Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

December 10, 2013 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION APPROVED DATE: December 10, 2013 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Chew, Robin Douglas, Kevin Hamilton, Barbara Hedlund, Eric Jakobsson, Ilona Matkovski, John Morrison, Pat Sammann, Ginny Waaler STAFF PRESENT: Tom Carrino, Economic Development Division Manager; Julianne Heuel, Public Arts Intern; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Meredith Foster, Emily Knox, Brenda Koenig, Dennis Roberts 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:29 p.m. by Ms. Sammann. Ms. Reid took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. CHANGES TO AGENDA Ms. Sammann announced that Emily Knox would be added to the Arts Grants Presentations in the Communications portion of the agenda. Also, discussion about permanent funding for the C-U Folk & Roots Festival would be added under New Business. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the October 8, 2013 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Ms. Hedlund made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Waaler seconded the motion. All Commission members present were in favor of approval and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 1  December 10, 2013 5. COMMUNICATIONS • Presentation by 2012 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: Meredith Foster Ms. Sammann introduced local artist, Meredith Foster. Ms. Foster gave a slideshow presentation on her project, Elemental, which was composed of three separate bodies of work. These bodies of work explored the chemical components that comprise the human body, the landscape, and the significance these elements play in a larger capacity. Ms. Foster thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. • Presentation by 2013 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: U-C Mini-Maker Faire Ms. Sammann introduced member of the U-C Mini-Maker Faire planning committee, Emily Knox. Ms. Knox gave a slideshow presentation on their project which consisted of a one day family-friendly event called the Mini-Maker Faire. Mini-maker faires encourage a do-it- yourself spirit in the community and include the making of things such as technology, knitting, fabric, paper, instruments, and more. This third annual event was held on September 21, 2013 at the Independent Media Center and was comprised of over 20 makers and 649 attendees. Ms. Knox thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. . • Presentation by Staff: Monthly Progress Report Mr. Carrino presented the City staff’s monthly progress report to the Commission, outlining projects in process, recent requests and recommendations from the public, staff activities, and upcoming events. For an update on current projects, he reported the following: • With regard to Staff Transition Assistance, Mr. Carrino reported that the process of hiring a new Public Arts Coordinator was still in progress. He stated that in the interim period, Public Arts Intern Juli Heuel, would be assisting to keep essential programs running. • With regard to the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Project Subcommittee, Mr. Carrino reported that delivery and installation of the piece had been tentatively scheduled for December 17, 2013. • With regard to the Boneyard Creek Public Art, Mr. Carrino reported that work has continued on the public art elements in the Boneyard project. • With regard to the Fundraising subcommittee, Mr. Carrino reported that the Keep It or Change It campaign would be evaluated in conjunction with the staff transition. • With regard to the Urbana Arts Grants subcommittee, Mr. Carrino reported that the Urbana Arts Grant applications for 2014 were open. He stated that applicants were able to apply online using the Wufoo website, and that applications would be due on January 17, 2014. • With regard to Art Now!, Mr. Carrino reported that the December episode featured woodworker, Thomas Skagg. He stated that episodes could be seen at: 2  December 10, 2013 http://www.urbanaillinois.us/artnow. • With regard to the Artist of the Corridor, Mr. Carrino reported that the current Artist of the Corridor show, Elemental, by Meredith Foster featured drawings using a pigmented salt solution of aerial views and would be on display through January 31, 2014. • With regard to Marketing, Mr. Carrino reported that City staff had been regularly updating the Public Arts Program’s Facebook page, which as of this meeting had 660 fans. She also stated that the Urbana Public Arts Twitter account, which could be followed @urbanapublicart, as of this meeting had 884 followers. Mr. Carrino reported that a monthly e-mail newsletter had been sent to 546 subscribers on December 3rd. • For upcoming events, Mr. Carrino stated that the date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting was set for Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 6. OLD BUSINESS There was none. 7. NEW BUSINESS • Discussion of Permanent Funding for C-U Folk & Roots Festival Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Brenda Koenig, member of the C-U Folk & Roots Festival Board of Directors was asked to address the Commission. Ms. Koenig gave a brief summary of the most recent Folk & Roots Festival that took place on November 1-2, 2013. She then presented her proposal to receive permanent funding from the City for their festival. Questions and comments from the Commission were addressed. Councilman Dennis Roberts then addressed the Commission in support of permanent funding for the Folk & Roots Festival. David Monk also addressed the Commission in support. A discussion of the matter by members of the Commission and Staff ensued. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Matkovzski announced that she would have a conflict with future Public Arts Commission meetings due to a class, and wanted to know if the time of the meeting could be changed. Ms. Sammann stated that a poll by email would be conducted among the Commission members regarding this matter. 9. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Jakobsson made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Hamilton seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:47 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 3