Creative Portland Corporation — Portland, ME
Date: 2026-05-06
Time: 15:30

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


 Board of Directors Meeting
 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
 3:30 PM
 Join via GOOGLE MEET

 AGENDA


1. Welcome and President's Comments (Herb Ivy)
 A. Consent Agenda: March financials & April minutes
 VOTE: to accept consent agenda
2. Executive Director Update (Dinah Minot)
 A. Staff Update
 B. Resistance Gallery Artist Reception Opening recap - April 30
 C. First Friday Art Walk & Resistance Public Opening recap - May 1
 D. Monday Morning Drop By recap - May 4
 E. Arts-related City Council amendments passed 4/27/26 (PPAC Budget correction &
 entertainment venue buffer extension). What it means.
 F. City's Vacancy Ordinance - Art installations begin on vacant storefront windows
 G. Art Exhibition Juror assignments for Dinah: Cape E Land Trust - Paint for Preservation (June
 19) and the Boys & Girls Club - May 29
 H. Arts & Culture Summit set for Sept 22 at USM - steering committee mtg May 11
 I. Community news:

 • Portland - All Roads Music Festival on May 15 & 16
 • SPACE employees join UAW Local 2110, which represents workers in museums,
 cultural institutions, publishing, and education.

 J. FY 27 Work Plan & Budget Draft - discussion
3. Board Business
 A. PPAC presentation (Ronnie Wilson) plus PPAC assignment for FY27
 B. Volunteer schedule for FFAW
 C. Board Share
 2026 Board Meeting Dates: June 3, 2026 - last meeting of the fiscal year to vote on
4.
 future FY27 work plan & budget (in-person at 84 Free Street)

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


 Board of Directors Meeting
 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
 3:30 PM
 Join via GOOGLE MEET

 AGENDA


1. Welcome and President's Comments (Herb Ivy)
 A. Consent Agenda: March financials & April minutes
 VOTE: to accept consent agenda
2. Executive Director Update (Dinah Minot)
 A. Staff Update
 B. Resistance Gallery Artist Reception Opening recap - April 30
 C. First Friday Art Walk & Resistance Public Opening recap - May 1
 D. Monday Morning Drop By recap - May 4
 E. Arts-related City Council amendments passed 4/27/26 (PPAC Budget correction &
 entertainment venue buffer extension). What it means.
 F. City's Vacancy Ordinance - Art installations begin on vacant storefront windows
 G. Art Exhibition Juror assignments for Dinah: Cape E Land Trust - Paint for Preservation (June
 19) and the Boys & Girls Club - May 29
 H. Arts & Culture Summit set for Sept 22 at USM - steering committee mtg May 11
 I. Community news:

 • Portland - All Roads Music Festival on May 15 & 16
 • SPACE employees join UAW Local 2110, which represents workers in museums,
 cultural institutions, publishing, and education.

 J. FY 27 Work Plan & Budget Draft - discussion
3. Board Business
 A. PPAC presentation (Ronnie Wilson) plus PPAC assignment for FY27
 B. Volunteer schedule for FFAW

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 C. Board Share
 2026 Board Meeting Dates: June 3, 2026 - last meeting of the fiscal year to vote on
4.
 future FY27 work plan & budget (in-person at 84 Free Street)




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Accrual Basis Creative Portland
 Statement of Activity
 Profit & Loss
 Budget vs. Actual
 July 2025 through March 2026

 Jul '25 - Mar $ Over
 Budget % of Budget
 26 Budget
 Ordinary Income/Expense
 Income
 4100 · Operations (unrestricted) 125,070 187,725 -62,655 66.62%
 4200 · Programs 14,628 98,625 -83,997 14.83%
 Total Income 139,698 286,350 -146,652 48.79%
 Cost of Goods Sold
 5000 · Cost of Programs 42,872 105,563 -62,691 40.61%
 Total COGS 42,872 105,563 -62,691 40.61%
 Gross Profit 96,826 180,787 -83,962 53.56%
 Expense
 6000 · Marketing 3,521 5,438 -1,917 64.74%
 6100 · Personnel 129,699 131,925 -2,226 98.31%
 6200 · Occupancy Expenses 6,337 6,100 237 103.88%
 6300 · Travel 140 2,250 -2,110 6.22%
 6500 · Professional Services 17,274 26,250 -8,976 65.8%
 6600 · Operating Expenses 11,344 11,430 -86 99.25%
 Total Expense 168,314 183,393 -15,078 91.78%
 Net Ordinary Income (71,488) (2,605) -68,883 2,744.12%
 Other Income/Expense
 Other Income
 7000 · Other Income-Expense 69 45 24 154.18%
 Total Other Income 69 45 24 154.18%
 Net Other Income 69 45 24 154.18%
 Net Income (71,419) (2,560) -68,859 2,789.65%




