The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04-07-2009 City of Auburn Arts Commission Location: Auburn City Hall Room 3 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 Meeting Minutes Commissioners Present: Nancy Colson, Cary Davidson, Linda Elliott, Amanda Flanery, Pat Judd, Leslie Moore, Donna Smart Commissioners Excused: Pat Gallagher, Laurel Siegmund, Debby Deal, Tanya Rottle, Youth Council Liaison Erika Shepherd Staff Present: Laurie Rose, Maija McKnight, Councilman Rich Wagner Guests: David Sader, Auburn Citizen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Call to Order, Approval of Minutes, Introductions Approval of Minutes Chair Nancy Colson called the meeting to order at 4:35 pm. Ms. Colson introduced guest David Sader as a potential new Arts Commission member. Ms. Colson called for approval of the February and March minutes. Commissioner Linda Elliott moved the minutes be approved as submitted. Commissioner Pat Judd seconded the motion. Motion approved. II. Mural Project Update Cultural Arts Manager Laurie Rose reported that the summer mural project developed by the non-profit organization ArtWorks will not occur as previously noted. City staff received an email from ArtWorks Executive Director, Terry Pottmeyer explaining that, due to significant financial hardship, ArtWorks would not be able to honor project commitments at this time. A general discussion followed regarding art in public places, either developed by the City or privately funded. III. Downtown Public Art Plan Visual and Public Arts Coordinator Maija McKnight reported that Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain and the Downtown Redevelopment Committee provided the Public Art Committee an update regarding their planning progress. The Public Art Committee will develop a “Downtown Art Plan” that will be used as internal guidelines that will reference broader goals for public art projects in Auburn, as well as part of the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards. The Planning Dept staff will forward any existing language to the Arts staff regarding public art they may have in their documents, policies, etc. Ms. McKnight distributed a draft outline of sections and topics that could be included within a Downtown Public Art Plan. Councilmember Wagner asked if any further information was available on the Puyallup Outdoor Sculpture Gallery. Ms. Rose confirmed that staff had met with the Chair and a founding member of Puyallup Arts Downtown, who provided staff with information and background on the logistics of Puyallup’s downtown sculpture program. Staff will be writing a memo to distribute at the May Arts Commission meeting providing an overview of the program. Discussion followed regarding the structure of Puyallup’s program and whether a similar program is viable for Auburn’s downtown core. Staff reminded commissioners that the program they see now in Puyallup was at least fifteen-years in the making before it reached its current profile in its community and is managed by a private non-profit agency. Puyallup leaders shared with staff that without a significant “grass roots” initiative lead by citizens-at-large and business owners, and significant numbers of volunteers, this type of public art program is not able to succeed as intended. IV. Budget Reductions: Issues and Options Ms. Rose asked the commissioners to review Arts Commissions’ programming priorities in consideration of the current financial situation. All programs will likely be affected in some way, but there is not a mandate to eliminate any of the arts programs. Ms. Rose encouraged commissioners to consider this a unique opportunity to explore other means by which they can deliver this vital service to the community and offer recommendations that will help the City in its effort to reduce costs. Ms. Rose will develop a proposal and a timeline of the upcoming arts projects to share at the May meeting for commissioner’s review. V. Committee Reports Visual Art Committee: Ms. McKnight reported on behalf of Commissioner Laurel th Siegmund that the Visual Art Committee has been planning the logistics of the July 25, ArtRageous Event. A Call-To- Artist prospectus was distributed and 20 applications submitted. The Committee’s next meeting will be to evaluate these applications and select the artists who will participate in the event. Art Education Committee: CommissionerDonna Smart reported that Governor Christine Gregoire signed the official state proclamation declaring May to be Arts th Education Month in Washington State. Monday, April 27 at the Auburn School Board Meeting a resolution will be adopted to recognize May as Art Education Month in Auburn Schools to demonstrate that Auburn values the arts as part of a complete education for th all students. On Monday, May 4 at the City Council Meeting, Mayor Lewis will make a proclamation recognizing May as Art Education Month in Auburn. Commissioner Smart also noted that along with this recognition, the “Art with Artists” class and workshop series will be announced. The series is once-a-month classes/workshops in which we support local artists, as well as provide unique learning opportunities to the public. The future goals is to have these classes directly relate to artwork that is displayed in the city managed gallery display spaces. Ms. McKnight noted that the Art Education Committee is working with the Green River Community College Interurban Center for the Arts to develop lesson plans regarding the City’s public art collection, which will be included in the instructional material in its Art Docent Program. VI. Other New Business Leslie Moore inquired about the Artists Co-op meeting that occurred on March 10. Linda Elliott attended the meeting and reported that it was a very preliminary meeting exploring ideas and identifying potential opportunities in developing an artists’ co-operative for display/sale of artworks and possibly studio space as well. Commissioner Elliott also reported that she serves as the Auburn Arts Commission’s Sister City representative and has been participating in a number of recent events recognizing Auburn’s Sister City, Tamba, Japan. Representatives from Japan will be visiting Auburn in 2010. Ms. Rose reported that staff met with Auburn Reporter’s Shawn Skager, who has been assigned to cover the arts “scene.” He expressed interest in writing a weekly article focusing on the arts and invited article ideas and press releases to be sent directly to him. So far, two performance previews and one profile of a local painter have been published. March Committee Meeting Date Reminders  Art Education Committee – Tuesday, April 14 at 10 am at Parks, Arts and Recreation  Visual Arts Committee – Wednesday, April 15 at 4 pm at Parks, Arts and Recreation  Public Art Committee – Thursday, April 23 at 5 pm at Parks, Arts and Recreation  Performing Arts Committee - TBD  Next Arts Commission Meeting – Tuesday, May 12 at 4:30 at Auburn City Hall, Room 3 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Laurie Rose