Creative Portland Corporation — Portland, ME
Date: 2025-06-04
Time: 15:30

84 Free Street | Portland, ME | 04101 | 207-370-4784


 Board of Directors Meeting
 Wednesday, June 4, 2025
 3:30 PM
 Via Google Meet

 AGENDA


1. Welcome and President's Comments (Herb note: last meeting of FY25)
 A. Consent Agenda: April financials & minutes.
 VOTE: to accept Consent Agenda
2. Executive Director Update (Dinah)
 A. FFAW June 6 highlights
 B. Monday Morning Drop By (June 2)
 C. Staff Update
 D. Community Updates
3. FY26 Work Plan & Budget Discussion (Dinah)
 A. Action: Vote to approve Work Plan & Budget
4. Board Business (Herb)
 A. Recap of Board Retreat Priorities & Action Items
 B. Sponsorship plan & update for FFAW
 C. Governance & Board Recruitment

 i. Board term summary & timeline
 ii. Recommendations
 iii. Nominating committee discussion

 D. Determine July Board meeting date
 E. Board Share
 FY26 Board Meeting Dates: July (TBD), September 3, October 1, November 5
5.
 (annual mtg), January 7, 2026, February 4, April 1, May 6

84 Free Street | Portland, ME | 04101 | 207-370-4784


 Board of Directors Meeting
 Wednesday, June 4, 2025
 3:30 PM
 Via Google Meet

 AGENDA


1. Welcome and President's Comments (Herb note: last meeting of FY25)
 A. Consent Agenda: April financials & minutes.
 VOTE: to accept Consent Agenda
2. Executive Director Update (Dinah)
 A. FFAW June 6 highlights
 B. Monday Morning Drop By (June 2)
 C. Staff Update
 D. Community Updates
3. FY26 Work Plan & Budget Discussion (Dinah)
 A. Action: Vote to approve Work Plan & Budget
4. Board Business (Herb)
 A. Recap of Board Retreat Priorities & Action Items
 B. Sponsorship plan & update for FFAW
 C. Governance & Board Recruitment

 i. Board term summary & timeline
 ii. Recommendations
 iii. Nominating committee discussion

 D. Determine July Board meeting date
 E. Board Share
 FY26 Board Meeting Dates: July (TBD), September 3, October 1, November 5
5.
 (annual mtg), January 7, 2026, February 4, April 1, May 6



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Page 2
 Creative Portland Board Meeting Minutes
 Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (via zoom)


Attendance: ​

Board Members:
Kate Anker (Immediate Past President), Kirstie Archambault, David Brenerman, Tae Chong,
Lucy Comaskey, Clare E. Hannan (Vice President), Herb Ivy (President), Zsofia McMullin, Dinah
Minot (Assistant Secretary), Daniel Minter, Councilor Regina Phillips (ex officio), and Matt
Schwach (Secretary)​
Absent: Gib Foltz, Eliza Ginn, Lindsay Hancock, Dawn Reshen-Doty (Treasurer), Greg Watson
(ex officio)
Staff/Volunteers: Dinah Minot, Walks Tall Keith, Ronnie Wilson

1. Welcome & President’s Comments (Herb Ivy presiding) (3:33pm)
2. Consent Agenda at 3:34pm (February Minutes and February Financials)​
ACTION: Vote to approve Consent Agenda: Motioned by David Brenerman, Tae Chong
second. Unanimously approved.
3. Executive Director Update (3:34pm - 4:23pm)​

 Fundraising
 ●​ $25,000 donations to date, including $7,000 to our fiscal sponsees.

 Grants
 ●​ We applied for a MAC - Creative Communities grant to add two new bus shelter
 art installations.
 ●​ We plan to apply for MOT grant for Hear, Here by May 23
 ●​ Would like to investigate a percentage of TDD or a partnership with Visit
 Portland. Goal is for Dinah/Kirstie to confirm a strategy meeting this Spring with
 Tae & Lynn Tillotson.
 Programming
 ●​ April 4th is the First Friday Art Walk.
 ●​ April is the last month for our exhibition, Time & Temperature. Online viewing still
 available.
 ●​ Monday, April 7th is Monday Morning Drop By with an open agenda.
 ●​ Creative Portland gallery exhibition, Acceptance, will host its opening artist
 reception on May 1st.
 ○​ May 2nd is the public opening for Acceptance during the First Friday Art
 Walk.
 ○​ Press release for Acceptance will go out next week.
 ○​ The image/ flyer for Acceptance was shared with the board. We will reach
 out to the young model (in the photo) to confirm permission.
 ●​ Hear, Here! is booked for Sept 7th at Merrill Auditorium. Booking is underway for
 Maine performing artists.
 ●​ CP App update - 3,800 downloads to date. Our goal is for 5,000 downloads by
 the end of December​




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 ●​ Portland Public Art Committee (PPAC)
 Our Creative Portland volunteer & PPAC rep, Ronnie Wilson, joined the meeting
 with a brief overview.

