HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-1999 Auburn Arts Commission
Monday, Dec. 13, 1999
MINUTES
Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Paul Dodsworth, Bonnie Egbert, Don Gardner,
Cheryl Hosking and John Stanphill
Commissioners absent: Steve LePenske, Bobby Medina, Lynn Norman, Barbie Sharrard,
Pam Smith, and Gertie Sprenger (all excused)
Staff present: Susan Sagawa, cultural programs manager, Lori Corso, cultural programs
specialist
Vice Chair Paul Dodsworth called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.
I. Introductions and approval of minutes
Vice Chair Dodsworth asked that the November minutes be approved as mailed. Commissioner
Ansingh moved that the minutes be approved as mailed. Bonnie Egbert seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
II. Tacoma Symphony article (inserted agenda item)
Commissioner Ansingh briefly discussed and passed around copies of two in-depth, feature
articles on the Tacoma Symphony that recently ran in the Tacoma News Tribune. Staff will send
copies of the articles to all commissioners to read. A roundtable discussion will follow at the
next commission meeting, January 10, 2000.
III. Updateon BRAVO!
A. "A Christmas Carol" and BRAVO! ticket sales
Susan Sagawa said a total of 373 people attended "A Christmas Carol," Dec. 3 and 4. The
house count was lower than staff had anticipated in the 400-seat Auburn Riverside Theatre.
However, Ms. Sagawa said staff received positiv.e feedback on Puget Sound Musical
Theatre's production of the Christmas classic. A brief discussion ensued about the
possibility of presenting "A Christmas Carol" annually.
· Since tickets went on sale in' August, BRAVO! season ticket sales have reached over
$35,000.
Sales for Tim Noah's BRAVO! Kids performance, Dec. 18, are going well. To date, staffhas
sold 400 tickets, well above the 250 tickets needed to pay for Noah's performance fee. Staff
expects a large box office the day of the performance.
(more)
Arts Commission December minutes
Page 2
Ms. Sagawa said staff expects Common Ground and Peking Acrobats may sell out. The lower
orchestra seats for both performances are selling fast. $5 balcony seats will be available the day
of the performances.
B. BRAVO! Marketing
Lori Corso designed and distributed a BRAVO! Kids flyer to Ilalko and Hazelwood
elementary schools and at Kid's Day and Santa's House at the SuperMall. Commissioner
Dodsworth distributed the flyers at area churches and children's doctor's offices.
Commissioner Egbert will distribute flyers to school district librarians.
Ms. Sagawa reported on a recent King County Local Arts Agency meeting she attended. The
agenda included a discussion with arts editor Doug Kim of the Seattle Times and arts reporter
Sue Kidd of the South County Journal. Ms. Sagawa said individual programs and
performances are of little interest to the news media unless the programs have broader news
appeal. Kim said the media is particularly interested in networks of arts agencies coming
together around a common cause. The King County Performance Network, which the arts
commission participates in, is an example.
C. Potential Boeing partnerships
Commissioner Stanphill said he will continue to submit BRAVO! news to the weekly Boeing
employee newsletter. Ms. Corso will forward news releases and photos. He is looking into
the possibility of Boeing providing printing services for the arts commission. Opportunities
to volunteer at BRAVO! performances are listed on an employee Web site. Boeing also
designed a Web page detailing the BRAVO! Series an announcing a 20-percent discount to
Boeing employees.
D. Listings/advertising in community newsletters and programs
Ms. Corso is waiting to hear from the marketing director at Auburn Regional Medical Center
regarding coverage in the hospital's newsletter. The Calico Cat agreed to list BRAVO!
events in its quarterly newsletter. The Miss Auburn Pageant doesn't sell ads in its program.
The board will consider whether to run paid ads in its programs this week. If the board
moves ahead with advertising, Ms. Corso said it's unlikely the commission would be able to
advertise BRAVO! in the pageant's January 2000 program but could advertise next year.
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Arts Commission December minutes
Page 3
IV. Public Art Opportunities in 2000
A. Funding for two projects will carry over into 2000
· Ms. Sagawa reported that The Extreme AtmosFearic Oscillator at Brannan Skate Park is
installed and the King County Library installation will be complete in March 2000.
B. Potential for public art at senior center
City officials are still evaluating whether the existing library will be converted to an
expanded senior center. If the project goes forward, the arts commission would work with an
artist and architect to integrate a public art piece at the new senior center facility.
C. J Street Signage
Ms. Sagawa distributed an article about Auburn's budget that recently ran in the Tacoma
News Tribune. The article mentioned Planning Director Paul Krauss is seeking $120,000 to
start up a program that identifies "gateways" into the community and marks them with signs
or monuments. Sagawa said the commission has been asked to issue a call for artists to work
on signage at the J Street area near the new library and senior center.
De
Sundial at Les Gove Park
A number of service groups wish to install an interactive sundial at Les Gove Park in summer
2000. Some funding will come from the. city's millennium budget. Service groups would
raise the balance of funds needed to construct the project. The arts commission would
manage the process of selecting an artist to complete the project.
V. Follow-up on signage session at retreat
Ao
Discussion of panel recommendations, "Signage possibilities for Auburn"
Commissioners Dodsworth and Gardner recapped their session on signage at the retreat in
September. Commissioner Gardner emphasized a need for clear, consistent signage
designating city destination points such as city hall and the library as well as at gateway
points. Commissioners agreed signage should be identifiable and aesthetic. Commissioner
Dodsworth said Hoquiam is an example of a city with excellent signage. Commissioner
Hosking suggested the commission take note of cities with good signage. Ms. Sagawa said
the engineering department might have slides of signage the commission could view. She
also said the artist selected to design signage at J Street could also be charged with
developing a blue print for signage in Auburn. After the first of the year, the commission
will reconvene its public art committee
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Arts Commission December minutes
Page 4
V. Other business
A. Current infOrmation on Web site
Ms. Sagawa followed up on the possibility of creating an arts commission Web site. She
reported that city departments and commissions may not create their own departmental Web
sites related to the city. The city will create a Web site to include arts commission activities
in the near futUre.
B. Video production of public art
Ms. Sagawa said videographer Tom Brown produced a 15-minute tape for the Port Angeles
Library for $3,500. The tape featured artists Dennis Mee and Nancy Evans working on an
installation for the Port Angeles Library. Ms. Sagawa said the video, a joint effort bet~veen
the Port Angeles Arts Commission, museum and library, hasn't been viewed since the
library's opening several years ago. Those involved with the Port Angeles video said it was
hard to market because it didn't tie in with the school district's curriculum. Commissioners
discussed linking a video with a focus on several pieces in the city's public art collection to
the school curricula and/or creating it in conjunction with the King County Library for use in
its collection. Ms. Sagawa said a video would take at least nine months to produce, and the
commission should seek input from district art teachers. Commissioners Hosking and Egbert
will follow-up with contacts at the library and school district.
C. City Hall Gallery closure due to construction
Ms. Sagawa said the City Hall Gallery will be closed Feb. 16 through March 1 to allow for
construction.
D. Commission BRAVO! report to Planning and Community Development Committee
· Arts commissioners will present a BRAVO! report to members of the PCDC, Monday,
Jan. 10, at 6:30 p.m. (following the regular commission meeting).
· There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:15 p.m. The next
regular meeting is Monday, January 10, 2000, 4:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 1.