Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, October 22, 2012 4:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Greenwald, Han, Schneider, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: Dias, Messenger, Rodriguez Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services and Library Director Kim Bui-Burton, Members Present: Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Copeland, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash Ex-Officio Commissioners are non-voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER PRESENTATIONS 1. Presentation by the Arts Council for Monterey County on the Creative Monterey County Action Plan Action: Received presentation from Paulette Lynch, Executive Director, Arts Council for Monterey County. Executive Director Paulette Lynch gave a presentation on improving the quality of life in Monterey County through the arts and the importance of art to the community and its members. She said the Arts Council is working on building participation, identifying needs, and getting art into schools county-wide. She thanked the Commission for all they do and for understanding what is at stake and what we need to do next to promote the arts. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked how Arts Council board members are appointed. Executive Director Lynch said they are appointed by districts and they currently have openings. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton inquired if there were other ways the Commission could be involved. Executive Director Lynch suggested contacting her about sponsoring events and providing information to promote art events. Executive Director Lynch thanked the Commission and staff and presented them with a 2013 calendar from the Arts Council for Monterey County. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. Monday, August 27, 2012 Action: Approved as submitted (4-0-3, Dias, Messenger, Rodriguez absent). 3. Monday, September 24, 2012 Action: Approved as submitted (4-0-3, Dias, Messenger, Rodriguez absent). ***End of Consent Agenda***  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, October 22, 2012 PUBLIC COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report - August and September 2012 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported that the Art in the Adobes event was very successful and that attendance may have been higher than or close to the same as last year. He said the selected art venues did very well and people were excited about the art exhibitions in the historic adobes. It was a major effort by all, especially State Parks and the City, with the City of Monterey contributing 22 paintings. He said Colton Hall Museum received increased interest as a venue. Based on comments, AITA visitors wanted to hear about the history as well as art in the historic buildings. Manager Copeland said staff attended a workshop on “Testing Your Disaster Plan” in September and discussed what would happen if there were a major disaster, how to create a plan for first responders, and to establish partnerships with professional staff of other institutions in response to disasters affecting invaluable collection materials. Manager Copeland also reported that Historic Monterey’s History Fest was very successful with the 1849 California Constitutional reenactment and the Civil War–era encampment and camp life demonstrations on the Lower Presidio Historic Park, including horses and soldiers, townspeople, and cannon and musket demonstrations. He said attendance was estimated between 350-400 on both Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated that the Lower Presidio Historic Park is also a living part of the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation heritage; the Nation held their annual meeting on the Park below the Presidio Museum and said it is as important now as it was in the past. She also said the staff works very well to make sure the land is used appropriately. Commissioner Wojtkowski inquired if the Colton Hall Historic Structure Report had been received. Manager Copeland said he received a digital copy in September and will be receiving a final bound print copy soon. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated the report will be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission first and that staff hopes to bring it to the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission in December. PUBLIC APPEARANCE New Business 5. Receive Report on Fundraising Subcommittee Meeting Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported the subcommittee met on October 5 to review and discuss the donor list from previous music series and discussed proposed sponsorships and sponsorship levels. After discussion, the subcommittee agreed to contact identified individual donors by November 15; and agreed to two sponsorship levels for individuals and organizations. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 22, 2012 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, October 22, 2012 Commissioner Wojtkowski stated that subcommittee members will contact potential donors and if that does not work, then the Commission will send a letter asking for support. He asked the Commission to consider a fourth concert for 2013. 6. Receive Report from Colton Hall Museum Interpretative Planning Subcommittee Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported the subcommittee met on October 5 to review and discuss the interpretive planning process; the 1986 Colton Hall Museum Exhibit Plan and the 2012 Community Foundation for Monterey County grant proposal for Colton Hall Museum Interpretative Plan; and reviewed and discussed the role of the Colton Hall Museum Interpretative Planning Subcommittee. He reported that we will not hear if the grant has been approved until December. If the grant is approved, staff will provide the subcommittee with a project timeframe and activities to assist with the interpretive project. Commissioner Wojtkowski stated the subcommittee also discussed the involvement of Colton Hall stakeholders and that it will be exciting to develop a new exhibit plan – a lot depends on this grant. 7. Selection of Artists in Three Art Shows for Exhibit at Alvarado Gallery, 2013 Action: Continued to a special meeting date, to be determined. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported technical difficulties with the Power Point presentation of the artist’s work and suggested continuing this item to the next meeting. Commissioner Wojtkowski also suggested it might be best to hold it over until we have the all Commissioners in attendance to vote or hold a special meeting for this item. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland said staff will poll Commissioners to confirm a date to hold a special meeting to review and select artists and their work. On a motion by Commissioner Greenwald, seconded by Commissioner Wojtkowski, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved continuing this item to a special meeting date to be determined: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Greenwald, Han, Schneider, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Messenger, Rodriguez COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Wojtkowski said he hopes we keep working on different avenues for young art students to keep increasing and expanding their opportunities. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 22, 2012 3 Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, October 22, 2012 Commissioner Schneider agreed and said we have a good start, but that bussing is a problem. Commissioner Wojtkowski stated we have grant money for busses, but because of the school schedule you have to get a commitment early on. He said six schools planned on attending, four came and they felt it was very rewarding. NEXT MEETING Monday, November 26, 2012 ADJOURNMENT Chair Greenwald adjourned the meeting at 5:06 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland, Manager John Greenwald, Chair Museums, Cultural Arts & Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 22, 2012 4