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Accrual Basis Creative Portland
 Statement of Financial Position
 As of March 31, 2026

 Mar 31, 26 Feb 28, 26 $ Change % Change
 ASSETS
 Current Assets
 Checking/Savings
 1010 · Creative Portland Checking 57,627 71,297 (13,670) -19.2%
 1011 · GSB Savings 5265 73,653 73,647 6 0.0%
 1015 · Petty Cash 1,858 1,858 - 0.0%
 Total Checking/Savings 133,138 146,802 (13,664) -9.3%
 Total Current Assets 133,138 146,802 (13,664) -9.3%
 Fixed Assets
 1400 · Fixed Assets 31,652 31,952 (300) -0.9%
 Total Fixed Assets 31,652 31,952 (300) -0.9%

 TOTAL ASSETS 164,790 178,754 (13,964) -7.8%
 LIABILITIES & EQUITY
 Liabilities
 Current Liabilities
 Accounts Payable
 2000 · Accounts Payable 1,325 - 1,325 100.0%
 Total Accounts Payable 1,325 - 1,325 100.0%
 Other Current Liabilities
 2100 · Payroll Liabilities 5,674 5,674 - 0.0%
 2500 · Fiscal Sponsorship Liability 79,672 77,967 1,706 2.2%
 Total Other Current Liabilities 85,346 83,640 1,706 2.0%
 Total Current Liabilities 86,671 83,640 3,031 3.6%
 Total Liabilities 86,671 83,640 3,031 3.6%
 Equity
 3100 · Unrest'd Net Assets 149,538 149,538 - 0.0%
 Net Income -71,419 -54,424 (16,995) -31.2%
 Total Equity 78,119 95,114 (16,995) -17.9%

 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 164,790 178,754 (13,964) -7.8%




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 Creative Portland Board Meeting Minutes
 Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (google meet)

Attendance:
Board Members:
Kate Anker (Immediate Past President), Mike Bove, David Brenerman, Heidi Dikeman, Elyse
Grams, Lindsay Hancock, Sam Hamilton, Clare E. Hannan (Vice President), Lee Hartman, Herb
Ivy (President), Zsofia McMullin, Dinah Minot (Assistant Secretary), Dave Page, and Matt
Schwach (Secretary)
Absent: Haj Carr, Tae Chong, Gib Foltz, Daniel Minter, Councilor Regina Phillips, Greg Watson
(ex officio)
Staff: Dinah Minot, Walks Tall Keith

1. Welcome & President’s Comments (3:32pm)

Herb Ivy called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees.

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

Action: Vote to approve the Consent Agenda:

Motion first by Lindsay Hancock and seconded by Clare Hannan.
Unanimously approved.

2. City Council Workshop Update (3:33pm - 4:02pm)

 ● Clare reported on the good turnout of councilors (only one was absent).
 ● CP provided visuals of who we are as civic partners.
 ● The one-hour workshop presentation involved six board members: Kate, Clare, Greg,
 Dinah, Tae and Sam
 ● Discussed budget, relationship to the City, programs, and cultural tourism. We
 referenced a need for an increase to hire a new staff member, but during this difficult
 budget period, we will continue with grant pursuits to hire project coordinators.
 ● Dinah shared budget & metrics materials with Greg Watson (currently on leave) and
 Dena Libner, who confirmed our 200 line item, without the 50K increase, is in HEDD’s
 budget recommendation to City Manager. Note: Creative Portland is funded from a TOD
 TIF in the HEDD department.
 ● Our workshop's hope was to present background info and about impactful programs and
 then to discuss strategies for collaboration re: affordable housing for artists, activation in
 the arts district, etc. but once we brought up an increase, discussion turned to budget
 plan. Councilor Sykes compared Portland to other cities in terms of funding for the arts
 per person. Portland is only 78 cents/person vs $6/$7 elsewhere.
 ● The best strategy for future increase requests is to seek matches for specific projects.




