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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 10/13/2003 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD PRAIRIE ROOMS A & B COMMISSION MEMBERS: Susan Dickman, Chair; Ann Birt, Cari Grayson, Lois Larson, Steve Mosow, Todd Pernsteiner STUDENT MEMBERS: Evan Estrine, Carly Hofstedt, Andrew Krause COMMISSION STAFF: Sandy Werts, Staff Liaison Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director, Parks and Recreation Services, Laurie Obiazor, Manager, Recreation Services I. ROLL CALL Chair Dickman called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commissioner Birt was absent. Commissioner Pernsteiner was excused. The three student members were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Grayson moved, seconded by Larson, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Grayson, to approve the minutes of the Arts and Culture Commission meeting held on September 8, 2003, as published. Motion carried 4-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Discuss Goals and Objectives for 2003-2004 There was discussion about focusing on two goals for 2003-2004. MOTION: Grayson moved, seconded by Mosow, to develop a partnership with the School District to expand access to School District facilities for community arts programming. Motion carried 4-0. MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Larson, to establish a committee to develop all-inclusive arts promotion initiatives. Motion carried 4-0. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 13, 2003 Page 2 V. NEW BUSINESS A. Develop Goals and Guidelines for Committee on All-Inclusive Arts Promotion Initiatives Dickman encouraged interested Commissioners to serve on the committee. Commissioners Mosow, Grayson, Larson and Dickman said they would be interested. Commissioner Pernsteiner had stated his interest at the previous meeting. Representatives from the performing arts, visual arts, community band, community education, and community theater would make up the rest of the committee. It was suggested that Terry Kwant, who designed the Gathering Bridge tribute to Jean Harris, be asked to serve as a resource person for the committee, or an ex- officio member. Dickman offered to write an article for the Eden Prairie News about what the Commission is trying to do to promote the arts and the formation of the committee, and hope that local artists will respond. Dickman said she would e- mail a draft article to all the Commissioners, and they can critique it. She also offered to telephone artists in the various areas needed for the committee to find out if they would be interested in being part of it. She would like to get input from a large number of artists, and also ask them if they would be willing to advertise in a promotional brochure, when one is developed. Dickman suggested putting an article in the Eden Prairie Magazine about the Arts and Culture Commission and that it is looking for members for the committee. She offered to contact the editor, Elissa LaSovage. There was a discussion on developing goals and guidelines for the committee. It was agreed that the committee should consider and assess all the options the Commission might be able to use in order to achieve its promotional initiatives. The committee would also prioritize the options and give some sense of the costs involved in carrying them out. Dickman suggested that a questionnaire be sent to artists and art organizations to find out what options they think might be viable. Werts said when prospective committee members are called, they should be told what the Commission hopes the committee is going to accomplish and how long that is likely to take, which she believed would be approximately four meetings. Tell each person what is expected of them and that their expertise is important. The Commission wants them to meet with other artists to help promote the arts that are already in Eden Prairie and to attract more of them. The committee would be expected to come back to the Commission with some ideas on how that can happen. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 13, 2003 Page 3 Dickman said a script should be developed so everyone will say the same thing to prospective committee members. She asked the Commissioners to put down their thoughts and e-mail them to her. She would then compile them for discussion at the next meeting. Commissioners were asked to bring a list of people to recommend for the committee. Mosow suggested giving a report to the City Council to let them know that the Commission is looking for ideas from the arts community on how to promote the arts across Eden Prairie. Cable TV carries the Council meetings, so a good many people would hear the report. Werts said Bob Lambert has told her the Commission should meet with the City Council at a Workshop session to discuss what its goals are and to make sure they reflect the City's goals. Mosow said he believed it should be one of the Commission's goals for 2003-04 to talk to the City Council about the arts and the funding needed to promote them. Mosow said another idea to promote the arts would be to develop an artists group that might show films about important artists and/or bring in a professor talk about them. The new library might be willing to partner with the City to provide space for doing this. Admission would be free. VI. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS A. Report from Steve Mosow on City-School Facility Meeting Mosow substituted for Grayson, who was unable to attend the last meeting. He said he tried to reflect the Commission's concerns about access to the school's facilities from both a scheduling and a monetary standpoint. One of the issues the school raised is that there are hardly enough opportunities for the students to participate because of the tight scheduling of facilities. One Committee member said the two groups should discuss inter-generational programs. They plan to invite members of the Commission to sit down with them and discuss how to develop a better method for communicating with the school. With regard to the facility rental fees, Mosow was told a new fee schedule has recently been adopted, and changes would not be made at this time. The committee informed Mosow that the school plans the schedule for facility use a year in advance, and advised the Commission to get information to the school as soon as they know when they will need the facilities. However, there is a lot of demand for facility use, and the school gives preference to school groups. Werts said there is to be a meeting with several people from the school's Arts Department, the Student Activities Coordinator, Community Education and City Staff to discuss access. Grayson was asked to attend if possible. Grayson said it would be good to develop an on-going relationship. She said the Commission has to be precise in letting the school know what it needs. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 13, 2003 Page 4 Dickman reported on the School District referendum held in 1995. She received materials that were distributed by the District at that time. There was nothing in them about the community being able to use the Performing Arts Center, except that the community can use it when the school is not using it. B. Art in City Hall— Current Exhibition Werts encouraged the Commissioners to look at the exhibits, which are on the walls in the lower level of the City Hall. The exhibit is publicized in the Eden Prairie Magazine, and there have also been articles about the exhibits in the local newspaper. Mosow said that it would be good to find more venues for public art beyond what is shown at City Hall. Werts pointed out that there is no space for sculptures, or cases for displaying pieces of art. C. Recap of Sunbonnet Day Werts referred Commissioners to the report included in their packet. D. Report on Upcoming Cultural Events a. Cemetery Walk—October 18 Werts found actors from the Community Theater to portray characters from Eden Prairie's past who are buried in Eden Prairie and Pleasant Hill cemeteries. John Gertz put together the information they would need to recreate the characters and met with the cast. The public will meet at the J.R. Cummins Homestead, where "Mrs. Cummins" will greet the people and serve refreshments. They would then be transported to the cemeteries by bus. The cost is $4.00. b. Reviewed to Death Werts explained that the people attending this program are served a catered dinner and then asked to solve a murder that was supposed to have occurred that evening. Werts said this program is almost sold out. The only openings are on Thursday, November 13, and the cost is $30.00 per person. VII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Award for Sandy Werts Mosow announced that Sandy Werts was awarded the Annual Helen L Pontius National Award of Merit for Women in Leisure Services, for her work on two state and national organizations and for community service. ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 13, 2003 Page 5 B. Search for New Community Theater Producer Werts reported that an ad for a new producer was placed in the October 12 Star Tribune. There will also be an ad in the Eden Prairie News, and it was posted on the City's Web site. She has already received a few responses. Werts received an e-mail from a person who said some people have talked about having a committee produce the shows, rather than an individual. Even if a producer is hired, Werts said she would want a committee to help the producer with all the work. Ann Crawford put a great deal of time and energy into producing the shows for the Community Theater. She also handled fundraising and found actors for Reviewed to Death, which are things that should probably be handled by a committee in order to spread out the work. Auditions for the winter production are scheduled for December, and rehearsals run for six weeks through January and into February. The performances would be in February. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Larson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0. Chair Dickman adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The next meeting will be on Monday, November 10, 2003.