Creative Portland Corporation — Portland, ME
Date: 2025-10-01
Time: 15:30

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


 Board of Directors Meeting
 Wednesday, October 1, 2025
 3:30 PM
 Via Google Meet
 http://meet.google.com/oon-fiok-xdn

 AGENDA


1. Welcome and President's Comments
 A. Consent Agenda: August financials & September minutes
 VOTE: to accept consent agenda
2. Executive Director Update
 A. Hear Here & MMWF Update: (see Oct 1st Newsletter collage)
 B. Fiscal Sponsorship Requests:
 1) Maine Tech Week October 21-23 - William Sullivan
 2) Emily Dickinson Chamber Theater Play by Patricia Mullholland
 C. Grant Pursuits - Amazon sponsored grant application submitted to GP Regional Chamber
 D. CP application submitted (by Dinah & Matt) to Justin Alfond Fund re: 92 Parris Street for
 service/program provider consideration.
 E. Fundraising Initiatives: FFAW sponsorship pursuits, Arts Activation Fund, Giving Tuesday,
 CP app sponsorship pursuits, Arts & Culture Summit Sept 2026 and Hear Here IV.
3. Board Business
 A. Nominations and Recommendations for Board of Directors/update
 1) City Appointee recommendations: Matt Schwach (renewal), Elyse Grams & Mike Bove
 2) Lucy Comaskey, Sampson Hamilton, Haj Carr (on deck)
 B. Board Share
 FY26 Board Meeting Dates: Nov 5 (annual mtg), January 7, 2026, Feb 4, April 1, May
4.
 6, and June 3.

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


 Board of Directors Meeting
 Wednesday, October 1, 2025
 3:30 PM
 Via Google Meet
 http://meet.google.com/oon-fiok-xdn

 AGENDA


1. Welcome and President's Comments
 A. Consent Agenda: August financials & September minutes
 VOTE: to accept consent agenda
2. Executive Director Update
 A. Hear Here & MMWF Update: (see Oct 1st Newsletter collage)
 B. Fiscal Sponsorship Requests:
 1) Maine Tech Week October 21-23 - William Sullivan
 2) Emily Dickinson Chamber Theater Play by Patricia Mullholland
 C. Grant Pursuits - Amazon sponsored grant application submitted to GP Regional Chamber
 D. CP application submitted (by Dinah & Matt) to Justin Alfond Fund re: 92 Parris Street for
 service/program provider consideration.
 E. Fundraising Initiatives: FFAW sponsorship pursuits, Arts Activation Fund, Giving Tuesday,
 CP app sponsorship pursuits, Arts & Culture Summit Sept 2026 and Hear Here IV.
3. Board Business
 A. Nominations and Recommendations for Board of Directors/update
 1) City Appointee recommendations: Matt Schwach (renewal), Elyse Grams & Mike Bove
 2) Lucy Comaskey, Sampson Hamilton, Haj Carr (on deck)
 B. Board Share
 FY26 Board Meeting Dates: Nov 5 (annual mtg), January 7, 2026, Feb 4, April 1, May
4.
 6, and June 3.




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

 $ Over
 Jul - Aug 25 Budget % of Budget
 Budget
 Ordinary Income/Expense
 Income
 4100 · Operations (unrestricted) 5,178 250,300 -245,122 2.07%
 4200 · Programs - 121,500 -121,500 0.0%
 Total Income 5,178 371,800 -366,622 1.39%
 Cost of Goods Sold
 5000 · Cost of Programs 1,243 120,000 -118,757 1.04%
 Total COGS 1,243 120,000 -118,757 1.04%
 Gross Profit 3,935 251,800 -247,865 1.56%
 Expense
 6000 · Marketing 352 7,250 -6,898 4.86%
 6100 · Personnel 24,991 175,900 -150,910 14.21%
 6200 · Occupancy Expenses 1,169 7,800 -6,631 14.99%
 6300 · Travel 0 3,000 -3,000 0.0%
 6500 · Professional Services 2,949 34,600 -31,651 8.52%
 6600 · Operating Expenses 2,157 15,290 -13,133 14.11%
 Total Expense 31,617 243,840 -212,223 12.97%
 Net Ordinary Income (27,682) 7,960 -35,642 -347.78%
 Other Income/Expense
 Other Income
 7000 · Other Income-Expense 17 60 -43 27.9%
 Total Other Income 17 60 -43 27.9%
 Net Other Income 17 60 -43 27.9%
 Net Income (27,666) 8,020 -35,686 -344.97%




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Accrual Basis Creative Portland
 Statement of Financial Position
 As of August 31, 2025


 Jul 31, 25 Jun 30, 25 $ Change % Change
 ASSETS
 Current Assets
 Checking/Savings
 1010 · Creative Portland Checking 67,509 84,610 (17,101) -20.2%
 1011 · GSB Savings 5265 98,601 98,592 8 0.0%
 1015 · Petty Cash 1,858 1,858 - 0.0%
 Total Checking/Savings 167,968 185,060 (17,092) -9.2%
 Other Current Assets
 1220 · Other Receivable - - - 0.0%
 Total Other Current Assets - - - 0.0%
 Total Current Assets 167,968 185,060 (17,092) -9.2%
 Fixed Assets
 1400 · Fixed Assets 33,693 33,993 (300) -0.9%
 Total Fixed Assets 33,693 33,993 (300) -0.9%

