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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 08/01/2005 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 1, 2005 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER 8080 Mitchell Road Prairie Rooms A & B COMMISSION MEMBERS: Susan Dickman, Chair; Steve Mosow, Vice Chair; Lois Larson, Heather Olson, Ann Rorem, Soni Styrlund, 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 Chair Dickman called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Commissioner Larson was absent. Commissioner Zielke was excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Olson added reports on "Eden Prairie Reads" and a potential arts center in Eden Prairie under Reports of Staff and Commissioners. MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Olson, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 13, 2005 MEETING MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Rorem, to approve the minutes of the Arts and Culture Commission meeting held on June 13, 2005, as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORT FROM EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS Jay Ludwig said the last production for this season is "Glass Slipper", a camp for children at the Riley-Jacques barn, which began July 11. There are 35-40 children enrolled in the camp. They will be performing August 19, 20, and 21. Something new this year is An Evening of One-Act Plays, which are being presented at the Riley-Jacques barn on October 7, 8 and 9. The plays are "Mere Mortals" by David Ives, "Lady of Larkspur Lotion" by Tennessee Williams, "Zoo Story" by Edward Albee, and "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" by Christopher Durang. The "Cemetery Walk" is planned for Saturday, October 22. The winter play at the high school will be the world premiere of"It Wasn't Murder", written by Jamie Olson, a local playwright. Next summer, the musical "Oliver!" will be performed at the Staring Lake amphitheater. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES August 1, 2005 Page 2 V. OLD BUSINESS A. Arts Promotion Brochure Werts said she sent the information for the Arts Resource Directory to Southwest Publishing, which will be part of the Eden Prairie Resident's Guide. It is basically information on the arts and culture opportunities offered by the City, Eden Prairie Community Education art offerings, and performing arts opportunities from the Eden Prairie School District. There is also the Arts List the Commission put together, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's performance schedule at Wooddale Church. Werts and Dickman wrote an introductory letter from the Commission to be placed in the beginning of the section. The Commissioners received this information in their packet. The Guide will be published in September. Dickman thanked Werts for all the work she did to put this together. B. Eagle Sculptures Rorem reported she contacted the person who was in charge of the manufacture of the statues in St. Paul based on the "Peanuts" characters, and she found out how they went about doing it. First, there was a call for artists to send their ideas for decorating the statues. Then the manufacturer found sponsors to pay for constructing them, and they were charged $3,500, of which the artist received $1,000. The sponsors could choose from the artists' samples to select the type of decoration they wanted on their statue. When the statue was finished, the sponsor could keep it for an additional $4,000. Otherwise, it would be auctioned off at the end of the year. The cost of producing them decreases with the number that are made. The City of St. Paul paid nothing toward the cost. Rorem said she realized the City Council would have to give approval before the Commission could go ahead with the idea of eagle sculptures. Werts said Hammer Residence in Wayzata produced statues for a fundraiser. Twelve sponsors paid for them. She will give Rorem the name of the person to contact. Werts said they would have to solicit sponsors before manufacturing any sculptures, and would need price guidelines. Steve suggested doing a pre-market survey to see if there is any interest, using a concept drawing as a promotional piece. Styrlund suggested having an event to promote the idea. Styrlund offered to contact another person involved in manufacturing the Snoopy statues and Rorem said she would call the contact person at Hammer Residence, and then they will discuss the results together. C. Ideas for the Use of Eden Prairie Brand Styrlund suggested it would be best to come up with a comprehensive plan that could be presented to the City Council, and see how it is received. Werts agreed that would be a good idea. She said the meeting with the City Council has been changed to ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES August 1, 2005 Page 3 November 15. That will give the Commissioners more time to work on their whole presentation. Werts asked Styrlund to put together an outline for the next meeting of the Commission on September 12, which could be used as a working session. D. Meeting Schedule for 2005-2006 Werts reported that on July 5 the City Council adopted the new meeting schedule for the Commission, as requested at the June 13 meeting of the Commission. For the remainder of 2005, the Commission will meet on the first Monday of the month, with the exception of when a holiday falls on the first Monday. The dates for the remainder of 2005 will be September 12, October 3, November 7 and December 5. E. Commission Photo A photo of the Commissioners was taken prior to the meeting. Werts said it was requested by the City Manager. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. November 15 Meeting with City Council Werts recommended that they start putting together some long-range goals for the Commission that they would present to the City Council, and see if the Council concurs with those goals. They should also have a list of questions to find out what the Council wants in terms of art and culture for the City. Styrlund said one long-term goal is to create Eden Prairie as a destination people would come to that is unique and would tell people they are in Eden Prairie. Werts said using the Eden Prairie brand is one part of that. She added that the Commission needs to know where the City Council stands regarding the relation of the arts to the community. Participation in the arts is another aspect, which they are trying to accomplish through the resource directory. Dickman said the Commission is trying to ask the Council where art fits into Eden Prairie. Werts had sent the Commissioners images from a power point presentation she saw last year at the Minnesota Park and Recreation conference, and thought it would be a good way to begin the presentation to the Council. Mosow listed what he believed the Commissioners' objectives are in meeting with the City Council. One is to use the arts to support the objective of creating Eden Prairie as a destination, either to live or to visit or to do business. Another has to do with using the Eden Prairie brand in the community. Another is to really use art as a vibrant part of building community. The Commissioners are looking for monetary and moral support from the City. They can find out if they all share the same vision and if the Council will support that vision with money. If the Commissioners are going in the wrong direction, they need to know. