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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 06/12/2006 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY,JUNE 12, 2006 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD THE PRAIRIE ROOM COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Mosow, Chair; Heather Olson, Vice Chair; Karen Busack, Elizabeth Grant, Farida Kathawalla, Ann Rorem, Diane Zielke 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 Mosow called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commissioner Kathawalla was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Busack added Item C., A Report on the Veterans Memorial Committee, under VII, and Werts added Item A., July and August Meeting Schedule, under VIII. MOTION: Grant moved, seconded by Rorem, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 8, 2006 MEETING Werts corrected the last sentence on page 4, which should read "It would be a program that focuses on the Hindu and Muslim culture." MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Grant, to approve the minutes of the Arts and Culture Commission held on May 8, 2006, as amended. Motion carried 6-0. IV. EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS UPDATE Reed Schulke said the cast is rehearsing "Oliver!" at the amphitheater, in preparation for the performances this weekend and next. The Players' Advisory Board has done well selling advertising for the production. There were sponsors for all the signs placed around town. Schwan's has the ice cream concession. Also, Davanni's is donating 25 gallons of ice every day of the performances. Regarding next year's season, the Board decided on "Sleeping Beauty" for the children's show, and `Barefoot in the Park" in the spring. They hope to do the musical "South Pacific" next summer. For the one-act plays, they are thinking about adding Thursday shows before the weekend performances that will be invitation-only for potential sponsors. Hors d'oeuvres would be served. The barn theater holds about 50 people. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES June 12, 2006 Page 2 V. OLD BUSINESS A. Eagle Statue Project Rorem reported that FiberStock contacted her. The Commission had decided to use that company if it went ahead with the eagle statue project. He told her the cost per unit would be $1,500 if 20 or more are ordered. There is no charge for delivery. We would have to include a stipend for an artist to decorate them, probably $500 to $1,000. Possible purposes for this project would include raising money for an arts center and attracting people to Eden Prairie. Werts questioned whether the statues would bring people here except during the time period of the promotion. Mosow said the statues might create more interest in public art. Rorem said they would bring attention to the arts, and the project might bring people forward who would want to get involved. The statues could be placed in parks, etc. Mosow pointed out that the reason a business owner might sponsor one would be to create a destination for his business. Werts said there would be less likelihood of vandalism if the statue were in front of a corporate building rather than in a park. Mosow said determining the purpose for the project is needed before moving on to answer the other questions laid out by Werts in her memo to the Commissioners. Zielke wondered if this is a feasible project for the Commission to take on. Grant asked if having a sculpture garden with different statues would be more likely to promote the arts than just using eagle statues. Rorem replied there could be different sculptures or a different theme each year. Werts said that would be similar to the way it is done in Charlottesville, Virginia. Grant said eagle sculptures would be a good idea if pride in the City is the sole purpose for the project, but if the main purpose is to bring awareness to the arts it would be better to have different sculptures. Zielke said the fact the Commission has been thinking about the eagle statue project for so long causes her to wonder if it is the right idea; it might lead to a better idea. Mosow pointed out the purpose of an arts commission is to enhance opportunities for art. Rorem said decorating a sculpture is not really putting out an expression of all the arts in Eden Prairie. There are many artists of different types in the City. Rorem said the Commission is just a small, volunteer group, and it would be a lot of work to pull this project together. The City cannot help with either funding or promotion. Mosow agreed. The City has a fixed agenda now. The Commission is limited in what it has in both human and financial resources. An art center is a long-range view for the Commission. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES June 12, 2006 Page 3 Werts said at the art center meetings she has been attending, it became clear that the cities started out small. Looking around at other communities that have had facilities for 20 years or more, it is apparent Eden Prairie is not there yet. Zielke said the Commission can dream big and have a vision. Olson said she believed the Commission should save this project for the future. Werts and Rorem said they would each keep all the data collected for it. Rorem offered to let FiberStock know of the decision. Zielke thanked Rorem for the work she has done. MOTION: Olson moved„ seconded by Zielke, to retain the excellent information Commissioner Rorem has provided and consider the project again when the time comes that the Commission feels the need to do a fund-raiser, or to help bring traffic into Eden Prairie, or to coordinate with the Major Center Area Wayfinding work, or to promote public art. Motion carried 6-0. B. Revision of Art Resources Directory Werts said the editor of the Resident's Guide wants revisions to the directory by July 1. Rorem said she would get her information in to Werts by that date. C. Review of Annual Report Werts was asked if the net loss for the year was a concern to the City Council. She replied that has not been a concern