Arts Commission

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Arts Commission Contact: Stephanie Johnson 360.709.2678 Thursday, November 13, 2014 6:00 PM Room 112 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 8 - Chair Trent Hart, Commissioner Diana Fairbanks, Commissioner Stacy Hicks, Commissioner Ron Hinton, Commissioner Marygrace Jennings, Commissioner Katie Nelson, Commissioner Michael Olson, and Commissioner Rick Perry Absent: 1 - Commissioner Danielle Westbrook 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Hart asked if there were changes to the agenda. Hearing none, the agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 14-1089 Approval of October 9, 2014 Arts Commission Minutes Chair Hart asked if there were changes to the minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) Vice Chair Kris Tucker informed the Commission about a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for a grant from ArtPlace America recently sent by the City. If invited to submit a grant, the request would be for $300,000 for pre-development costs to create artist live/work housing in Olympia. She was encouraged by the submission for 2 reasons: 1) The submission reflects City support in the project, which is important to the project's success. 2) Only 4-5% of applications are funded, and it's not uncommon to submit several times. Even if not funded, this submission gets our feet wet and sets us up for better submissions in the future. Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Paul Simmons spoke to the LOI as a way to show City support for the project and provide a way to partner with OAA. There is no required match for the funds, and the timing of the grant cycle fits well with OAA's pre-development schedule. City of Olympia Page 1 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2014 Ms. Tucker also shared with the Commission that, by the end of the year, several Councilmembers plan to request that $50,000 from the Municipal Art Fund go to OAA to assist with pre-development costs for artist live/work housing in Olympia. She noted OAA just received a JPMorgan Chase Foundation grant for $50,000 that will help fund expertise needed to analyze potential sites, begin financial planning, hone in on the market study, and begin to identify community and City support. That work will be done by September, 2015. Additional funds will be needed for the next predevelopment phase, to include architecture, engineering and mitigation, and to launch the capital campaign. Commissioners noted they were working on the Municipal Art Plan and wished to place the request in the context of the plan. Chair Hart noted he would call Councilmember Selby the following day. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioners shared information on past and upcoming arts events. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 14-0982 Nominating Committee for 2015 OAC Officers Commissioner Hinton shared he would like to change the title "Co-Chair" to "Vice-Chair," as it better reflects the assigned duties of the position. Commissioner Jennings noted the change should come before nominations next month so that potential officers are appointed to the correct position. The decision was postponed and referred to the Arts Commission due back on 12/11/2014. 7. REPORTS 14-1090 Commission Items 1.1 Survey of Economic Value of Olympia's Music Industry - Complete 1.9 Define Theater District 1.13 Comprehensive and Action Plan Update - Ms. Johnson shared checklists and criteria for the performance measures in the Action Plan. She shared again the index of arts venues and businesses she recommended for the index as well as the list of arts organizations and creative industry businesses self-identified through the Olympia Artspace Alliance market study. Commissioner Nelson suggested a separate meeting to pull together one list from the two sources and develop a strategy for keeping it updated. Commissioners Jennings, Nelson, and Ms. Johnson will meet before the next meeting. 1.14 Commission Retreat/Work Session - Complete 2.c Public Art Assessment - Complete The report was received. City of Olympia Page 2 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2014 14-1091 Community Events & Outreach Committee Report 1.3 Community Art Process Review 1.4 Artspace/Arts Center Support 1.6 Guidelines for Temporary Display of Art at City Hall/1.15 Community Arts Roundtable 1.8 Music Out Loud - Chair Hart shared he attended a meeting on October 10 with staff from Police, Fire, Transportation and Community Planning to discuss sites and safety concerns for street performances associated with the project. The location on 4th Avenue outside the Spar has been taken off the list due to lack of space and the inability to close the street should participation warrant it. Chair Hart, Commissioners Olson and Westbrook will meet before December 9 to shape the staff report for the December 16 General Government Committee meeting. 1.11 Studio Tour 1.12 Music in Neighborhood Parks 2.a Arts Walk 48 & 49 - Commissioner Perry noted there were 18 applicants for the cover competition, the jury is Thursday, November 20, 2-5 p.m. and Commissioners and the public are invited to attend. He also noted the upcoming Spring Arts Walk is number 50 and that CEO discussed some ways to celebrate. Commissioners also pitched some ideas, and are invited to forward more to staff or members of CEO, who will take it up at their January meeting. 2.b Art Ambassador Program - Complete 2.d Arts Day at the Capitol - Complete 2.g Area Arts Promotion The report was received. 14-1092 Art in Public Places Committee Report 1.2 Municipal Art Plan to City Council - Commissioners were presented with the draft plan as prepared by Commissioners Hicks and Jennings. Members were asked to comment and contribute to the draft and return comments to the writing team. 1.5 Utility Box Mural Project - Ms. Johnson shared the Call for Art and noted she and Commissioner Perry met with Communications Manager Cathie Butler and Downtown Code Enforcement Officer Brian Wilson to merge forces on the downtown boxes. They were looking at the boxes for pedestrian wayfinding and have funds to cover ten, which will include a downtown map on the sidewalk side. This leaves the Commission free to fund ten boxes on the Westside. Ms. Butler asked that the Commission take the project to the December 16 General Government Committee meeting. 1.7 City Hall 1% for Public Art - Chair Hart shared that Council returned the referral to the Arts Commission for a more detailed description of how the funds would be spent: what specific projects the funds would go to. Commissioners discussed various options and will return to the December 11 meeting to make a recommendation that will move forward with the Municipal Art Plan. 1.10 City Entry Signs 2.e Percival Plinth Peoples' Choice award - Ms. Johnson will send a sketch of the Priest Point Park Rose Garden redesign to APP for discussion at their December City of Olympia Page 3 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2014 meeting for consideration for siting "Rain Forest Dream," following its display at City Hall. 2.f Public Art Projects - Chair Hart noted the Public Works Tribute figures are ready to move into a new venue. Commissioners will make a recommendation at their next APP meeting. Staff will research armature and fabrication of display cases. The report was received. 8. OTHER TOPICS - None 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m. City of Olympia Page 4