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 ● Responding to a request for details on investment impact and metrics, we created a
 Growth & Metrics document.
 ● Dave Page offered to analyze the % of visitors and spending to the arts community.

3. Executive Director Update (4:02pm – 4:51pm)
Artist Activation Program Update

 ● An open call to artists went out and the curatorial team subsequently selected ten artists
 for consideration.
 ● We recently met with downtown business owners to discuss possibilities for activation
 with a focus on the 500 Congress Street block. “500 (or ‘first 50’) for the Arts”.
 ● Ideas for programming: Wednesday Happy Hour or Jazz Brunch.
 ● Makeshift stage in Escape Room portal for bands to play.
 ● Interested in using projections and lights to activate spaces.
 ● Cafe lights for dark spaces like Brown/Casco St, and Congress Square.Perhaps partner
 with Portland Downtown.

Grants

 ● We have applied for NEA, MAC, Onion Foundation grants to pursue arts activation
 projects to stimulate the Arts District.
 ● We plan to apply for the Maine Office of Tourism Enterprise Marketing grant.
 ● Our work plan assessment depends on grants we receive.

PMA Pavilion

 ● We hope to collaborate with the PMA to program performing arts, music film, etc, in the
 new art pavilion. The open parking lot on Free Street also has possibilities for popups.

New Gallery Show

 ● Resistance Opening artist reception on April 30 with a public opening on May 1.
 ● Our jury of 5 reviewed nearly 100 submissions by local Portland artists and chose 18
 artists.

Arts & Culture Summit

 ● There will be an Arts & Humanities Symposium (planned by the Cultural Alliance of
 Maine) at USM with a concert at the Crewe Center. Perhaps it makes most sense to
 collaborate with them to join our events and audiences.
 ● Our steering committee will include cultural leaders plus board and community
 members.

Look Who’s Talking




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 ● Our new webpage Look Who’s Talking will be devoted to community testimonies about
 Creative Portland and the city's art & culture scene.
 ● Perhaps we share these quotes in our social media and annual reports.

Proposed FY27 Work Plan

 ● We looked at the proposed programs on a draft of the work plan:
 ○ Marketing wheel programs (website, app, newsletter and social media platforms)
 ○ Marketing activities for the app
 ○ Fiscal sponsorship program
 ○ Creative Portland Gallery
 ○ Arts & Culture Summit
 ○ Arts Activation Projects
 ○ Hear Here 4
 ○ Fundraising/Advancement Projects/metrics analysis
 ○ Board development and governance.

Matt Schwach volunteered to create a rubric or a chart to assess programs: mission alignment,
income potential, sponsorship interest etc.

4. Board Business & Board Share (4:51pm – 5:04pm)

 ● Herb Ivy: Congratulations to Whip and the cast of the Minutes for the sold out shows at
 Mad Horse Theater this season.
 ● Heidi Dikeman: Art in Bloom reached record numbers this year with 11,000 attendants
 ● Lee Hartman: Osher School of Music has doubled its ticket revenue and tripled the
 patronage since last year. Lee also mentioned an application due July 31st at USM
 career hub for student interns.
 ● Elyse Grams: Animation Film Festival and Fashion Show at MECA&D on the First Friday
 in May.
 ● Dave Page: Visit Portland Destination Summit annual meeting is next week. They're
 unveiling their new brand. He also shared that MAMM’s Resurgam festival has been
 extended to two full days.
 ● Kate Anker: Bret Woodard’s Low Budget No Budget Film Festival at Mayo Street - April
 16th; RWS artists are participating at the USM Book Fair.
 ● David Brenerman: Good Theatre at Stevens Square rebuilt the theatre. He has season
 tickets.
 ● Dinah is going on vacation in mid-April and will be back to hang the Resistance show.
 Put April 30th for the artist reception on your calendars!

Next Board Meeting: May 6, 2026 at 3:30pm.
Motion to Adjourn: David Brenerman
Seconded by: Dave Page
Unanimously approved. Meeting Adjourned: 5:04pm
Meeting minutes submitted by Walks Tall Keith.




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