Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment Advisory Committee Talks Transit Center & Fillmore

On Tuesday, the Colesville Room provided the setting for lively discussion by the Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment Advisory Committee about a number of cultural and artistic issues affecting the Silver Spring Community, including art at the forthcoming Sarbanes Transit Center, an introduction to The Fillmore Silver Spring and upcoming events and announcements.

Attendees included committee members, Michael McBride of WMATA’s Art in Transit Program and Maryland State Senator Ida Rubin (D-District 20).

Sarbanes Transit Center Public Art: Michael McBride, WMATA’s manager of MetroArts was on hand to discuss the potential of art installation in public spaces of the soon-to-open Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Transit Center. McBride shared that aside from the relocation of Penguin Rush Hour, there were no plans for public art in the new center, mainly due to lack of funding.

McBride also described the artistic aspects of WMATA’s Metro Forward improvement initiative, as well as the “Metro Performs” project which provides opportunities for local artists to perform in public near Metro properties. McBride explained how WMATA tries to follow the Federal Transit Administration’s recommendation that 0.5 percent of the cost of projects be earmarked for art, but there was no such tagging for the Transit Center.

Senator Rubin asked if there were opportunities for local artists to fill unused advertising spaces on Metrobusses and rail cars with original works of art.

Fillmore Silver Spring: General manager Stephanie Steele and sales manager Jody Grossman walked the committee and meeting attendees through a brief multimedia presentation about the history of the Fillmore brand, the construction of the Fillmore Silver Spring and shared the early success of the venue, which has hosted 50 events and seen more than 54,000 visitors in its first few months of operation.

Steele also detailed the application process (run by the Montgomery County Recreation Department) that non-profits and other local organizations will have to undergo to secure one of the 33 yearly dates the Fillmore makes available for community use at a discounted rate. She said that she expects the process to begin sometime in January.

Events and Announcements: A representative from Discovery Communications shared a poster promoting the Dec. 11 “Winter Celebration” hosted by TLC at the Silver Spring Skating Rink at Veteran’s Plaza; while the Silver Spring Regional Center’s Elizabeth Gallauresi confirmed that Silver Spring has earned re-designation as an arts & entertainment district. According to Maryland State Arts Council Guidelines, such a designation comes with a “property tax credit and exemption from the admissions and amusements tax.”