 TOTAL ASSETS 201,661 219,054 (17,393) -7.9%
 LIABILITIES & EQUITY
 Liabilities
 Current Liabilities
 Accounts Payable
 2000 · Accounts Payable - - - 0.0%
 Total Accounts Payable - - - 0.0%
 Other Current Liabilities
 2100 · Payroll Liabilities 5,674 5,674 - 0.0%
 2500 · Fiscal Sponsorship Liability 74,115 75,758 (1,642) -2.2%
 Total Other Current Liabilities 79,789 81,431 (1,642) -2.0%
 Total Current Liabilities 79,789 81,431 (1,642) -2.0%
 Total Liabilities 79,789 81,431 (1,642) -2.0%
 Equity
 3100 · Unrest'd Net Assets 149,538 149,538 - 0.0%
 Net Income -27,666 -11,915 (15,750) -132.2%
 Total Equity 121,872 137,623 (15,750) -11.4%

 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 201,661 219,054 (17,393) -7.9%




 Page 2 of 2
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 Creative Portland Board Meeting Minutes
 Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (via zoom)

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

Board Meeting Summary

1. Welcome & President’s Comments (3:33pm)

Herb Ivy called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees.

2. Consent Agenda (3:33pm)
July Minutes, July Financials

Action: Vote to approve the Consent Agenda:

Motion first by Kate and seconded by Tae.​
Unanimously approved.

3. Executive Director Update (3:34pm - 4:20pm)

Arts District Banners

 ●​ The City of Portland got all the banners up in 1 day (Portland Museum of Art banners
 pending.)
 ●​ Chamber / Eggs & Issues will be presenting their next topic on Downtown Portlan at
 Hannaford Hall at USM.
 ●​ Vacancy Ordinance vote by City Council tonight.

Tae Chong insights:

 ○​ 22,000 properties in Portland, 2 are commercial.
 ○​ The evaluation of homeowners went up by 18%.
 ○​ Home owners will pick up ⅔ property tax bill.
 ○​ Commercial businesses will see a decrease.
 ○​ Portland is ranked in the top 7 best places to live.
 ○​ 4th time we’ve voted on minimum wage in 5 years.
 ○​ Live Nation makes us look anti-business.




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 ○​ Need for artists to do political art, slogans, murals, etc… (we could be the broker
 between candidates/nonprofits to connect them).
 ■​ Quasi-municipal, we cannot do open calls for any political initiative. We
 can be the hub to coordinate artists of social/political impact and
 messaging. Maybe bring this up in the October Newsletter?

First Friday

 ●​ The Ideal Maine social aid band hired by MMWF to play and stroll along Congress
 Street.

Hear Here 3

 ●​ Cash Budget in 40K range. MMWF donated 22K to production. Total expenses
 (including in-kind expenses/donations closer to 65K.
 ●​ Dinah, Herb, Tae and Daniel will present on stage. Matt, Clare and Lucy will volunteer.
 ●​ We are distributing hundreds of community tickets.
 ●​ There will be a strong gathering of the community, but not a strong ticket sales event.
 ●​ Maybe we should have done it in December or February.
 ●​ Hear Here 4 needs a marketing team in place six months in advance.
 ●​ We have been marketing this show with the kindness of other orgs promoting us.
 WMPG, 207, Go Magazine, WBLM.
 ●​ To secure the venue at Merrill in the future, we need more lead time (which was only 2.5
 months before the show date)​


Artist Activation Fund

 ●​ Goal is to raise more $$ in the fall.

Maine Music Weekend Festival

 ●​ We have offered community passes to all participating venues.
 ●​ Paid for Micromasse at Bayside Bowl, allowing for a FREE concert on the rooftop.
 ●​ Go Magazine full page ad for Maine Music Festival.
 ●​ 250 double-sided flyers with poster & Candy Land chart will be available at the venues.
 We will hand out more during the First Friday Art Walk.

Fiscal Sponsorship

 ●​ The Maine Tech Week Oct 21-23 organized by William Sullivan.
 ○​ Dinah will send a blurb to the Excom to consider.

Grants to Pursue:




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 ●​ Greater Portland Regional Chamber grant sponsored by Amazon offering funds to 501c3
 orgs making an impact in the arts sector. Dinah will apply.
 ●​ We did not go after any NEA grants due to the diversity, equity and inclusion clause.
 ○​ May try for Part I in February.

92 Parris Pursuit Update:

 ●​ We discussed this with our Excom as a potential (l3c) live/work facility. Or a Community
 center with exhibition and rehearsal space. Expansion of Creative Portland with a focus
 on this as an arts center.
 ●​ We can facilitate and champion people who do want to take this on.
 ●​ Meeting in September, application due Sept 22.
 ●​ If CP made a deal with Space, RWS and Indigo to form a specific rehearsal and
 exhibition space in the Bayside, Justin would be interested. Might not be enough time.

4. Board Business & Board Share (4:20pm – 4:27pm)

 ●​ True Line Digital Marketing Co. Haj is the CEO. He went to school in Bowdoin. He is
 interested. Seems like a good fit and addition to the board.
 ○​ He will go through the City process to fill the vacancy for Eliza Ginn.
 ●​ We are still looking for a treasurer and lawyer. Jim Cohen has a guy in mind who may be
 a good candidate.
 ●​ We expect Matt and Lucy to renew for another term.

Next Board Meeting: October 1, 2025 at 3:30pm.​
Motion to Adjourn: Tae​
Seconded by: Lindsay​
Unanimously approved.​
Meeting Adjourned: 4:27pm​
Meeting minutes submitted by Walks Tall Keith.

(Edited by DM.)




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