 ●​ DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT VACANCIES & need for revitalization:
 ○​ PMA would like to meet to discuss community-wide convening to address
 vacancies/dead spaces.
 ○​ Portland Downtown has convened Arts District Solutions meetings at
 Mechanics Hall (since Fall 2023).
 ○​ Nancy (HEDD) gave 2 updates/proposals “under consideration” :
 ■​ Portland Development Corp (PDC) may consider a new loan
 program. Will be funded by TIF dollars. Zero interest loans of up to
 $20,000. Program will allow landlords of vacant storefronts to
 display temporary artwork/lighting etc to activate storefronts.
 ■​ Consideration of a possible future ordinance where landlords
 could receive fines for vacant storefronts. The Housing and
 Economic Development Committee (HEDC) still needs to be
 brought up to speed by HEDD staff, Greg & Nancy. (April 14th
 mtg/).Timeline TBD.
 ■​ Discussed opportunities for Creative Portland to curate art
 installations/book pop-up studios for vacant storefronts.
 ■​ Discussed opportunities for CP and the city to write grants
 together.
 ○​ Other revitalization potential impact of Congress Street/Arts District = Live
 Nation venue proposal.
 ■​ CP Executive Committee submitted a statement of concern
 (March 7) to the planning board regarding music venue concerns
 re: Live Nation proposal. Dinah read it out loud to the board. The
 CP board mixed on taking a stance in favor or opposition. Will
 discuss at Board retreat.
 ●​ STAFF update:
 Creative Portland hired a freelance graphic designer named Bret Woodard, also a
 photographer, to help with social media.


4. Board Business & Board Share (4:23pm - 5:07pm)
 ●​ The board retreat will be Wednesday, May 28 from 12pm-6pm.
 ○​ PREP for the city council workshop in June with three topics/giant boards
 illustrating Creative Portland’s values:
 ■​ Resources
 ■​ Economic Impact
 ■​ Community-Building/Convener
 ○​ Follow-up to be shared via email:
 ■​ City council workshop poster board drafts.
 ■​ Minutes from our prep discussion for the city council workshop.

Board Share Circle:
 ●​ Lucy’s share:
 ○​ will be a student attorney in 1 year and was also interviewed as a guest at PMC.
 ○​ will try to connect us with a local lawyer interested in pro bono work.




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 ○​ Her father will be performing alongside some artists at Zero Station on April 25th.
 ●​ Matt is currently in Spain and attended the festival “Las Vias”.
 ●​ Dinah was honored at the 50 Over 50 Awards!
 ●​ Kirstie shared Visit Portland’s brand new destination guide with a CP ad. She will drop
 off a box at CP.
 ●​ Kate has open calls for Emerging Artist Program, summer event intern, and printer for
 the Print Jam ($300 for a first timer). Testimony: Within 10 minutes of our Creative
 Portland social media post about the RWS workshop, someone signed up. Bret has
 applications open for his low budget Film Fest.
 ●​ Daniel let us know about Indigo’s “Spring is in the Air” fundraiser, and the co-mentorship
 with Maya Williams and Rachel Elizabeth Harding.
 ●​ Clare is in Venice Beach having fun looking at art and recently saw a beautiful exhibit
 about Monhegan Island.
 ●​ Tae is putting together a storytelling event about immigrant on May 8th at PMA. Shows
 at 2pm and 6:30pm.
 ●​ Zsofia will be attending Monday Morning Drop By
 ●​ David was recently in Florida for a baseball trip and is going to see a play at Portland
 Stage “Almost ME”. In May, Good Theatre is having it’s grand opening. They’re now on
 Stevens Avenue.
 ●​ Thursday night is TEMPOart’s fundraiser at Après. Dinah & Daniel are attending and can
 get tickets for other board members, if they are interested.
 ●​ Herb recently went to an Esther Rose concert at SPACE. Dinah was there too.


Motion to adjourn by David, second by Kirstie. Approved unanimously. Adjourned at
5:07pm.

Meeting minutes submitted by Walks Tall Keith.




