Commission for the Arts
Regular MeetingRoyal Oak, MI · May 20, 2025
Minutes
Minutes
Royal Oak Commission for the Arts Meeting
May 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 122
203 S. Troy Street
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
Present: Jason Gittinger
Melanie Macey
Denise Reske
Alesha Beistline
Laura Bonnell
Jodie Ellison
Absent: Robert Wilson
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm.
2. Public Comment
3. Approval of Agenda
Motion to add a discussion of the Piano Project to the meeting agenda: passed
Moved by: Jodie Ellison
Seconded by: Denise Reske
Motion Adopted
4. Approval of Minutes
Moved by: Jodie Ellison
Seconded by: Laura Bonnell
Motion Adopted
5. New Business
5.a Update on Purchase and Publishing of Arist Laureate Poetry Book
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Roberta Brown is asking the group to look at the contributor bios in case
any changes should be made. She also gave a report on how the poetry
book will be submitted tomorrow to image printing for production.
5.b Civic Foundation Mini Grant
One idea for the group: Special Call for Artists for $2,000 and submit the
timeline to the Civic Foundation; essentially giving artists a certain amount
of space and asking what they could do for $2,000. A potential theme for
the project could be community.
Laura Bonnell: Could make it specifically for college-age students (16-25),
and asking students to send in 1-minute application videos about what
they love about art in Royal Oak. Kind of like an emerging artist laureate
program. Also applicants should have a connection to Royal Oak.
Funding from piano project can also go towards this to commit to matching
the award from the Civic Foundation.
Staff will begin putting together application materials.
Moved by: Denise Reske
Seconded by: Alesha Beistline
Motion to approve of $250 for piano tuner
Motion Adopted
5.c Developing an Arts Plan
Alayna Brasch presented an example of another city's art commission
strategic plan. The group discussed whether this is a direction they want
to go in. The group feels good about creating a plan, but want to ensure
that any plan stay within the CFA's realm.
Susan Barkman: Going about this should happen over the course of a few
meetings.
Staff will email the handout materials to Robert Wilson.
5.d Discussion of Piano Project
Jason Gittinger: Explained that due to the moving company no longer
responding to his correspondence, it makes most sense to pause the
Piano Project.
Because there is still a piano at the Farmer's Market, Jason Gittinger is
still in contact with the piano and will have him still tune that piano.
Staff will prepare a thank you note for everyone to sign at the next meeting
for the piano movers.
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Important to note that discontinuing this project frees up some more
funding for other endeavors.
6. Old Business
7. Subcommittee/Program Reports
8. General Announcements
Commissioner Macey: There's a new ongoing scholarship being started by a
mother of a child who passed at the high school. The scholarship is for students
interested in the arts.
Jason Gittinger: The CFA could promote this scholarship fund annually.
Laura Bonnell: We should promote many of the local arts scholarship options on
city's webiste.
9. Social Media
Staff will talk to the communications director about making a post about the end
of the piano project. Jason Gittinger brought up the idea of in that post asking for
ideas from the community.
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 PM.
Moved by: Alesha Beistline
Seconded by: Melanie Macey
Motion Adopted
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Agenda
Agenda
Royal Oak Commission for the Arts Meeting
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 122
203 S. Troy Street
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
Anyone planning to attend the meeting who has need of special assistance under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) is asked to contact the city clerk’s office at 248-246-3050 at least two (2)
business days prior to the meeting.
Pages
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comment
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes 2
5. New Business
a. Update on Purchase and Publishing of Arist Laureate Poetry Book
b. Civic Foundation Mini Grant 5
Details on Dates:
- Application due by June 23
- Projects selected & funding dispersed by July 25
- Eligible projects must be completed by October 31
c. Developing an Arts Plan
6. Old Business
7. Subcommittee/Program Reports
8. General Announcements
9. Social Media
10. Adjournment
Minutes
Royal Oak Commission for the Arts Meeting
April 21, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 122
203 S. Troy Street
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
Present: Jason Gittinger
Denise Reske
Alesha Beistline
Jodie Ellison
Robert Wilson
Absent: Melanie Macey
Laura Bonnell
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7 pm.
2. Public Comment
None.
3. Approval of Agenda
Moved by: Denise Reske
Seconded by: Jodie Ellison
Motion to approve of the agenda with the addition of the discussion of Artist
laureate update to New Business
Motion Adopted
4. Approval of Minutes
Moved by: Jodie Ellison
Seconded by: Denise Reske
Motion to approve of meeting minutes
Motion Adopted
5. New Business
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5.a Mural Proposal
Robert Wilson put a motion forth to not recommend approval of this mural
to the City Commission. Alesha Beistline, Jodie Ellison and Jason
Gittinger supported the motion, while Denise voted against it (4 to 1 vote).
The majority of the group believes that because @properties has used this
design in a previous ad campaign, the mural design is more of a sign than
it is art.
Resolution Number: Mural rejected.
Moved by: Robert Wilson
Seconded by: Jodie Ellison
To recommend approval of this mural to the City Commission
Motion Adopted
5.b Future Goals and Workplans Discussion
5.c Artist Laureate Poetry Publishing Update
Roberta Brown gave the group an update on her book of poetry and a
publishing timeline.
Robert Wilson gave the group information he received from Image Printing
on sizing, cost per book, binding, and type. $1.95 per book.
Jason Gittinger asked how many copies should be printed. The group
decided at least 100.
Moved by: Denise Reske
Seconded by: Alesha Beistline
To approve of at least 100 book copies at no more than $500.
Motion Adopted
6. Old Business
7. Subcommittee/Program Reports
8. General Announcements
Next month's meeting is Tuesday May 20 at 7 pm.
9. Social Media
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9 pm.
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Page 3 of 6
Moved by: Jodie Ellison
Seconded by: Alesha Beistline
Motion Adopted
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Email from Howard H. Collens of Royal Oak Civic Foundation:
Hello,
The Royal Oak Civic Foundation (ROCF) is seeking funding applications for projects
that benefit Royal Oak residents and we invite your organization to apply.
Applications are due online using the Google Form by 5pm on June 23,
2025. Funding decisions will be communicated to all applicants by July 18, 2025.
Funding will be dispersed for selected projects before July 25, 2025. Eligible projects
must be completed and reported on by October 31, 2025.
Additional Project Information:
ROCF will consider funding requests for projects in any amount up to a maximum of
$2,000. No project is too small for consideration.
Ideal projects are those that are "shovel-ready," meaning you can start the project
shortly after receiving the funds and complete it within 90 days.
Awardees are required to submit a brief project close-out report by October 31, 2025.
Additional funding opportunities will be available in the future if you don't have a project
that fits the criteria at this time or if your project is not selected in this funding round.
Eligible Organizations/Entities:
At this time, the ROCF is only seeking funding applications from the eight city entities
and organizations for whom we collect donations, which are the following:
Royal Oak Animal Shelter
Royal Oak Commission for the Arts
Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum
Royal Oak Nature Society
Royal Oak Public Safety
Royal Oak Public Library
Royal Oak Parks & Recreation
Leo Mahany / Harold Meininger Senior Community Center
Past Grant Awardees:
Royal Oak Public Library - Funding to Support the Book Vending Machine (2024)
Mahany / Meininger Senior Community Center - Funding to Support Yard Work for
Seniors in Need (2024)
Application:
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Complete the easy application here: Click to Apply
Applications must be completed and submitted using this online form for funding
consideration.
We look forward to reviewing your projects. Please contact me
at howard@royaloakcivicfoundation.org if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Howard H. Collens
Trustee
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