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Home My WebLink About11-05-2013 (2)City of Auburn Arts Commission, City Hall Annex, One Main, Conference Room 2 Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Meeting Minutes Present: Nancy Colson, Nickole Evans -Buck, Patricia Judd, DeNae McGee, Dan Norman Ronie Schwend, Laura Westergard, Greg Watson, Arts Coordinator Maija McKnight, Council Liaison Rich Wagner Excused: Cary Davidson, Colleen Maloney, Leslie Moore Guests: Heather Longhurst I. Call to Order, Approval of Minutes, Introductions and Approval of Minutes: Chair Ronie Schwend called the meeting to order at 5:33 pm. Commissioner Greg Watson moved to approve the September and October 2013 meeting minutes. Commissioner Nickole Evans Buck seconded the motion. All approved. Motion approved. II. Pacific Ballroom Dance Informational Presentation Heather Longhurst, Executive Director, provided an overview of Pacific Ballroom Dance which is the only non - profit ballroom dance studio in the Pacific Northwest and located near the Outlet Connection in Auburn. Pacific Ballroom Dance's mission is to build character in youth by providing a positive ballroom dance experience and recognize central values of Excellence, Leadership, Inclusiveness, Teamwork, Fitness, Dedication, and Respect Pacific Ballroom Dance has three main programs including Performing Company, Academy and Dancing Classrooms. • The Performing Company includes students, grades 4 through 12, who are selected and placed on one of five teams according to varying ages and ability, guided by professional teaching artists. Students learn choreographed "formation" ballroom pieces involving up to 10 couples per selection. Teams perform at venues throughout Western Washington for charity events, festivals, and service clubs. The Company produces more than 20 pieces of choreography each year. • Through the Academy, students of all ages and skill levels receive professionally - guided ballroom dance instruction one day per week for 1 -1 1/2 hours, over 9 months. Emphasis is on self - discipline, excellence, and most importantly -- always doing your best. Instruction is based on a "syllabus" or multi -level achievement standard, sanctioned by the two ballroom dance governing bodies in the United States. • Dancing Classrooms is a program that brings the joy of ballroom dance to 5th and 8th grade students in the Greater Seattle area. Students in a participating school receive 10 weeks of classes, two times per week for 45 minutes. Students learn six dances over the course of the residency, including: Merengue, Foxtrot, Tango, Waltz, Swing, and Rumba. Each school hosts a culminating performance at the end of each session. At the end of the school year, competition between participating schools occurs at our Colors of the Rainbow Team Match. Interschool competition is fierce yet good- humored, and every school goes home with a trophy. Commissioner Nickole Evans Buck asked if Auburn schools participate in Dancing Classrooms and how much it costs. Heather Longhurst noted that the Dancing Classrooms program is currently in three Auburn schools and hope to serve 5 Auburn schools next year. The cost per 10 week program is $3,000 of which the school is responsible for half ($1,500) and Pacific Ballroom Dance fundraises and applies for grants to cover the costs of the remaining $1500. Commission discussion continued and thanked Heather for her attendance and presentation. III. Commission Membership a. Vice Chair Nominations Chair Ronie Schwend called for nominations for the Vice Chair position for 2014. Staff McKnight noted that Colleen Maloney would step into the Chair position and this nomination would be Chair in 2015. Ronie Schwend nominated Greg Watson for the position of Vice Chair in 2014. No other nominations were brought forward. The final vote will occur at the December meeting that will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. b. Outgoing Membership and Vacancies Three commissioners will be finishing their term limits and stepping off the commission at the end of this calendar year. Cary Davidson, Patricia Judd and Leslie Moore's service has been greatly valued and appreciated for the past six years that they have served. Their input and expertise will be greatly missed and it was noted that commissioners are able to re -apply the following year if they so choose. There will be four vacancies (out of 12 total positions) that will be filled by the Mayor's office in 2014. Staff noted that she would email the application package to all commissioners and interested individuals should submit the information through the Mayor's office. IV. Visual Art Committee Report Staff provided a summary of the Gallery program for 2014. Applications were lower than average for this year and the Visual Arts Committee is working to ensure a dynamic schedule of exhibits and encourage the quality of art within both exhibit spaces. The Visual Art Committee has also been working with staff for the art classes and workshop schedule. Upcoming on Saturday, November 16 the City is partnering with Green River Community College and co- hosting a workshop featuring the Icelandic visiting Fulbright Scholar Sossa. This workshop will focus on Printmaking and be from 9 — 3 pm at the Green River campus. She is also presenting about her own artwork at an upcoming Auburn Valley Creative Arts meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 6:45 pm in which commissioners are invited to attend. V. Downtown Sculpture Gallery Staff McKnight noted that all six of the outdoor sculptures were installed during the first and second week of October. Each pedestal also includes the artwork and artist information as well as a QR code that directs individuals' smart phones to StQry, a mobile public art tour application. This technology tool is being used throughout King County and includes information about all the artwork in Auburn's public art collection. Staff also noted some slight revisions to the voting system online. Paper ballots will submitted through the Clerks office in City Hall, and online voting is done with the user's selection and a zip code entry. There will be a springtime Downtown Sculpture Gallery walking tour, potentially to be scheduled in coordination with the May Art Walk. Council member Rich Wagner inquired on the results of the 2013 People's Choice award. Staff reported that a contract to purchase Lin McJunkin's artwork "Riparian Totem" has been signed and that installation is expected late 2013 or early 2014 in a location in proximity to the Police Station. Council member Wagner inquired to the cost of the artwork, which is $8000. VI. Updates /Upcoming Events • Tuesday December 3, 5:00 pm will be the Arts Commission Meeting and Holiday Party. Chair Ronie Schwend has graciously offered to host this party at her home located at 29821 108th Ave SE • Sunday, December 8, 2 pm Red, White and Blue Holiday Concert at the Auburn PAC will be held. Tickets are free and commissioners that seek to attend should pick up their tickets as soon as possible, as it is expected that all tickets will be distributed very soon. • Monday, December 9 at 5 pm is the Arts Commission's annual meeting with the Planning and Community Development Committee (PCDC) that will be held in One Main, City Hall Annex, Conference Room 2. Staff will be preparing a PowerPoint overview, but commissioner attendance is requested. • Auburn Valley Creative Arts will be hosting a holiday bazaar at their gallery location on November 29 from 10 am — 4 pm • Commissioner Evans -Buck shared that Uniquely Auburn board has decided that the event will not occur this January. She noted that when the program was originally conceived, the availability of quality cultural programs was limited. Arts and culture opportunities are now plentiful in Auburn and at this time the Uniquely Auburn board has decided not to coordinate an event. • Commissioner Laura Westergard shared that the downtown Agrishop /Ace Hardware would be offering a "Ladies Night" Thursday, December 5 from 6 — 8;30 pm and asked if any volunteers would be available to distribute and share BRAVO upcoming events and programs. Commissioners Ronie Schwend and Nickole Evans -Buck volunteered and staff noted that all promotional materials would be prepared and delivered. • Monday, December 9 the application for the 4Culture Re -grant is due to the Parks, Arts and Recreation offices. The grants will be compiled and reviewed at the January commission meeting. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm Respectfully submitted, Maija McKnight