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES August 1, 2005 Page 4 Olson said that regarding a performing arts center in the mall, it appears the City is not willing to do anything unless the AMC offers to help pay the cost. However, there is another initiative coming together. A resident of Eden Prairie owns a piece of property with a home on it, and she would like to donate it to the City. The City would like the property but is not interested in maintaining the house. The homeowner wants to stipulate that the house is to be used as an arts center. Olson believes it would require a lot of work to convert it. The Eden Prairie Foundation has been approached about this. Olson said she would like to see the Eden Prairie Foundation, private residents and City representatives develop an alliance, form a board and prepare a presentation for the City Council. Olson said if the Council members heard how many other communities are putting together an arts center, it might impress them. Edina has an art center that is run by the city's parks and recreation department. They say that a lot of their students are from outside Edina. The Minnetonka Art center is totally private and was begun by wealthy women from around the lake. Olson said if the City Council is interested in having an art center, grants are available from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC). That would require starting programs now because two years of programming are needed before they could get any funds from the MRAC. Mosow said the Commission could bring up possibilities for the future with the Council, including an art center and a center for the performing arts. Mosow believes the main objective of meeting with the Council is to have them see the possibilities, which they can either confirm or deny, and then tell the Commissioners what the Council sees as the future for the community. In order to prepare for the November meeting with the Council, Styrlund suggested having one or two working sessions. She will develop an agenda for the next meeting. That could be an ideation meeting, followed by another meeting. MOTION: Styrlund moved, seconded by Mosow, that the next meeting of the Commission be devoted to ideation. Motion carried 5-0. Styrlund recommended inviting someone from the Eden Prairie Players to come to the next meeting. Olson suggested inviting Jan Mosman also. She could give insight into working with the Council. Styrlund said she might ask people who worked on the branding presentation to the City if they could come. B. Program Subsidy Policy Werts reviewed the four types of services offered through the City's recreation program and the policy for subsidizing them. The arts and culture programs are subsidized at 75 percent. She explained she hasn't been able to obtain enough revenue to cover 25 percent of the total cost for many of those programs. Most of the programs she puts on are free and depend on donations and sponsorships. The City would like corporate sponsors, but those are becoming increasingly difficult ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES August 1, 2005 Page 5 to obtain. Werts said she is going to make a presentation about these programs to the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission in September. Werts asked if the Arts and Culture Commission wants to take a position on subsidizing arts programming. Mosow said they could discuss that at the meeting with the Council and explain how the Commission's vision could be achieved. Styrlund said they should also tell the Council what the expected cost would be. Dickman said one problem she has noticed is a feeling that arts are not important and worth supporting. The Commissioners need to let the City Council know that they believe it is important. Olson asked if there is any programming that Werts believes the City should not be doing. Werts replied they all have merit. She said all the facilities need to be programmed, but that takes time and money. Styrlund suggested that the Commission could discuss which programs are worthwhile, but there would still be the question of whether the City is going to support them. She wondered if there is a City department or a commission that the Arts and Culture Commission could work with that would give support to the programming. Dickman said the program subsidy situation should be worked out in the Commission's presentation to the Council. If it is presented in a positive way, perhaps the problems can be overcome. VII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS A. Update on International Festival Werts reported they had beautiful weather on Sunday, with 650-700 people attending throughout the day. It was a multi-cultural audience. There were 15 tables set up for service organizations, displays of crafts, etc. A children's game booth was popular. There was entertainment of various kinds, including a puppet show, a college choir with orchestra, and Cyril Paul and The Calypso Monarchs. Several donations were received to help cover the costs, including a donation of $500 from TCF and $100 from each of two families who are pleased that the City is putting on this festival. Werts said more people are needed to help plan the festival next year. B. Riley-Jacques Twili!ht Special Werts reported a "Ma and Pa Kettle Night" was held on Saturday, July 16; 13 people attended on a very warm evening. The next event is a barn dance with live music on Saturday, August 13. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES August 1, 2005 Page 6 C. Eden Prairie Reads Olson gave an update on the activities connected with "Eden Prairie Reads." The book selected is "Ordinary People." On October 18 there will be discussions on the book, followed by a visit with Judith Guest. Other events planned are Rivers Edge Playback Theatre on October 20; on October 24, a panel of experts will talk about different characters in the book and respond to a set of questions about mental health. On October 27, women will talk about health realization at Staring Lake Outdoor Center. On November 1, David Walsh will be speaking about"The Adolescent Brain." Olson said she has been helping to create a class on mask- making that a parent and teen could do together. That will be on November 3. On November 5 there will be a healthy family walk around Purgatory Creek called "Ordinary People Community Walk." It is suggested that book clubs read the book in September. D. Potential Arts Center in Eden Prairie A report from Olson about this was included in the discussion of the meeting with the City Council in November. VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. FORECAST Public Artworks FORECAST is a nonprofit group located in St. Paul that tries to advance public art on a local level. They helped produce the book You Are Here; Exploring Art in the Suburbs. They are offering potential clients an introductory meeting to explain their services. Jack Becker, who is the Executive Director, worked with the new Eden Prairie library to select art for that building. Werts and others will be meeting with him to discuss their services. The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) asked the City to participate in a survey on local arts and complete it by August 15. The information will be kept strictly confidential and will be used to compile aggregate figures on the arts for the entire organization. Werts said she would see if Mr. Becker and a representative from MRAC would be able to come to the October 3 meeting of the Commission. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Rorem moved, seconded by Mosow, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Dickman adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.