The board spent considerable time refining the criteria for mural applications, focusing on how best to balance artistic vision with other aspects of evaluation. One significant decision was to allocate 40 points to artistic vision and community connection, emphasizing their importance in the selection process. Suitability was set at 30 points, while other criteria were distributed with lesser weights.

Debate ensued over the implications of incomplete submissions. Some members advocated for a strict disqualification policy for missing documents, while others preferred a point-based system allowing for some leniency. Ultimately, they agreed on a preliminary review process to ensure artists have the opportunity to rectify any omissions, aligning with practices in grant applications. This decision underlines the board’s intention to maintain high standards while supporting artists in meeting submission requirements.

In addition to mural applications, the board turned its attention to sculpture submissions, which had only attracted one entry. To increase participation, the application deadline was extended from January 4 to February 4. The board expressed a need for outreach to organizations such as UCF and United Arts to garner interest. This move aims to diversify the pool of applicants and ensure a competitive selection process.

The board also explored opportunities to secure a national endowment grant, which would require matching funds from the city. Members examined the feasibility of applying, given the financial constraints and thematic requirements of the grant, which includes broad themes like “Make America Healthy Again” and “Disaster relief and emergency response for artists and arts organizations.” The potential collaboration with local entities was discussed as a strategy to strengthen the grant proposal, although some members expressed skepticism about the applicability of these themes to Oviedo’s context.

A private tour of a local exhibition was proposed, with members showing interest in attending together. The exhibition includes work from five artists and is scheduled to run until mid-January. The board planned to finalize a date for the tour through a poll.

Further discussions included ongoing collaborations with local schools. The potential for a regular rotation of student artwork in the city’s chambers was highlighted as a source of pride for the community. Additionally, a book about Oviedo’s history was mentioned as a valuable resource for the board, particularly in understanding the community’s cultural values.

The meeting concluded with logistical arrangements for future sessions and agenda planning. An upcoming meeting was scheduled for January 21, with an emphasis on selecting new projects and addressing professional commitments to ensure broad participation. The “Rings of Joy” project update was requested, focusing on securing the essential colors for the artwork.