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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2004Auburn Arts Commission Monday, April 12, 2004 MINUTES Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Chair Anne Baunach, Nancy Colson, Bonnie Egbert, Don Gardner, Steve LePenske, Barbie Sharrard Commissioners absent: Kristen Brock, Paul Dodsworth, Para Smith (all excused) Staff present: Susan Gochoel, cultural programs manager, Lori Patrick, cultural programs coordinator Visitors: Anne Derieux, Evergreen City Ballet Development Director; Dave Ellison, Evergreen City Ballet Board President, Darrelynn Hallowell, Evergreen City Ballet Managing Director Chair Anne Baunach called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. I. Introductions and approval of March minutes Commissoner Barbie Sharrard moved that the March minutes be approved as submitted. Commissioner Herman Ansingh seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Baunach welcomed Evergreen City Ballet (ECB) visitors: Anne Derieux, Dave Ellison and Darrelynn Hallowell. II. Conclusion of 03/04 BRAVO! season and upcoming 04/05 season Cultural Programs Manager Susan Gochoel said the 03/04 BRAVO! season will close on April 24 with a BRAVO! Kids performance by Thistle Theatre and an "Evening of Broadway Show Tunes" by Woodinville Repertory Theatre. She reported ticket sales revenue is the highest in BRAVO's history at $72,000. Gochoel distributed the proposed 04/05 BRAVO! season schedule, requesting that the commission consider a performance of"Sleeping Beauty" by the Evergreen City Ballet in April 2005. Gochoel said the BRAVO! budget allows for a $10,000 performance fee and up to $3,500 in technical costs. She attended ECB's board meeting last week and learned that the $10,000 performance fee would not include a live orchestra, but ECB could still perform with recorded music. Commissioners inquired about grant funding to cover the costs of an orchestra and briefly discussed how it would cross market a BRAVO! performance without live music. The ballet's five other self-presented performances of "Sleeping Beauty" would include a live orchestra. Commissioners Ansingh, Don Gardner and Bonnie Egbert said they preferred live music, in keeping with the consensus the commission came to at the March meeting when it discussed the proposed performance of"Sleeping Beauty" as presented by Ellison. Gardner asked what the orchestra' s fee for one performance would be. ECB staff said (more) Auburn Arts Commission April 2004 minutes, Page 2 to date they had only a verbal budget agreement with the orchestra and did not know the orchestra's fee for a single performance but estimated the additional $5,000 in fee they were seeking would cover the orchestra's cost. Commissioner Steve LePenske said without additional funds for the orchestra, there aren't any other options. "We want to support it, but we can't support it beyond the funds available to us, "LePenske said. Gochoel said the ballet approached her late in the booking season when she had already confirmed seven BRAVO! performances and was left with a fixed amount in the BRAVO! budget. She added the commission, in conjunction with the Auburn School District, submitted an arts education consortium grant to the Washington State Arts Commission, which includes funding a school performance of"Sleeping Beauty." Gochoel said she should know whether WSAC will award grant funding at the end of May. iii. Public Art Program Gochoel reported the artist contract for the Lakeland Hills public art piece by Brandon Zebold is complete and the City has entered into an agreement with the Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association to place the piece, a flame-cut steel sphere, on its property at the southwest corner of Lakeland Hills Way and Evergreen Way. The piece is scheduled for installation in August. As a result of a joint meeting, March 2, of the arts commission's public art committee and the city council's planning and community development committee (PCDC), the arts commission was charged with developing a 5 to 6-year plan for public art. City Councilmember Sue Singer said she would like to see the commission's public art policy included in the city's comprehensive plan. Gochoel suggested the commission revisit its public art policy drafted in 1996. A special meeting of the arts commission to discuss public art is set for Thursday, May 6, 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 1 at City Hall. At the joint meeting between PCDC and the commission, the new public safety building emerged as the site for public art in 2004. Gochoel will meet with the building's developer later this month to discuss how best to incorporate public art into the project. Artspace, a non-profit developer of artist live-work space, was scheduled to conduct a pre-feasibility study with a series of focus groups March 31 and April 1. Those dates have been cancelled and have tentatively been rescheduled to May 24 and 25, Gochoel reported. The King County Cultural Development Authority's presentation on public art to the PCDC is 5 p.m., Monday, April 26 at City Hall. Gochoel also noted the CDA has changed its name to 4Culture and distributed a press release announcing the name change. (more) Auburn Arts Commission April 2004 minutes, Page 3 IV. Wrap-up of 03/04 Artisans in the Schools and grant opportunities The commission's Artisans in the Schools program concluded with a lively all-school performance for 1,000 district fourth graders by Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, March 22. Gochoel reported that 4Culture, formerly known as the CDA, is undergoing major budget cuts and will discontinue funding for arts education projects in 2005. The commission received $8,000 in 2003 and $4,000 in 2004 from 4Culture for its arts education programs. 4Culture will continue to fund its sustained support grant program at previous levels. Gochoel reiterated the commission will get word regarding the WSAC consortium grant to fund arts education projects in late May. A New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) grant come with Flamenco Vivo's BRAVO! performance in October. Through the grant, Flamenco Vivo will host a master class and an all-school performance for students and their families at Gildo Rey Elementary. The class and performance represent $4,500 of the dance company's fee. V. Report on the first South King County Arts, Historic Preservation and Heritage Summit Cultural programs staff and several commissioners attended the summit hosted by King County Councilmember Julia Patterson, March 26 at the Kent Senior Activity Center. Along with representatives from other South County cities and cultural organizations, Mayor Pete Lewis, Auburn City Councilmember and representatives from the ballet and Auburn Symphony were in attendance. At the summit, Patterson frequently referenced Auburn' s cultural offerings, and pointed out that South King County is lagging behind in awareness of its many cultural scene. Representatives from 4Culture and the successful Eastside Arts Coalition were on hand to discuss forming a South King County Cultural Coalition, which could pool resources to market and build programs and to seek grants. Many in attendance volunteered to get the effort off the ground, through pro bono Web design, graphic design and accounting services. Boeing's Dale Smith offered to fund 50 percent of the cost of conducting a South County arts and culture economic impact study. Patterson plans to arrange for a second meeting soon. VI. 2004 Clean Sweep Auburn's annual Clean Sweep is set for Saturday, June 5. Gochoel distributed a list of potential projects for commissioners to review. She added the Mayor has invited participants to take part in a ceremonial sweep of Main Street at 8:15 a.m. before crews report to their work sites. Gochoel will research potential mural projects downtown. (more) Auburn Arts Commission April 2004 minutes, Page 4 VII. Other Business Gochoel reported two seats are open on the arts commission. Commissioner John Stanphill has indicated he will have to resign due to a change in his work schedule at Boeing. He is making contacts at Boeing to identify potential applicants for his vacant seat, Gochoel said. Founding Commissioner Gertie Sprenger is unable to attend meetings regularly. The commission agreed to mark her years of dedicated service by designating Sprenger an honorary lifetime commissioner subject to the Mayor's and council's approval. Gochoel said the city has Amanda Flannery's application on file and will consider her as a top candidate for one of open posts. Cultural Programs Coordinator Lori Patrick said The Thomas Academy is looking for a volunteer to judge a student art contest as part of its annual Shakefest later this month. Patrick distributed the results of recent BRAVO! audience surveys. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. The next regular meeting is 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 10 in the City Council Conference Room at City Hall, 25 West Main St.