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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-2005 City of Auburn Arts Commission ~onday,Januaryl0,200S MINUTES Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Arme Baunach, Kristen Brock, Nancy Colson, Chair Bonnie Egbert, Linda Elliott, Pat Gallagher, Don Gardner, Steve LePenske, Barbie Sharrard, Pam Smith Commissioners absent: Amanda Flanery (excused) Staff present: Lori Patrick, Cultural Arts Manager; Daryl Faber, Parks and Recreation Director; and Nicole Karwhite, Recreation Special Programs and Marketing Supervisor I. Introductions and approval of minutes Commissioner Barbie Sharrard moved that the December minutes be approved as submitted. Commissioner Herman Ansingh seconded the motion. ~OTlON APPROVED II. Retreat presentation: Parks and Recreation Foundation Roundtable Daryl Faber, Parks and Recreation Director, and Nicole Karwhite, Recreation Special Programs and Marketing Supervisor updated the commission on the department's plans to form a foundation. Mr. Faber explained a foundation would help the parks department grow its programs without additional City money. It will also allow the department to apply for grants and outside money previously available only to organizations with SOl-c-3 tax status. Many organizations will not donate to city government, but will make donations to a foundation with a SOl-c-3 tax status, Faber explained. Interesting statistics show that foundations receive 60 percent of donations from individual donors and 40 percent trom corporations. After creating some preliminary marketing strategies, the department is now ready to begin organizing the foundation, which would benefit cultural programs. The two preliminary steps of making the foundation a reality is (1) put together a work plan and (2) identify a steering committee. The department is working in a three -to-six month time frame in which to apply and have approval, Faber said. At present, staff is recruiting interested individuals to serve on the foundation's steering committee. Ms. Karwhite asked commissioners to let staff know if they would like to participate on the steering committee or if they have interest in the foundation board. Staff is drawing up a priority list of department amenities or needs that could benefit from foundation dollars. This list will evolve as projects are funded. Funded projects could range from field turf to summer concerts. Money received for specific projects or programs would become line items in the budget, Faber explained. Another advantage to forming a foundation is other community organizations could umbrella under the parks foundation when applying for grants, he said. The department now has a policy allowing it to solicit and accept corporate sponsorships for events and programs such as the summer concerts. For instance, Comcast will sponsor an outdoor cinema in conjunction with a concert this summer. By securing sponsors for events such as Kids Day and the Fourth of July Festival, the department will defray some of the costs associated with the events. The sponsors also benefit by having their name out there before a ready audience, Karwhite said. III. BRAVO! Update and 05/06 Season Planning Lori Patrick, Cultural Arts Manager, distributed the results of recent audience survey for Seattle Opera's BRAVO! performance, Nov. 5. Revenue for FY2004 was $79,000 from ticket sales and grants; FY2003 was $83,000, which included a popular performance by Peking Acrobats. This year, the BRAVO! series featured a free concert by the Army Band, which contributed to the small revenue dip, and King County discontinued its cultural arts education grant. The next BRAVO! performance is "Stand by Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story," Jan. 31. Ms Patrick reported ticket sales are slow on the heels of the holidays, but expected to pick up with a series of radio spots on country music station KMPS and newspaper ads in the King County Journal and the Auburn Reporter. BRAVO! Kids will feature Tears of Joy Theatre's puppet play, "Ride the Red Mare," Jan. 22. Staff continues to work on booking the 2005-2006 BRAVO! season. The Auburn Symphony has confirmed performances on Oct. IS and l6 and Feb. l8 and 19. Other possibilities acts include Moscow Circus and Harlem Gospel Choir. The Evergreen City Ballet submitted a written proposal for consideration of its full-length ballet Giselle on the 2005-2006 BRA YO! season. Commissioners considered the proposal, noting the City presented Giselle on the BRA YO! series in 200l. Citing budget constraints, the commission agreed to revisit the ballet's proposal at a future meeting. Ms. Patrick reported she continues to book acts for the Shades of Summer performances and hopes to secure a Com cast Outdoor Cinema in conjunction with one of the concerts. Comcast would sponsor the outdoor cinema. Green River Community College has also expressed interest in hosting another concert at its commons as part of the summer concert series. IV. 2005 Sub-Committees Ms. Patrick verified commissioners serving on the various sub-committees were interested in continuing. V. Other Business Auburn Symphony news A recent article in the King County Journal featuring the symphony was distributed. Ms. Patrick reported thirteen high-school students recently auditioned with Auburn Symphony Conductor Stewart Kershaw. He selected six students to perform on upcoming Auburn Symphony programs. Public art The commission's recommendations for potential public art sites/projects in 2005 and 2006 will go before the Plarming and Community Development Committee tonight. Arts coordinator position Ms. Patrick reported Human Resources is evaluating the position. It's City policy to analyze vacant positions. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. The next meeting is 4:30 p.m., ~onday, Feb. 14, in the City Council Conference Room at City Hall, 25 West Main St.