Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

May 13, 2014 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION DATE: May 13, 2014 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Kevin Hamilton, Barbara Hedlund, Ilona Matkovskzi, John Morrison, Pat Sammann, Ginny Waaler MEMBERS EXCUSED: Gregory Chew, Robin Douglas, Ilona Matkovskzi STAFF PRESENT: Tom Carrino, Economic Development Division Manager; Lisa Hatchadoorian, Public Arts Coordinator; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Irenka Carney, Brett Hays, Robin Kearton, Joe Madden, Megan Paceley, Maggie Thomas 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Ms. Sammann. Ms. Reid took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. CHANGES TO AGENDA Ms. Hatchadoorian stated that one more Urbana Arts Grants Presentation, Act UP Youth Theater, would be added to the communications section of the agenda. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the April 8, 2014 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Mr. Morrison made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Hedlund 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  May 13, 2014 5. COMMUNICATIONS  Presentation by 2013 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra Ms. Sammann introduced Joe Madden, Executive Director of Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra. He gave a brief background on the Champaign-Urbana Symphony orchestra and presented a slideshow on the 2013 Youth Concerts. There were two performances on April 10th and 11th, 2013 with a theme of “Classical Power” where over 3100 students attended. The program was designed and conducted by Jack Ranney. Mr. Madden 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: Champaign Urbana Film Society Ms. Sammann introduced Brett Hayes, one of the founding board members of C-U Film Society. Mr. Hayes gave a slideshow presentation on their project, the 1st annual Pens to Lens Gala. The purpose of the project was to celebrate cinema, discuss great films, and empower and educate young people about film making. 120 screenplay submissions were received from students aged 5-18. 9 original films based on chosen submissions were made by local filmmakers. He stated that over 400 people attended two full shows and that the films could be found on penstolens.com and YouTube. Mr. Hayes 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: Community Center for the Arts-Race St. Bash Ms. Sammann introduced Robin Kearton, Director of Community Center for the Arts where their mission is to strengthen the community through shared experiences for the arts. Ms. Kearton gave a slideshow presentation on the Race Street Bash which is a community-based street fair that is intended to highlight and celebrate local arts. The event was participatory, free, and open to all ages. There were street performers, professional musicians, 40 volunteers, popcorn/lemonade stands, a “try-it” tent where people could test out instruments, and more. Over 800 people showed up over a 4 hour span. Ms. Kearton 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: (Re)Making Matter(s) Ms. Sammann introduced artist, Irenka Carney. She gave a brief background on the name of her program and the slightly unusual punctuation which is meant to be a creative synthesis of some relevant statements about what they do. They are remaking matter. Ms. Carney stated that in their program they use recycled materials to make new things for art materials. The 2  May 13, 2014 project consisted of a series of classes, an art show, and other miscellaneous events. There were 8 regular students at class and about 40 participants at events. She 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: Act UP Youth Theater Program Ms. Sammann introduced Maggie Thomas, Interim Board President and Megan Paceley, Founding Board Member of the UP Center. Ms. Thomas gave a brief background on the UP Center which is a place that provides a wide range of services, programs, and activities for the LGBTQ community. She then gave a presentation on their project, the Act UP Youth Theater Program which is an ongoing bi-weekly theater program for LGBTQ middle and high school aged youth in the community. The youth learned techniques of theater making from workshops that lead to two public performances. She 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 Ms. Hatchadoorian 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, she reported the following:  With regard to the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Project, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the sculpture dedication took place on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 4:00 pm. She stated that a reception at Cinema Gallery followed and there were roughly 45 people in attendance for the dedication and reception.  With regard to the Urbana Arts Grants Program, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the remaining 2013 grant projects were presenting their final reports while almost 90% of the 2014 grantees have their funds and are working on their projects  With regard to the Boneyard Creek Public Art, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that Jack Mackie would be working with the design team and contractors as the last phase of the project progresses towards completion in late summer.  With regard to the Fundraising subcommittee, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that there was nothing new to report on fundraising.  With regard to the Marketing Subcommittee, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the program had been receiving a lot of press recently from a feature article on Preston Jackson and the King Park sculpture in the News Gazette to all of the build up to the Art in the Market programming and Market at the Square.  With regard to the Downtown Arts subcommittee, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the subcommittee was in the process of meeting and planning for possible Boneyard events this summer to coincide with the unveiling of the Jack Mackie installation along Boneyard Creek.  With regard to Annual Planning, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the FY 14-15 3  May 13, 2014 Program Plan motion was approved by Council on May 5, 2014  With regard to Art Now!, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the May episode and profile featured Urbana artist, Jason Patterson (recent artist of the Corridor ), interviewed by Ginny Waaler. She stated that episodes could be seen at: http://www.urbanaillinois.us/artnow.  With regard to the Artist of the Corridor, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that a new Artist of the Corridor exhibition opened on May 5th with Tree Artwork from Prairie Elementary and University Primary Schools. She stated that the exhibition would be up until August 3, 2014  With regard to Art at the Market, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that the 2014 Art at the Market season had been booked and started May 10th with suminagashi printing (ancient Japanese marbling technique) and West African Drumming and Dancing with Djibril Camara and the Mara Girl Ensemble. There were over 400 people in attendance.  With regard to Marketing, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that City staff had been regularly updating the Public Arts Program’s Facebook page, which as of this meeting had 703 fans. She also stated that the Urbana Public Arts Twitter account, which could be followed @urbanapublicart, as of this meeting had 1033 followers.  With regard to Grants, Ms. Hatchadoorian reported that staff had submitted the grant application for FY14-15 for general operating support in the local arts agency category from the Illinois Arts Council and was actively looking for other grant opportunities.  For upcoming events, Ms. Hatchadoorian stated that the next Art at the Market, Klezmer music and a biodegradable art workshop would take place on June 14th. She also stated that the Urbana Wine Festival would take place on June 14th from 1:00-9:00pm. Finally, she stated that the date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting was set for Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers 6. OLD BUSINESS There was none. 7. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Hatchadoorian made an announcement that she had some repressed CD’s for anyone who had problems with their previous “Ill Poets Society Volume II: The Aaron Ammons Project” CD. 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Hedlund made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Hamilton seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 4