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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 05/08/2006 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 8, 2006 7:30 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COLLABORATION ROOM COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Mosow, Chair; Heather Olson, Vice Chair; Karen Busack, Elizabeth Grant, Farida Kathawalla, Ann Rorem, Diane Zielke STUDENT MEMBERS: Sarah Erickson, Michael Kientzle, Grace Li COMMISSION STAFF: Sandy Werts, Staff Liaison Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director, Parks & Recreation Services; Laurie Obiazor, Manager of Recreation Services I. ROLL CALL & THANK YOU TO STUDENTS Chair Mosow called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Commissioners Rorem and Zielke were absent. Commissioner Olson arrived later. Student Member Kientzle was absent. Reed Schulke was in attendance to give a report for Eden Prairie Players. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Grant moved, seconded by Kathawalla, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 10, 2006 MEETING MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Busack, to approve the minutes of the Arts and Culture Commission, held on April 10, 2006 as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS UPDATE Reed Schulke said rehearsals for "Oliver!" have begun and are going well. He had good news to report on fundraising efforts. The garage sale on April 22 raised $800. Also, the group has a major sponsor for the summer show; Schwan Foods is donating $1,200 and is also donating ice-cream treats and some of the revenue from the concession stand. To aid in publicizing the show, cast members will receive business-size cards to hand out that will have information about the show on one side. Modern Auto Care is paying $250 to have a coupon on the back. Schulke will bring some cards to the next Arts and Culture Commission meeting for the Commissioners to hand out. The group is also trying to sell sponsorship for the large signs they will put up around the city that would include the sponsor's name. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES May 8, 2006 Page 2 The marketing director at Eden Prairie Center is going to allow members of the Eden Prairie Players to use a kiosk at the mall to inform customers about the summer musical, and will have the mall's design person create a display advertising the production. Regarding performances at the Riley-Jacques barn, the Players would like to get new curtains that are 12 feet high,because the ones that are there are too short. Schulke said the Players would like to talk to the City Council about replacing the stage at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre because it is old, with some floorboards that are rotten, and it is slippery when wet. Mosow said that could be a liability issue if anyone fell through. Werts said material with tread marks is available that would be a good replacement. Schulke said a new person joined the Advisory Board at their last meeting. The Board selected `Barefoot in the Park" for their winter play and "South Pacific" for the summer musical. Werts said a City staff person manages the sound equipment for all the summer productions, plus the concert series, and she is looking for another person to help this summer. Li offered to ask a college student she is acquainted with. V. ARTS COMMISSION POWER POINT PRESENTATION The Commissioners watched the power point that was presented to the City Council on November 15. Werts said the Council invites all the commissions to report to them periodically. The power point presentation began with the Arts and Culture Commission Charter Statement and Roles and Responsibilities. This was followed by the City's key objectives to preserve and enhance Eden Prairie's high quality of life and create and promote a positive community identity. This was followed by slides showing what role the Commission can play in meeting these objectives. There was a listing of art projects and cultural programs in the community. It stated that over 15,500 people participated in art activities in 2004 and asked what the impact would be if they were not available. It also asked, what would the impact be if there was not an Arts and Culture Commission. There was a list of benefits to the community of arts activities. One of them is economic, including the opportunity for networking. There are also human benefits through enriching people's lives, and there are health benefits, because people who are more engaged in their communities have healthier and longer lives. Several slides proposed new areas of growth for the Arts and Culture Commission: sponsoring periodic gatherings of people in the arts community, developing new ways to promote Art on City Walls, working toward having an art center, expanding efforts to recognize diversity through the arts, and increasing attendance at art-related activities. The idea of developing a community sculpture program (A Tour of Eagles) was also presented. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES May 8, 2006 Page 3 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Eagle Statue Project Because Commissioner Rorem was not present, this item was tabled to the next meeting. Mosow asked Werts to include in the packet for that meeting the discussion from the April 10 meeting on the eagle statue project. B. Revision of Art Resources Directory Commissioners Olson, Rorem and Zielke have been working on updating the list in the directory. Olson turned in her list to Werts, who said she believes Southwest Publications needs the revisions in June. C. Commission 2006 Approved Work Plan The Commissioners reviewed the work plan. The first two items have been achieved. Mosow said the third item, to review and evaluate current arts and cultural programs and study new programs, including completion of the eagle project, will be the biggest job. It is due to be completed by August 14. Regarding the fifth item, to examine the major center area plan and learn if public art can have a role, Werts said the Commission should look into the sculpture project in Charlottesville, Virginia, called Art in Place. It might be a good idea for Eden Prairie because if some people don't like the sculpture, it would be removed after a year. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Review of Annual Report Werts distributed copies of the Annual Report to the Commissioners. Mosow asked them to review the report and be prepared to discuss it at the next meeting. B. Review of Art and Culture Programs Offered in the Fall Werts said the programs are listed according to whether they are ongoing or seasonal programs. Ongoing programs are the Community Band and Art on City Walls. The schedule for both will be published and available at both the City Center, Senior Center, as well as on the City's Web site. Seasonal programs are: Sunbonnet Day - Sunday, September 10 at the Riley-Jacques Farmstead. A farmers market has been added for this year, provided by the three remaining farmers in Eden Prairie. A Collection of One-Acts — on the last two weekends in September, at the Riley- Jacques barn. The Advisory Committee is currently reviewing one-act plays, planning to offer two serious plays and two comedies this year. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES May 8, 2006 Page 4 Cummins House Christmas — usually the first Sunday in December. The event focuses on the use of the Cummins Homestead as a cultural theme. Werts referenced the 2005 Annual Report arts subsidy. The City arrives at the amount of the subsidy for an event by taking the direct costs and adding 20 percent administrative fee to cover indirect costs. The City provides a 75 percent subsidy for arts and cultural events, 90 percent of which are offered free of charge. For Art on City Walls there is just the administrative cost to consider. The Community Band has a garage sale to cover their expenses. The Eden Prairie Players have generated 25 percent of their costs through ticket sales and passing the hat. The City subsidized 92 percent of the summer concert series. Olson inquired if there is a charge to attend the one-acts and the children's summer theater. Werts said there is a charge, which covers the cost of production. Olson asked if the City has told the department they have to offer a certain number of free programs. Werts said no. There is no way to charge people who come to the summer concert series at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre. However, there is some concern about not meeting the subsidy goal for each event. Individually, some programs do not meet subsidy, but overall, the arts programs met the subsidy goal in 2005. Werts would like to have more sponsors, however it takes time to locate them. Kathawalla said the fall programs seemed to be more for the English-speaking culture and suggested adding another event designed around a different culture. She said India celebrates the Festival of Lights in November. There is quite a concentration of people from the Indian culture in Eden Prairie. Werts asked if they could get free entertainment or if the City would have to pay for it. Kathawalla said they would probably have to pay for it. Mosow suggested starting with non-professional people. Werts wondered where it would be held; space would probably have to be rented. Olson suggested the International School. Kathawalla said they have a new auditorium. Another suggestion was possibly using space at ADC. Another was to use the Garden Room in the City Center. Kathawalla said votive candles are used for the Festival of Lights. Busack wondered about having it out of doors. Olson suggested lighting the walk around the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area. Werts said she would need the names of people to contact and the context of the program, what they think it would cost, and where to have it. Kathawalla said she would do some research and let Werts know. Mosow requested including this as a specific item on the June meeting agenda, and explore the feasibility of adding it to the International Festival as well as doing something in the fall. It would celebrate the City's diversity. It would be a program that focuses on the Hindu and Muslim culture. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES May 8, 2006 Page 5 C. Art on City Walls—Where to Find New Artists Olson said ad agencies in Eden Prairie would probably be interested in displaying their work for Art on City Walls. Also college graduates in the area could be contacted. Grant said students in art programs in the Twin Cities could be contacted as well, because students who haven't graduated want as much exposure as possible. A letter could be sent to the class of 2007 asking if any of them would be interested in putting up a display of their work. Kathawalla said she would contact Blake High School to ask if their art students would be interested. Olson inquired if middle-school students have ever been invited to display their artwork. Werts said she had worked with a teacher from middle school whose students displayed their work, but the artwork was not framed and would fall down. Busack suggested using a clothesline to hang their pictures on, and other Commissioners liked that idea. Olson said the faculty of the schools should also be invited to exhibit their work. Olson suggested that a quilting group at Pax Christi might be interested in bringing their quilts over to display. Werts said textiles, or anything that can be hung, could be used. Olson wondered about an exhibit of work done in a Community Education class. Werts said Commissioner Rorem, who teaches watercolor, had exhibited students' work in the past, and she would ask her about doing it again. Kathawalla inquired if people from India could exhibit their work even if they don't live in Eden Prairie. Werts said they don't have to live here. Mosow asked the Commissioners to send their ideas to Werts via E-mail, including as much detail as they can. This discussion will be continued at the next meeting. VIII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS A. International Festival Planning Update Werts said the first meeting of the committee was held about three weeks ago and another meeting is scheduled for May 10. Other people who have expressed an interest in serving on the committee might be added. The committee has started laying the groundwork for the festival. B. Major Center Area Wayfindins! Committee—Heather Olson Olson reported that the task force is looking for ideas. At the last meeting they had a conversation about the Major Center Area, which includes the Prairie Center Drive and Valley View Drive ring road. The task force is thinking about dividing the area into quadrants, using directional signage and naming of quadrants to help people get around through the Major Center Area. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES May 8, 2006 Page 6 Olson said the names for the quadrants could be geographic or historic. Beginning with the northwest, quadrant number one could be named Bryant, number two Smetana, number three Gamble or Clark, and number four Anderson. With the exception of Bryant, those are the names of old families that lived in the area. There isn't an obvious one for the northwest quadrant, so Bryant was suggested because of the lake there. Olson said the signs could have a visual component to help remember what quadrant you are in, like an animal or flower. Kathawalla suggested using different colors in each quadrant. C. Report on MRAC Workshop- Developing an Art Center — Capital Campaigns Werts said she went to the workshop that day at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, which raised $6.5 million through a capital campaign before they built their new center. The workshop was about capital campaigns and was very interesting. The speakers were from Art Space and the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Werts reported this is the last of the five sessions on developing an art center. She recommended the Commission review them when there is more time at a future meeting. D. City Council Approval of Revised Charter Statement The revised Charter Statement was approved by the City Council in April. IX. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Students on Commissions Student members Erickson and Li were thanked for their service on the Commission. Werts reported that, beginning this September, students' time of service on the Commissions would be split into two four-month sessions; the first one from September through December and the second one January through April. This will give more students the opportunity to serve on the various commissions. B. Up-Coming Events Werts reported the Animal Open House will be on May 13 at the Staring Lake Outdoor Center. The Spring Fun Run will be held May 20. That evening, there is the Riley-Jacques Barn Twilight Special barn dance. Arts and Antiques in the Garden is being held on June 10 at the J.R. Cummins Homestead. On June 11 six bands will be playing at the Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie at Staring Lake Park Amphitheatre from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Teen Band Night is June 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES May 8, 2006 Page 7 X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Busack moved, seconded by Olson, to adjourn the meeting. Chair Mosow adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. The June meeting of the Commission will begin at 7:00 p.m.