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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 03/08/2004 - Other CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS PROMOTION GROUP MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2004 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD HERITAGE ROOM I Mission of Arts Promotion Focus Group The mission of the Arts Promotion Focus Group is to advise the Arts and Culture Commission on the future direction of arts access, awareness and promotion in Eden Prairie and to develop recommendations to be presented to the City Council that can be incorporated into the City's future vision. I. INTRODUCTIONS Commissioner Mosow began the meeting at 7:10 p.m. by explaining the mission of the Arts Promotion Focus Group and thanking everyone for participating in the group. Those present were asked to introduce themselves. ARTS PROMOTION GROUP: Basil Wissner, Chairman of the Jean Harris Memorial Committee Ann Rorem, Watercolor painter and instructor Soni Styrlund, General Mills employee in advertising and television production Jean Lubke, Director of Curriculum Instruction for Eden Prairie schools Alissa LaSavage, with Eden Prairie Magazine Ann Coates, Adult Program Coordinator, Eden Prairie Community Educational Services Sandy Luker, City resident and guest of the Arts Promotion Group ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MEMBERS: Cari Grayson, Lois Larson, Steve Mosow STUDENT MEMBERS: Andrew Krause, High School Senior; Carly Hofstedt, High School Junior COMMISSION STAFF: Sandy Werts, Staff Liaison, Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Laurie Obiazor, Manager of Recreation Services II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 9, 2004 MEETING Mosow asked if there were any revisions or additions to the minutes of the Arts Promotion Group meeting held on February 9, 2004. There were none. III. PROPOSAL FROM SANDY LUKER ON USE OF OLD THEATERS AT EDEN PRAIRIE MALL Sandy Luker said she talked to Ann Crawford, former producer for the Community Theater, about using the old theaters at Eden Prairie mall for the Community Theater, ARTS PROMOTION GROUP March 8, 2004 Page 2 which has no permanent home. Luker said children need more opportunities to perform, in addition to Summer Theater at the amphitheater. Luker discussed this idea with Councilmember Jan Mosman, and she agreed that it should be investigated. Luker has been attempting to find out what other groups would be interested in using the old theaters. The Community Band or student groups could use them. That would also be a good place to have a film festival. The Performing Arts Center at the high school has high demand for its use. Luker said she would talk to the person who schedules the Performing Arts Center, to see how many groups have to be turned down. Werts said she talked to the general manager of the Eden Prairie Center. Right now there isn't a proposed use for the old theaters because there is no outdoor access to them. Another building is blocking it. The manager was open to the idea, however, and said the owners, General Growth, would have to recoup the cost of creating a new access to the theaters. He promised to talk to his architect about how to do this. Werts said Councilmember Mosman has discussed use of the theaters with David Lindahl, who said to find out what other groups would possibly use them. Mosow suggested identifying a committee that would look into this further. Werts said the group would be asked to find out what can be done and bring that information to the Arts and Culture Commission. Luker said she would be glad to help with this project. She believed there could be many children interested in more opportunities to perform in plays. Obiazor reported that the City is close to getting an agreement with the management of the Eden Prairie Center to acquire some space for City services. However, the City budget would not allow subsidizing additional facilities. Obiazor said using the old theater for community theater space was discussed when Eden Prairie Center was being remodeled. She recommended trying to find out if that space could be utilized, then discuss it with City staff and the Council. There probably would be some funding for the arts in the private sector. Lubke said Eden Prairie School District is looking into grant opportunities to support a theater, especially for younger children. The City and School District have similar goals they are working toward at the same time. Wissner asked about arts other than the theater. Hopkins has more than just a theater in its Center for the Arts, and Minnetonka has a beautiful visual arts facility. He asked what the group wants to have in Eden Prairie. Styrlund said Hopkins has positioned itself as an arts community with a children's theater. She asked if the focus group is creating a vision of what it wants Eden Prairie to be. Mosow replied that the focus group is an attempt to begin this process. Obiazor said City staff has spent over a year trying to decide on a logo or image for Eden Prairie. Styrlund said she could help with that because of her job in advertising at General Mills, but wondered how the arts would play into it. ARTS PROMOTION GROUP March 8, 2004 Page 3 Krause suggested having an art gallery and a place for art instruction in the theater. Werts reminded them of the City's budget limitations