in the past because the programs provide a service. However, they should generate some income to offset their cost. The City provides various subsidy levels to meet the cost of the programs, with 85 percent being the maximum level. Werts explained that some programs, like the one-act plays and children's workshop, broke even. Admission is charged for the one-acts and the children pay a fee for the workshop. The most costly program is the concert series. Mosow asked if the Commissioners should do an evaluation of the programming, looking at whether they meet the financial and attendance goals. If they look at all the programs with regard to the cost and find that some things are not financially feasible, Mosow wondered if they should consider something that is more self-sustaining. Busack said they should look at each goal and see if the program meets it. Werts replied that she is not sure the goals of the Parks department and the Arts and Culture Commission have ever been the same. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Fall Festival of Lights Werts said she had hoped Commissioner Kathawalla would be present to discuss this topic further. Werts wondered if the festival could be a collaborative effort between the City and people who are part of the culture of India. She explained ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES June 12, 2006 Page 4 that in many communities festivals are put on by an organization and the city participates as one part of the collaboration. If the Fall Festival of Lights is part of their culture, perhaps members of the Indian community would step forward to organize it. The City would help with the promotion instead of being the sponsor. Kathawalla has the contacts within the Indian community and could find out if this is something they want to do. This item was tabled to the next meeting. VII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS A. International Festival Planning Update— Sandy Werts Werts said they are getting fresh ideas from new people on the committee. At the last meeting the committee talked about lining up entertainment. She said another stage could be added to accommodate more entertainment venues. Werts received a call from India Palace about selling food at the festival. They would need to have permission from the Health Department. B. Major Center Area Wayfindins! Committee—Heather Olson Olson reported the committee did not come to a consensus at its last meeting. There were many different ideas brought forward. Mosow said the leaders showed how they have divided the Major Center Area into four segments within this zone. Olson said the area could be called Prairie Center Circle, and each of the different quadrants would have names. The committee didn't like the idea of using family names to identify the quadrants. Some want each area named after a key business in the area, but that was not accepted by the group. Having numbering is critical. Quadrant one would start at 10 and end at 500; 500 to 1000 for quadrant two, etc. There would be obelisks and signs in each quadrant, some signs with banners as well as street signs. The committee is working with a consultant, who asked what are the distinguishing geographical features of each quadrant. However, it was decided there are not any. The next meeting of the committee is June 27, and the last meeting is July 25. C. Veterans Memorial Committee Report—Elizabeth Grant Grant reported the committee has met once and will meet again June 13. There are 18 people of various ages on the committee, including many who have served in the military. Eden Prairie hired a landscape architect to come up with ideas for a memorial from which to choose. He divided the committee into small groups and gave each of them five questions. They were to come up with three or four concepts. All groups agreed on Purgatory Creek Recreation Area for the location of the memorial. It could be multiple small monuments. The consensus seemed to be something simple and sculptural. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES June 12, 2006 Page 5 The group will meet at Purgatory Creek on June 13 and look at the three ideas the architect came up with after the first meeting. After it selects one of the ideas, the committee will divide up for fund-raising. VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. July and August Meeting Schedule After discussion, the consensus was to skip the July meeting and hold the next meeting on August 14. At that meeting, Mosow said the Commissioners would use the Annual Report as a basis for evaluation of the arts and culture programs, look at the Commission's role in that, and develop criteria for supporting those programs. He asked the Commissioners to think about this before the meeting. Werts suggested that she meet with Rorem and Busack to come up with a program, using spreadsheets. They decided to meet on July 10. B. Upcoming Events • Arts and Antiques in the Garden This event was on Saturday, June 10. Werts said the weather on that date was not very good, which held attendance down. There were thirty-three vendors. • Festival of Jazz on the Prairie This was on June 11, but was not well attended, perhaps because there is not enough parking available. Busack noted members of the bands took up a lot of the parking spaces. Werts said a sign is needed that says additional parking is available in another location, not just a sign saying the parking lot is full. • Riley-Jacques Twilight Special This was coming up Saturday, June 17, with the Middle Spunk Creek Boys. • Oliver! This musical production is slated for the weekend of June 16, 17 and 18, and the following weekend of June 23, 24 and 25. • Summer Concert Series A flyer listing concerts was distributed to the Commissioners. Some information was missing, however. • July 4th Celebration This will be an all-day celebration at Round Lake Park. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Zielke, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Mosow adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.