HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-2004
City of Auburn Arts Commission
Monday, December 13,2004
MINUTES
Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Chair Anne Baunach, Kristen Brock,
Nancy Colson, Vice Chair Bonnie Egbert, Linda Elliott, Amanda Flanery, Pat Gallagher,
Don Gardner, Steve LePenske, Barbie Sharrard
Commissioners absent: Pam Smith (excused)
Commission chair Anne Baunach called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The
commission thanked Bauncah for her leadership as chair for the past two years.
I. Introductions and approval of minutes
Commissioner Steve LePenske moved the November minutes be approved as submitted.
Commissioner Barbie Sharrard seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
II. Cultural Programs Division Update
Lori Patrick announced her promotion to cultural programs manager and reported the
vacant cultural programs coordinator position remains in the city's budget.
III. BRAVO! performance updates and planning for
2005-2006 season
Patrick distributed the results of audience surveys from recent performances. She
reported the Dances of China performance, Nov. 19 was well received with a house count
of 755. The group also performed a school show for high-school students in the morning.
The 133rd Army Band's "A Red, White and Blue Christmas," Dec. 5, had a house count
of 630, despite the fact that staff distributed more than a 1,000 tickets to the free
performance in advance. The Army Band also decided to open its morning concert,
originally scheduled as a private event, to the public. BRAVO! volunteers were on hand
to help. The concert was a hit, and commissioners discussed bringing the Army Band
back next year for a holiday concert possibly in conjunction with a food drive. Juggling
act Brothers from Different Mothers opened the BRAVO! Kids series, Dec. 11. Due to a
scheduling snafu, the jugglers weren't able to take the stage until 2:30 p.m., 30 minutes
late. To remedy this, staff hired opening act magician Louie Foxx, and the performance
went off without a hitch. The house count was 210.
Patrick said 2005-2006 season performances include Imago' Biglittlethings, Jan. 20,
2006. The group presented the popular family show, Frogz, on the series a few years
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City of Auburn Arts Commission
December 2004 minutes, Page 2
ago. She is talking with Harlem Gospel Choir and working with the Auburn
Symphony and Seattle Opera on dates. Commissioner Bonnie Egbert suggested
children's performers, including a theater group from Central Washington University.
IV. King County Performance Network Site Specific Performances
Patrick reported The King County Performance Network will feature performances in
2005 at non-traditional sites or unexpected locations, such as transit stations, street
corners, shopping malls and parks. 4Culture will accept collaborative applications from
local arts agencies and artists for site-specific performances taking place in September
and October 2005. Awards will range from $2,500 to $10,000. Matching funds are
encouraged. The application deadline is Jan. 31. Patrick discussed some selected artist
applications for the county's new site-specific network: Christian Swenson's "Human
Jazz" - could involve collaborating with other cities with Sound Transit Sounder service
(i.e. Kent, Tukwila) to put singers on the train and in Sound Transit stations/parking
garages during the evening rush-hour commute; a performance of Kristen Tsiatsios'
Consume at the SuperMall of the Great Northwest's annual Magical Night of Giving;
Spectrum Dance Theatre's A Midsummer Night's Dream at an Auburn Park and the Pony
Boy All Star Big Band performance in a pumpkin patch. Commissioners expressed
strong interest in participating in the site-specific network and reviewed a notebook of
selected artist applications compiled by 4Culture.
V. Public Art
Patrick distributed a draft of the commission's public art recommendations for
2005-2006. Top projects are Auburn Way South and F St. SE in 2005 and the planned M
Street grade separation in 2006. Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber will present
the commission's recommendations to the City Council's Planning and Community
Development Committee next month.
Patrick reported Sydney Genette's exterior lighting and interior lighting installation were
dedicated at the Auburn Justice Center building dedication, Nov. 12, where
Councilmember Lynn Norman spoke about Genette's contributions to the building and
the city's public art program.
Commissioners discussed the need to update the city's public art brochure. Patrick said
preliminary work has begun in the parks department to design a public art and trails
brochure.
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City of Auburn Arts Commission
December 2004 minutes, Page 3
VI. Other business
· The commission retreat was set for Jan. 10 with a roundtable discussion
about the formation of a parks and recreation foundation and how cultural
programs fit in. Nicole Karwhite, parks department special programs and
marketing manager, will discuss Auburn's plans for a foundation. Staff
hopes to recruit a representative from Kent, which recently formed a parks
foundation. The meeting will start earlier, at 4 p.m., and will be at either
the senior center or parks and recreation building.
· The Washington State Arts Alliance's annual Arts Day is set for Feb. 15 in
Olympia. Patrick has agreed to serve as the South King County Legislative
chair.
· The South King County Cultural Coalition meets next, 12:30 to 2 p.m.,
Jan. 12 at Kent Memorial Park Commons. The featured speaker is
Gretchen Johnston, executive director of the Washington State Arts
Alliance. She will speak about arts advocacy.
· Patrick reported that she met with a representative from Epic Events
Promotion to discuss the possibility of a movie in conjunction with a
summer concert at Game Farm Park. Comcast would sponsor the outdoor
cmema.
· Fourteen student musicians have signed up to audition, Dec. 14, for a
chance to perform with the Auburn Symphony Orchestra at its upcoming
concerts. A photographer from the King County Journal plans to
photograph the auditions.
· Commissioner Nancy Colson reported the Auburn Symphony Orchestra
recently received an $80,000 grant from the King County Council. The
symphony plans to use the grant to payoff debt and launch a fund-raising
campaign.
There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m. The next meeting is
4 p.m., Monday, January 10. Location to be announced. Please note chane:e in time
and location.