for implementing these ideas. Wissner stated that he believed the City should charge for the concerts at the amphitheater and for park services. Otherwise, taxes will have to keep increasing to pay for them. Obiazor said the philosophy of the City Council regarding arts programs is not to solicit donations toward arts programs because they believe residents are taxed enough. The City's arts programs are required to cover 75 percent of their cost. Local businesses donate to this also. Styrlund noted that artists in the City are anxious for exposure. She believed there is a way to raise money that way. For example, artists could become involved by creating benches for the City, and people could buy them. There could also be an annual event where artists' work is hung in local restaurants. Mosow said all of these ideas could be included in the plan the Commission is trying to put together. IV. REVIEW OUTLINE OF ARTS PROMOTION DOCUMENT An outline for promotion of arts programs scheduled by the City was reviewed. School programs could be taken off the school calendar. Community churches, dance studios, book stores, and the local library could be solicited through notices in the Eden Prairie Magazine and the Eden Prairie News, and/or by letter, stating the City is in the process of collecting information about special events for inclusion in an arts promotion document Section 3 of the Arts Promotion Document Outline lists three objectives: awareness, promotional opportunities, and accessibility. Mosow asked the focus group for suggestions on how to reach those objectives and to submit them to Sandy Werts by March 29. Styrlund inquired what audience the arts calendar would be targeting. Mosow replied that has not been addressed. They have not looked at any demographics, or how the population is distributed in Eden Prairie. Wissner pointed out that information is available in the Eden Prairie Annual Report. Mosow said the Commission wants to make sure the population is served, their needs are met and they feel connected to the community. Mosow said the next steps for the Commission are to prepare a recommendation for the City Council's approval and then prepare a plan to implement it if the Council approves. They are soliciting comments and suggestions from the focus group. Lubke noted that the objectives say nothing about expanding on arts opportunities that are available. Werts explained they want to develop a vehicle for promoting the arts that are currently available and how people in the community can become aware of that. Obiazor said they also want to solicit input from various agencies. They could be sent a simple survey asking what they would like to see in the area. ARTS PROMOTION GROUP March 8, 2004 Page 4 Wissner inquired what the time frame is for sending recommendations to the City Council. Mosow replied the Commission hopes to have a better idea about that after the focus group meeting on April 12. Perhaps two months will be enough time to assemble the information CAPP Survey Results Lubke reviewed the results of the CAPP survey. The survey was sent home with students and distributed at arts events, as well as being posted on the School District's Web site. There were 632 responses. A number of them were received from third graders, probably as a class assignment, and some high school students responded on the Web site. Most of the responses came from students and staff. It had been hoped more parents would respond in order to find out what parents did with regard to arts activities, why they thought arts were important to them and their family, what they were interested in seeing, and where the gaps are in what is being offered for their children. The survey asked how many times they have attended arts events, how many times they attended outside the community and how many times they took their children with them. The responses indicated that not many people are attending events in the community, even school events. Many more attend events outside of Eden Prairie than inside the community. The survey asked what is the greatest benefit of an arts activity. All of the people who identified themselves as parents, school staff or students indicated that the biggest reason people do art-related activities is because it is fun. It is also important as a family activity as well as being educational. The next question was what is needed for the arts in Eden Prairie and in the schools. The need for an arts center was mentioned several times, as well as a theater and theater experience for children. Lubke believed more funding is needed for theater programs. People with various talents, such as the visual arts, can be involved in putting on productions. The School District is putting together a grant proposal for a five-year funding plan to submit to the state. The final proposal is due in May. Part of the plan will be to pursue grants. Grants will come primarily from arts foundations. A consultant was hired to facilitate the grant process. The consultant will be interviewing Sandy Werts to discuss community organizations with which the school should be forming partnerships. V. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for April 12, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in Heritage Room I. VI. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Mosow adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.