HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-2015City of Auburn Arts Commission, City Hall Annex, One Main, Conference Room 1
Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Meeting Minutes
Present: Nancy Colson, Cary Davidson, Charlotte Gollnick, Jan Jensen, Colleen Maloney, DeNae
McGee, Dan Norman, Ronie Schwend, Donna Smart, Greg Watson, Laura Westergard, Council Liaison
Rich Wagner, Arts Coordinator Maija McKnight, Arts and Events Manager Julie Brewer. Excused:
Patricia Judd Guests: Barbara McMichael, SOCO Culture
I. Call to Order, Approval of Minutes, Introductions and Approval of Minutes:
Vice Chair McGee called the meeting to order at 4:37 pm. Commissioner Schwend moved to approve
the August 2015 meeting minutes. Commissioner Gollnick seconded the motion. All approved. Motion
approved.
II. Information Presentation
Barbara McMichael, SOCO Culture Staff (www.sococulture.org) provided an overview upcoming South
King County initiatives and projects. South King County Cultural Coalition, better known as SoCoCulture,
is approximately 70 groups that have joined forces to promote and preserve arts and heritage in the
vibrant communities south of Seattle. SoCo’s key projects include providing advocacy, collaborative
marketing, and professional development opportunities for their members
An upcoming event coordinated by SOCO Culture is the Arts Commissioners Summit. This free event will
be on the evening on February 24, 2016 at the Tukwila Community Center (12424 – 42nd Ave S.) It is an
opportunity for South King County Arts Commissioners to gather, share programming ideas, learn about
outreach efforts, and discuss opportunities for advocacy.
III. Arts Project Support and Regrant
The City of Auburn receives Local Arts Agency Sustained Support Funding through 4Culture, the King
County Cultural Services Agency. The funds are drawn from county Hotel/Motel tax revenues. Each year
the 4Culture Board of Director’s adjusts the grant awards on a “sliding scale,” based on the annual level
of tax revenue received.
In 2016, the City will allocate a portion of the funding received to go towards supporting programs
produced by other community-based arts organizations that serve the citizens of Auburn and/or that raise
the profile of Auburn as an arts and entertainment destination. A grant application to request funding was
distributed and published in August with the deadline of October 19, 2015
Copies of the submitted applications were distributed prior to the meeting and the Commission reviewed
the grant application criteria. Discussion of each applicant and project occurred.
Commissioner Nancy Colson moved that the funding amounts granted to be as follows:
• Auburn Art Walk - $1000
• Auburn International Farmers Market , Performances/artists participate on selected Market days -
$1,000
• Auburn School District, Student Art Show - $500
• Auburn Symphony Orchestra – Family Outreach and Performances - $2,000
• Auburn Valley Creative Arts, New Gallery Location- $2,000
• Dreams Unlimited - $1000
• Evergreen City Ballet - $500
• Green River Community College, Interurban Center for the Arts - $1000
• Pacific Ballroom Dance - $500
• Striped Water Poets, Monthly Poetry Events- $1,860
• White River Valley Museum Small Works, Big Presents: The Gift of Art - $2,000
Commissioner Ronie Schwend seconded the motion. All approved. Motion approved.
Organizations that requested funding but were not funded include Seattle Opera
IV. Nomination of Vice-Chair for 2016
McKnight noted that the voting for the 2016 Vice-Chair would take place at the December 2015 meeting
and asked for nominations of that position. No nominations were put forward and staff noted that
nominations would be called for again at the December meeting and voting to take place to fill this
important role.
McKnight noted that two members of the commission will be stepping down. Commissioner Greg Watson
has served for 6 years, and term is coming to a close an because of term limits ineligible for renewal.
Laura Westergard has served for the past 3 years, and will not be renewing for a second term due to a
job transition. We thank them for their service and hope they will continue to be involved in other ways.
V. Updates and Upcoming Events
McKnight distributed a volunteer sign-up sheet for the BRAVO performing arts series for performances
that occur at the PAC. Every commissioner is encouraged to participate in this major program area of the
Arts division.
PARC Resources, a consulting team has been contracted to create a set of recommendations in relation
to the Auburn Avenue Theater. They will be contacting commissioners as well as interviews with a wide
variety of community members. Additionally, staff will be starting to work on a plan for the purchase of the
Old Post Office (100 Auburn Avenue) to the potential reuse as an arts center.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm
Respectfully submitted, Maija McKnight