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Accrual Basis Creative Portland
 Statement of Activity
 Profit & Loss
 Budget vs. Actual
 July through April 2025

 Jul '24 - Apr Full FY25 $ Over % of Total
 25 Budget Budget Budget
 Ordinary Income/Expense
 Income
 4100 · Operations (unrestricted) 128,961 242,300 -113,339 53.22%
 4200 · Programs 7,750 45,000 -37,250 17.22%
 Total Income 136,711 287,300 -150,589 47.59%
 Cost of Goods Sold
 5000 · Cost of Programs 17,191 47,500 -30,309 36.19%
 Total COGS 17,191 47,500 -30,309 36.19%
 Gross Profit 119,521 239,800 -120,280 49.84%
 Expense
 6000 · Marketing 850 7,250 -6,400 11.72%
 6100 · Personnel 132,627 170,900 -38,273 77.61%
 6200 · Occupancy Expenses 6,589 7,800 -1,211 84.47%
 6300 · Travel 0 3,000 -3,000 0.0%
 6500 · Professional Services 10,130 34,600 -24,470 29.28%
 6600 · Operating Expenses 9,236 15,290 -6,054 60.41%
 Total Expense 159,431 238,840 -79,409 66.75%
 Net Ordinary Income (39,911) 960 -40,871 -4,157.52%
 Other Income/Expense
 Other Income
 7000 · Other Income-Expense 76 50 26 151.68%
 Total Other Income 76 50 26 151.68%
 Net Other Income 76 50 26 151.68%
 Net Income (39,835) 1,010 -40,845 -3,944.03%




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Accrual Basis Creative Portland
 Statement of Financial Position
 As of April 30, 2025

 Apr 30, 25 Mar 31, 25 $ Change % Change
 ASSETS
 Current Assets
 Checking/Savings
 1010 · Creative Portland Checking 38,066 55,791 (17,726) -31.8%
 1011 · GSB Savings 5265 98,567 90,559 8,008 8.8%
 1015 · Petty Cash 1,558 1,558 - 0.0%
 Total Checking/Savings 138,191 147,909 (9,718) -6.6%
 Other Current Assets
 1220 · Other Receivable - - - 0.0%
 Total Other Current Assets - - - 0.0%
 Total Current Assets 138,191 147,909 (9,718) -6.6%
 Fixed Assets
 1400 · Fixed Assets 34,895 35,195 (300) -0.9%
 Total Fixed Assets 34,895 35,195 (300) -0.9%

 TOTAL ASSETS 173,086 183,104 (10,018) -5.5%
 LIABILITIES & EQUITY
 Liabilities
 Current Liabilities
 Accounts Payable
 2000 · Accounts Payable - 450 (450) -100.0%
 Total Accounts Payable - 450 (450) -100.0%
 Other Current Liabilities
 2500 · Fiscal Sponsorship Liability 69,396 69,396 - 0.0%
 Total Other Current Liabilities 69,396 69,396 - 0.0%
 Total Current Liabilities 69,396 69,846 (450) -0.6%
 Total Liabilities 69,396 69,846 (450) -0.6%
 Equity
 3100 · Unrest'd Net Assets 143,524.36 143,524.36 - 0.0%
 Net Income -39,834.67 -30,266.46 (9,568) -31.6%
 Total Equity 103,690 113,258 (9,568) -8.4%

 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 173,086 183,104 (10,018) -5.5%




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 DRAFT - FY2026 Creative Portland Work Plan


 ●​ First Friday Art Walk
 ●​ Creative Portland App & Website
 ●​ Social Media Program
 ●​ Monthly Arts Update Newsletter
 ●​ Monday Morning Drop By (October - June except January)
 ●​ Creative Portland Gallery (Spring 2026 new art exhibition)
 ●​ Fiscal Sponsorship Program (82 Parris, Maine Music Festival)
 ●​ Hear Here 3 at Merrill Auditorium - September 7, 2025
 ●​ Grant Pursuits TBD
 ●​ Artist Activation Fund TBD



 ●​ Convening Community Discussions TBA
 ●​ Creative Bus Shelter Initiative 3 (grant reliant TBD July 1)
 ●​ Arts District Flagpole Banner project (with PMA/Portland Downtown)
 ●​ Storefront Vacancy / City Park Activation
 ●​ Public Art Installations (?)
 ●​ Branding & Marketing (?)
 ●​ Fundraising Drive (?)



Previous CP programs in past 8 years:
Biennial Arts & Culture Summit
AEP6 Study
Summer Stage Series
2 Degrees Program
Artist Relief Fund




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