Municipal Arts Commission

110 SE Watula Avenue Ocala, FL 34471 www.ocalafl.gov Ocala Municipal Arts Commission Minutes 4:00 PMWednesday, October 1, 2025 1. Call To Order a. Roll Call Emily Andrews Jaye Baillie Pedro "Tito" A. Comas Leslie Hammond Brooke Hutto Natalie McComb Darian Mosley David Reutter Greg Thompson Present: Arnold Barbaro Jean Floten Excused: 2. Proof of Publication The Public Notice for the Ocala Municipal Arts Commission was posted on September 23, 2025. 3. Approval of Minutes a. August 6, 2025 Attachments: OMAC 8.6.25 Mins -Draft RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Pedro "Tito" A. Comas SECONDER: Darian Mosley Andrews, Baillie, Comas, Hammond, Hutto, McComb, Mosley, Reutter and Thompson AYE: Barbaro and FlotenEXCUSED: 4. Grants/Applications a. Approve Nehyssa Turenne LEAP Through Dance grant application update for $2,000 Attachments: Funding Proposal for LEAP LEAP Budget LEAP OMAC Cultural Arts Supervisor, Emily Parkman provided an update on the new grant application submitted by Nehyssa Turenne for Launching Equal Access to the Performing Arts (LEAP). Ms. Parkman reported that the LEAP grant application was Page 1 of 4

Municipal Arts Commission Minutes October 1, 2025 originally presented at the August 6, 2025 Ocala Municipal Arts Commission (OMAC) meeting. However, a motion to tabled the grant application was approved from the committee until a revised budget reflecting only the $2,000 in eligible expenses has been provided by the applicant. The Ocala Municipal Arts Commission (OMAC) committee and Ms. Judith Carasco discussed the program details to gain a clearer understanding of how the funds would be used. Ms. Carasco stated the $2,000 requested will cover studio rental fees, insurance, basic materials, and dancewear/props. The funding will also allow for full or partial scholarships to be offered to undeserved youth to attend local performing art classes and cover a portion of the program marketing and advertising. Dr. Leslie Hammond moved to approve $1,200 to cover only the workshops. Motion to approve Nehyssa Turenne Leap Through Dance grant application in the amount of $1,200. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Leslie Hammond SECONDER: Brooke Hutto Andrews, Baillie, Comas, Hammond, Hutto, McComb, Mosley, Reutter and Thompson AYE: Barbaro and FlotenEXCUSED: 5. Project Updates a. Discuss updates on Ocala Main Street vacant storefront mural program grant application. Attachments: Ocala Main Street Update Ms Parkman provided an update on the following project: Ocala Main Street (OMS) · Awarded $1,000 by OMAC on 12/4/2024 upon conditions of new timeline for project. · No FAFO grant funding, reconsidering locations and timeline. · OMS investigating for additional funding. · Possibly only building available for projects is the correctional building (24 NE 1st St.). · Possible new application required Jessica Fieldhouse from Ocala Main street stated several of the storefronts originally chosen for mural installations have since been leased to new businesses, which is a positive outcome aligned with the program’s goal of reducing vacancies. However, this has also limited the number of available locations for the art installations. Page 2 of 4

Municipal Arts Commission Minutes October 1, 2025 A key challenge has been the updated grant requirement that murals remain in place for at least six months. Many property owners are hesitant to commit to this timeline, as it conflicts with their desire to lease spaces quickly. This has made it difficult to secure participation from business owners. One location still under consideration is the Correctional Facility site on 1st Avenue. However, with only $1,000 in available funding, the project could only support two of the eleven panels at that site. A full installation would cost approximately $5,000, while a partial installation covering half the panels is estimated at $3,000. To address these limitations, the team is exploring creative alternatives such as mobile or reusable art installations. These could include three-dimensional or kinetic pieces that can be easily moved from one storefront to another as spaces are leased. This approach would allow the artwork to have a longer lifespan and greater community impact while still aligning with the program’s mission. A revised proposal may be submitted which offers more flexibility and sustainability for activating vacant storefronts with public art. 6. Other Business a. Review current license plate grant fund and available funding for fiscal year 2026. Attachments: 1. Current Grant Balance Ms. Parkman reviewed the current license plate grant fund: · Total: $9,937.65 · Available to spend Fiscal Year (FY) 2025: $8,000 b. Approve revised Ocala Public Art Roster open call for 2026. Attachments: 2. Public art roster 2026 open call application Ms. Parkman provided an update on the Ocala Public Art Roster Open Call for 2025. During the most recent meeting, the committee finalized updates to the Ocala Public Art Roster Open Call process. Artists will now be required to reapply every five (5) years to remain on the roster. If an artist does not renew, it will be assumed they no longer wish to participate and will be removed. Open calls for new artists will occur every two to three years, with informal rolling applications accepted in between. These rolling applications will be open to both local and national artists and reviewed by OMAC on an as needed basis. The updated application process will now require two to three professional references to help verify an artist’s experience, reliability, and ability to complete large-scale projects. The next public call for artists will open in January 2026 and run through April, with reviews beginning in June and potentially continuing into August if needed. Motion to approve the updated Ocala Public Art Roster Open Call for 2025. RESULT: APPROVED Page 3 of 4

Municipal Arts Commission Minutes October 1, 2025 MOVER: Brooke Hutto SECONDER: Emily Andrews Andrews, Baillie, Comas, Hammond, Hutto, McComb, Mosley, Reutter and Thompson AYE: Barbaro and FlotenEXCUSED: 7. Public Comments Todd Rudiani stated a mural project proposed for the property at 2441 NE 3rd Street in Ocala, Florida, has been submitted for East Ocala CRA Advisory Committee/OMAC grant consideration. The mural, which references the historic TAS-T-O'S Donuts, is intended to celebrate Ocala’s cultural identity and community history. The application was initially submitted through the CRA grant process with support from Emily Parkman and others involved in the city’s public art initiatives. However, the application was deemed ineligible and redirected to the sign permit process. Mr. Rudiani request is for OMAC to recognize the mural as public art and not subject to sign code restrictions, and to consider recommending a review and clarification of the city’s sign code to ensure consistent and constitutionally sound application. Ms. Parkman stated OMAC does not have the authority to override staff decisions but can provide a recommendation to the CRA Advisory Board. If OMAC supports the mural as art, that recommendation can help inform the East CRA Advisory Committee, which may then feel more confident in advancing the project to the CRA Board for final funding approval. 8. Staff Comments Ms. Parkman gave an update on the 2025 Ocala Film Derby event. OMAC had previously approved a $3,500 grant for an equipment package used by one of the seven (7) participating film teams. During the event, OMAC was acknowledged with a plaque, and the supported team expressed their appreciation with a handwritten thank you card. Staff noted the event was a success and expressed enthusiasm for future participation. 9. Board Comments The Board discussed the various events being hosted by their organizations. 10. Next Meeting: December 3, 2025 11. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m. Page 4 of 4