruitment materials, job postings, and America 250 planning. She asked commissioners to consider serving on upcoming selection panels and on smaller planning committees that will be convened early next year.