The Metro Arts Commission approved a set of revisions to its bylaws during an early-December meeting, the Commission announced. Commissioner Knight moved to approve the executive committee’s recommended changes and Commissioner Khalil seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

The package includes several substantive edits. Ashley (executive committee lead; first referenced by name in the meeting) told commissioners the draft adds a donated-art policy under the public art section, clarifies that the commission employs the executive director while other personnel are civil-service employees, and explicitly states that the executive director serves as an ex officio member of the Nashville Music, Film and Entertainment Commission. The revisions also allow two additional consecutive terms for commissioners, standardize excessive-absence language to match Metro code, set the commission quorum at six members (replacing prior language that referenced eight), and add a duty-to-vote section with a conflict-of-interest definition.

Commissioner Arden, who had chaired the Care standing committee, raised concerns that dissolving that committee should not be interpreted as abandoning equity work. "We're not necessarily, you know, abolishing care because we don't want to have a commitment to equity," Arden said, and described the committee as inactive for about a year. A practitioner on the meeting record noted research showing some DEI committees can be inefficient unless duties and powers are clearly defined; Ashley responded that equity work will be incorporated across Commission activities rather than relying solely on a separate standing committee.

On procedural questions, commissioners discussed whether bylaw amendments and the dissolution of a standing committee required a simple majority or a two-thirds vote. Ashley and others clarified that the bylaws themselves call for an affirmative two-thirds vote for adoption of bylaws and for dissolving standing committees. Commissioners proceeded to vote on the package by voice; the Chair announced the motion carried. Staff said the approved bylaws will be stamped and filed with the clerk’s office and uploaded to Metro and Commission websites.

Beyond the bylaw vote, the meeting included administrative updates. The Chair introduced Kelly Hamilton as Metro Arts’ new finance officer, and Ashley reported the department is recruiting for a grants manager and a public art manager and is searching for a new office location. Commissioners discussed moving the Commission’s standing meeting from the fourth Thursday of the month to a third-week date to avoid conflicts with department head meetings and Metro Council filing deadlines; a third-Wednesday time slot of 1–3 p.m. was identified as a leading option pending availability checks with absent commissioners and ITS scheduling.

A commissioner asked for a consultant update on organizational planning; staff committed to adding that update to the next agenda and to provide a written summary. The Chair moved to adjourn the meeting until 2026; members approved by voice vote and wished each other happy holidays.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of previous meeting minutes: moved, seconded; approved by voice vote (exact tally not recorded).
- Approval of revised Arts Commission bylaws (executive committee package): motion by Commissioner Knight; second by Commissioner Khalil; approved by voice vote. The meeting record shows no roll-call tally; staff indicated a roll call was not necessary.

Next steps
Staff said the approved bylaws will be filed with the clerk’s office and posted on Metro sites; a consultant update and bylaw-related implementation details will appear on the Commission’s next regular meeting agenda.