Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-1998Community Organization SuPport Program Panel Review August 18, 1998 ' Panel Review and Notes Panel members: Lynn Norman, Chair Auburn Arts Commission; Pam Smith, Auburn Arts Commission Member and Director of Auburn Performing Arts Center; Michael Killoren, King County Arts Commission Staff; Linda Sprenger, Citizen at Large I. Review of Process Lynn Norman reviewed the criteria for the community support program. She stated that the funds are from King County Arts Commission to re-grant to local organizations. The guidelines as adopted by the Auburn Arts Commission state: Projects shall be evaluated according to the following criteria: · Artistic merit and quality of the project. · Demonstrated managerial capability of the applicant organization. · Strong community outreach, interest, and enthusiasm for the project. · Public participation with the organization, implementation, and evaluation of the project. · Projects must begin after August 17. Organizations that receive funding through another Auburn Arts Commission program may apply for Community Organization Support. However, this application must be for a separate project which would not otherwise be funded by the Auburn Arts Commission. In the interest of fairness, panelists who have an interest in an organization that is being reviewed will refrain from making comments. Josie Emmons gave an overview of the process of review. Each panelist was given a copy of the application for review. Each panelist was assigned one or two organizations for which he/she was a lead panelist. The responsibility of the lead panelist is to thoroughly review the organization evaluating against Arts Commission review criteria. Discussion by the entire panel will follow after the presentation by the lead panelist. Representatives from the organization will then be invited to join the panel and answer any questions the panelists may have. After reviewing all the organizations' applications and meeting with organization representatives, the panel will make funding recommendations. These recommendations are then taken to the Arts Commission for final approval. II. Organization Review Organization 1 Auburn Valley Art Association. Michael Killoren, lead The AVA is an organization that supports visual artiSts in the area. They are requesting $1,000 to help bring in artist Maggie Kelly for workshops. Questions included how many members are in the group, how long AVA has existed, and how the grant money would be used. Questions surfaced as to the need for these funds as the budget showed the program was self-sustaining. Representatives for AVA were Laurel Sigmund, membership; Mary Adrian Blanchard, past president/current vice-president; Steve LaPenske, president. The representatives reported that AVA is an artist service organization and has existed for 48 years. The organization is going through a period of re-birth. Currently there are 43-50 members who meet monthly. The workshops, while ambitious, would help stimulate more interest in the groups and would serve Auburn area artists. Panel discussion indicated that the AVA was a worthy organization and had a promising future. Panelists observed they could use assistance in presenting themselves in the application. The application materials were not clear, particularly the budget. Organization 2 It Plays in Peoria Lynn Norman, lead IPIP holds poetry readings, workshops, and other programs to reach out to at- risk youth. IPIP is seeking $1200 to bring Victor Hernandez Cruz for a reading and workshop. The panel had questions about whether Cruz' booking had been confirmed, whether the budget was a projection or the reality, and what other funds had already been confirmed. Paul Nelson represented the organization. He provided an impressive biography of Cruz. Paul Nelson stated that Cruz had been confirmed and that IPIP has received about 2/3 of other necessary grant funds. He clarified the budget, saying the actual income was 30,000 and expenses were 28,000 last year. Administrative salaries were projections. Nelson emphasized the success of the program in reaching out to youth. Organization 3 Puget Sound Musical Theatre Linda Sprenger, lead Puget SoUnd Musical Theatre provides training and opportunities to perform for young people and promotes the development of community musical theater in the area. PSMT produced Rumplestiltskin this summer. Last year's production, Pippin, did not produce enough revenue to cover expenses. PMST requested $1,500 for Rumplestiltskin. They requested the panel to waive the August 17 start date. The panel is aware this date was established by the Commission and that it is not in their ability to waive the date. As an alternative, PSMT stated they would give a library program in Auburn. The cost for the program was $550. The panel's consensus was of confusion about the application. The panelists all applauded the work of PSMT. The application did not supply information, other than a brief sentence, regarding the Auburn Library Program alternative. The panel watched a video clip of Rumplestiltskin. Representatives from the organization ere invited to join the panel. They were: Tom Crews, Business Manager; Jannelle Gibb, Business Manager-in-training; Mary Jean McDonald, Artistic Director. The panel welcomed PSMT representatives