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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-2000Auburn Arts Commission Monday, July 10, 2000 MINUTES Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Kristen Brock, Paul Dodsworth, Bonnie Egbert, Don Gardner, Steve LePenske, Lynn Norman, Barbie Sharrard and Pam Smith Commissioners absent: Gertie Sprenger and John Stanphill (both excused) Staff present: Susan Sagawa, cultural programs manager; Lori Corso, cultural programs specialist Chair Paul Dodsworth called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. I. Introduction and Approval of Minutes Commissioner Ansingh moved that the minutes be approved as submitted. Commissioner LePenske seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Commissioner Dodsworth introduced new Commissioner Kristen Brock. Brock fills the position vacated by former Commissioner Cheryl Hosking. Brock lives in the Lakeland Hills neighborhood with her husband and two young children. She has a bachelor's degree in art history, interned at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and went on to work at the Norton-Simon Museum in Los Angeles for five years before moving to Auburn. Susan Sagawa said Commissioner Bobby Medina submitted his resignation due to increasing schedule conflicts. However, he is interested in serving on an advisory committee to the commission. II. Sustained Support Grant Recommendations A panel met June 15 to re-grant $12,000, awarded through King County's Sustained Support Program, to local arts organizations. This year, due to a one-time $150,000 special initiative, King County doubled its sustained support funding to the city. Next year, funding will drop back to $6,000 or lower, Ms. Sagawa explained. This year, two new organizations applied for grant dollars: White River Valley Museum and Encore Playhouse. Uniquely Auburn, a previous applicant, didn't participate due to a change in scheduling of its annual event. The total amount requested by all six groups was $19,000. The panel agreed to re-grant $11,750 to the organizations, reserving $250 to fund tickets to BRAVO! Performances. Ms. Sagawa outlined the panel"s recommendations: (more) Arts Commission July Minutes Page 2 Encore Playhouse!--$1,250 to support workshops and a free, professional performance of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" for Auburn High School, Auburn Riverside and West Auburn High students this fall. Evergreen City Ballet--S1,250 to help fund performance fees and rental fees at the Auburn Performing Arts Center for the ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker." It Plays in Peoria Productions/SPLAB!--$1,250 to support its fall 2000 Visiting Poet Series with Wanda Coleman, an Afro-American poet who grew up in Los Angeles' WATTS district. White River Valley Museum--S2,000 to complete funding for a life-size bronze sculpture ofKisa Iseri by artist Reynaldo (Sonny) Rivera. The Japanese-American community raised $15,000. The sculpture, titled Issei, will be unveiled, July 23. Auburn Symphony Orchestra--S4,000 to link its Northwest Artists Initiative with its Emphasizing students program. Funds will support the cost of a soloist for the symphony's February performances and an education program, which takes musicians into the schools, such as West Auburn High. Students are then invited to attend a performance. Puget Sound Musical Theatre--S2,000 to support artistic salaries for the theater company's Summer Musical Theatre for Youth program. CommissiOner Ansingh moved that the panel's recommendations be approved as submitted. Comissioner Dodsworth seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Because the county's sustained support funding could be cut in future years, commissioners discussed the possibility of dedicating arts commission funds to re-grant to local arts organizations. Commissioners will explore other potential funding sources. County Executive Ron Sims will host a series of budget forums in South King County. There is a move to cut sustained support funding from the 2001 budget. Ms. Sagawa will draft a letter to Sims, urging him to retain crucial sustained support dollars. She will forward the letter to commissioners to personalize and sign. (more) Arts Commission July Minutes Page 3 III. BRAVO! 2000/2001 Season Ms. Sagawa said The Boeing Company approved printing 15,000, full-color BRAVO! Season brochures as an in-kind contribution (estimated at $4,000). Commissioner John Stanphill was instrumental in negotiating the request. The graphic designer has completed the brochure mock-up. Ms. Sagawa ran through the 2000/2001 BRAVO! Season line-up. The season will feature eight regular events and four BRAVO! Kids shows. Commissioner Pam Smith will introduce the opening event, Oct. 13, an evening of a cappella. Commissioners ' Gertie Sprenger and Bonnie Egbert will introduce Seattle Opera, Oct. 14. IV. Wrap-up Fourth of July Festival/Shades of Summer Concerts Lori Corso said the Fourth of July Festival was a big success with great weather and a good crowd of about 6,000 people. Hundreds of kids marched in the parade. Ms. Corso passed around an article featuring a preview of the parade and Auburn residents on the front page of The Seattle Times Families section. Old Navy's "fun crews" were a big hit. Craft vendors were down to 15 this year. Food vendors doubled to 8 this year and toward the end, many ran out of food. Nine organizations set up community booths. Ride ticket sales reached $1,400, a $600 increase over last year's ticket sales. Due to a low number of submissions, the Auburn Valley Arts Association (AVAA) canceled its Art in the Park exhibition less than two weeks before the festival. Commissioners discussed the possibility of featuring AVAA every other year. The Great Pretenders will open the Shades of Summer concert series, Friday, 7 p.m. at Game Farm Park. Commissioners discussed taking tums introducing the evening concerts and promoting BRAVO! V. Public Art/Banner Project Artist Diane Aurigemma of High Flying Banners will work with students at Terminal Park elementary to design a set of banners to place along J St., which runs through Les Gove Park. The'project will intersperse kids' banners with signage for the museum, library and senior center. Ms. Sagawa said artist Ries Niemi will attend the Aug. 14 commission meeting to present his design for the millennium sundial project at Les Gove Park and his design concept for the Senior Center remodeling project. (more) Arts Commission July Minutes Page 4 Commissioner Lynn Norman reported on the meeting of the Downtown Task Force. The task force agreed to wait until the proposed interchange at C Street and Highway 18 is complete before determining where or how to incorporate a "gateway" public art piece. The task force engaged in a signage/gateway discussion with the city's planning department. Ms. Sagawa attended the task force meeting where she discussed the arts commission's definition of "gateway" and said commissioner's have been working on "gateway" projects for the last three years. The arts commission would like to be included in signage/gateway projects. A representative from King County discussed possible historic-preservation projects in Auburn. The task force discussed downtown development guidelines, which include fagade, height and roof-line requirements. VI. Other business The commission's fall retreat is set for Monday, Sept. 11, 4 to 8 p.m. A light dinner will be served. Topics include funding sources and marketing. Commissioner Norman distributed copies of the Aubum Area Chamber of Commerce Business Directory. The directory's cover features a photo of public art piece "Every Year the Salmon Return." There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. The next regular meeting is Monday, Aug. 14, 4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1.