Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2003Auburn Arts Commission Monday, January 13, 2003 MINUTES Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Chair Anne Baunach, Paul Dodsworth, Bonnie Egbert, Steve LePenske, Lynn Norman, Barbie Sharrard, John Stanphill, Pam Smith, Gertie Sprenger Commissioners absent: Kristen Brock and Don Gardner (both excused) Staff present: Susan Gochoel, cultural programs manager, Lori Patrick, cultural programs specialist Visitor: Bobby Medina Chair Anne Baunach called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m. I. Introductions and approval of minutes Chair Baunach introduced Bobby Medina, who thanked the commission for presenting Bobby Medina and The Red Hot Band's holiday show as part of the BRAVO! series. Baunach thanked Commissioner Pam Smith for her year of dedicated leadership as chair of the commission in 2002. Due to a lack of a quorum at the December meeting, Baunach called for a motion to approve the November minutes. Smith moved the November minutes be approved as mailed. Commissioner Gertie Sprenger seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Commissioner Herman Ansingh moved that the December minutes be approved as mailed. Commissioner Paul Dodsworth seconded the motion, requesting that the minutes be amended to reflect that Commissioner Sprenger served on the commission's committee to nominate a vice chair. MOTION APPROVED Il. Recommendation for Vice Chair Outgoing Chair Smith said the commission's nomination committee recommends Commissioner Bonnie Egbert as vice chair of the commission in 2003. Egbert accepted the nomination. Commissioner Steve LePenske moved that Egbert serve a one-year term as vice chair. Commissioner Barbie Sharrard seconded the motion. (over) MOTION APPROVED I Arts Commission January 2003 Minutes Cultural Programs Manager Susan Gochoel said commission reappointments have not been formalized pending approval of background checks. The background checks are a new requirement, instituted by human resources, for all City board and commission members. III. Review and Evaluation of Commission Programs and Goals Goc.hoel reporte, d .on the progress of various commission programs and goals discussed at previous comrmss;on retreats. Visual arts exhibitions Despite the Parks and Recreation Department's move to Les Gove Park, the focus remains d~)wntown in the City Hall Gallery. Work by artist's featured in the gallery is also hung in the Sound Transit Station display case. Ansingh moved that the commission meet at the Parks and Recreation administration building for its regular meeting in February. Egbert seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Note: Staffwas unable to schedule regular commission meetings at the Parks and Recreation building. Meeting rooms are booked with evening classes and programs. Performing Arts - Gochoel noted that the Kent Arts Commission has started a performance series for kids. Auburn's BRAVO! Kids series, in its fourth season, has been an enormous success. The series of low-cost entertainment acts a marketing tool, which introduces families to the main stage BRAVO! performances. The $5 ticket has attracted an audience that otherwise may not attend performances, Gochoel said. Gochoel reported BRAVO! revenue was $5,000 above projections in fiscal year 2002. Attendance is up, but subscriptions are down. In step with industry trends, arts patrons are buying single tickets, which means marketing efforts are targeted to individual performances. A King County cultural education grant has successfully developed a link between BRAVO! performances and arts education in the schools. Ballet Folkorico Mexico, part of the BRAVO! season, will present a school show for all district third graders at the Auburn Performing Arts Center, 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 7. Gochoel invited commissioners to help with seating students as they arrive beginning at 9:15 a.m. Collaborations with the Auburn Library to bring "Dances ~th Wolves author Michael Blake and Green River Community College to present poet Sherman Alexie have helped broaden audience and awareness of the commission. Shades of Summer concerts continue to offer diverse programming. (more) Arts Commission January 2003 Minutes Art in Public Spaces - The commission receives $30,000 each year in real estate excise taxes from the City to fund public art projects. Last year's 17th and M Street project is on hold pending the outcome of the City's marketing/gateway project. Commissioner Lynn Norman stressed the importance of advocate for public art dollars. Gochoel said the commission needs to update its public art brochure, several projects have been completed since it was published a few years ago. Commissioner LePenske agreed to photograph the collection, particularly the new pieces. Gochoel said the wood relief piece "Game Farm Park" by artist Jody Isaacson, part of the commission's public art collection, was removed from the City Hall lobby to accommodate a redesign of the wall space. The cormmission will need to consider a new home for the piece. Community Organization Support - The King County Arts Commission awarded the commission $12,000 in sustained support in 2002 for re-granting to local aris agencies. The Cultural Development Authority (CDA) of King County, formally the King County Arts Commission, intends to leave its grants in place this year but is expected to re-evaluate its granting programs. It's uncertain how much CDA will allocate in sustained support this year, Gochoel said. Commissioner Norman said to continue its commitment to local arts organizations, the commission should consider starting a fund to supplement or match sustained support dollars. Technical Assistance - The commission continues to collaborate with King County to present grant workshops for arts organizations twice a year. The commission also continues to assists the Auburn Symphony Orchestra with marketing efforts. Community Festivals - Although they are staff intensive, festivals, such as the City's annual Fourth of July Festival, arc a big success and an important element of community outreach. IV. Update Artspace and Public Art · City officials are expected to meet with representatives from Artspace, a non-profit development agency of artist live-work space, in the coming weeks, Gochoel said. Mayor Pete Lewis has indicated that he wants to gauge community support before considering a feasibility study. Artist Paul Sorey's public art proposal linking downtown's Main Street and the Sound Transit Station is still on hold while he works with City and Sound Transit officials on ADA requirements. · Work to touch up the wall mural at the B Street Plaza is complete. (over) I I Arts Commission January 2003 Minutes In honor of her 90th birthday, Commissioner Sprenger announced the Seattle Opera will host a staffdress rehearsal of "Fidelio" and a party May 1 at the Mercer Arts Arena. The opera dedicated its production of "Fidelio" to Sprenger, a liftetime board member of Seattle Opera. Commissioners agreed to table a discussion of BRAVO! audience surveys to the February meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. The next regular meeting is Monday, Feb. 10, 4:30 p.m. in the meeting room at the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, 108 S. Division St., Suite B.