and applauded them for their work. They explained to the representatives that it was not within the panel's authority to waive the date. They inquired about the library workshop. Representatives explained to the panel that they had not thought through the workshop in detail. AAC staff had advised the organization to apply for funding for a workshop. Michael Killoren encouraged PSMT to apply to King County for a Special Projects grant. Organization 4 Evergreen City Ballet Pam Smith, lead The Evergreen City Ballet is a professional training ballet academy with a young company. They provide professional dance training and community performances. ECB has recently produced Nutcracker and an original ballet, Journey, choreographed by Wade Walthall. F_CB requests $2000 to pay a coordinator, Alice Yearsley, for its public school outreach program. The panel had questions concerning income for this project or pending grants. Wade Walthall, Artistic Director, represented the organization. He described the public school coordinator's job as coordinating rehearsals, choreography, school appearances, and community appearances. Mr. Walthall addressed the challenge of educating the community to understand that ECB is not an average dance school. It is a professional training academy with a company. Mr. Walthall reported that the organization has received grants from Seattle Foundation and the Washington and King County Arts Commissions. ECB hopes to produce Journey and the second act of Giselle in the future. Organization 5 Auburn Symphony Association Michael Killoren, lead The Auburn Symphony is a professional orchestra that presents concerts of orchestral music in the area. ASA is requesting $3,000 for the Northwest Artists' Initiative, which would pay for featured soloists. This organization gave its first pair of concerts in February 1997. Two subsequent pairs of concerts have been held in conjunction with the BRAVO! Series. The organization has unparalleled artistic credentials. Its administrative record is developing. A staff person hired to manage the organization is no longer with ASO due to the organization's financial limitations. Josie Emmons stated that the ASA is already receiving money from the Auburn Arts Commission for the BRAVO! Series. The ASA cannot receive funds twice for the same projects, so they need to clarify how the NW Artist Initiative would be different. Lee Valenta, Board President, represented the organization. He stated these artist outreach programs. The funds would be used for more than just paying the soloists. The funds would enable the artists to perform in schools and Other locations, which would develop new audiences. Organization 6 Uniquely Auburn Lynn Norman, lead Uniquely Auburn is applying under the umbrella of Trillium Employment Services. Uniquely Auburn is seeking $1,000 to pay for storyteller Kathi Lightstone at Celebration of the Arts in Auburn, this year's Uniquely Auburn theme. The panel watched a video of Lightstone. The question was about raised the distinction of human services versus performances. Because the event celebrated the arts, the panel felt that the request fulfilled the purpose of the Arts Commission. Questions also were presented as to the number of people who attend the event. Janice Nelson represented the organization. She explained that Lightstone would serve as a narrator weaving together stories at the event. A committee would decide who would be interviewed for the stories. She hoped that the event would also include displays of visual art as well as other people who could provide information about the arts. III. Funding Recommendations Panelists reviewed each individual application on a scale of l to V. Consensus was that ECB and the Auburn Symphony tied for support based upon the fact that these are cornerstone arts organizations within the community. Panelists strongly suggested technical support for all the organizations regarding the grant writing process. Panelists gave It Plays in Peoria the second place due to the fact that the organization is bringing the literary arts to Auburn and that they are requesting funds for an internationally recognized, award winning author to work with the youth of the community. Uniquely Auburn received third place. Uniquely Auburn serves the community through grass-roots arts efforts and overall promotes the arts in Auburn. The Auburn Valley Art Association received forth place. Panelists felt the proposal could have been stronger and encouraged staff to give the organization technical assistance regarding budget development. Panelists stated that some support of the organization was necessary. Puget Sound Musical Theatre, regrettably, was not recommended for funding. The panel felt their proposal was not well developed. Technical assistance to this organization was strongly encouraged. It was agreed by Michael Killoren and Josie Emmons that they would work with the organization on grant writing skills and assist the organization to apply to the county for a Special Projects grant. Out of the $6,000 allocated by the county to the City of Auburn, the panel agreed to recommend the following to the Auburn Arts Commission: $2,000 Evergreen City Ballet ._~;2¢ ~.'¢' Auburn Symphony Association $1,000 It Plays in Peoria Productions $750 Uniquely Auburn $250 Auburn Valley Art Association