Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

December 13, 2016 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION APPROVED DATE: December 13, 2016 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara Hedlund, Eric Jakobsson, Jenelle Orcherton, Sara Jones, Jason Patterson, Pat Sammann, Jessica Snyder MEMBER EXCUSED: Erica Cooper-Peyton STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Boys, Economic Development Manager; Pauline Tannos, Public Arts Coordinator; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Jamie McGowan, Linda Tamen, Mara Thacker, Susan Ogwal 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:35 p.m. by Ms. Sammann. Ms. Reid took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. CHANGES TO AGENDA There were none. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the November 8, 2016 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Ms. Sammann 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  December 13, 2016 5. COMMUNICATIONS • Presentation by 2016 Urbana Arts Grants Recipient: Jamie McGowan from Midwest Mandeng Ms. Sammann introduced Jamie McGowan, Susan Ogwal, and Mara Thacker, co-directors of Midwest Mandeng. They gave a slide-show presentation on their 3 day festival that took place from October 7-9, 2016, and focused on arts and culture of West African, specifically through drumming and dance in the Mandeng region. The festival took place largely at the Krannert Center, but additional free performances were held at the Urbana Free Library, the University Library, and Pizza M in downtown Urbana. The festival consisted of a community dance party, 16 drum and dance workshops for all-level learners, and introductory classes geared specifically towards the local community. There were also 275 attendees, 7 world renowned West African artists and instructors, entire dance troops of children from the Midwestern region, and an African marketplace. They thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. • Presentation by 2016 Urbana Arts Grants Recipient: Linda Tammen from Youth Literature Festival Ms. Sammann introduced Linda Tammen, director of the Youth Literature Festival. This festival celebrates literature by bringing together local and national authors, illustrators, and storytellers to share their stories, crafts, and enthusiasm with local children and teens. This year’s festival brought Sibert Medal winning Author/Illustrator, Duncan Tonatiuh to Urbana to visit Leal and Preston Williams Elementary schools. Mr. Tonatiuh spoke to over 1,000 children on October 21, 2016 and returned that evening to speak to about 100 parents and children at a Family Night with the Author. Ms. Tammen presented a small film clip that summarized the festival. 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. Tannos 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 Artist of the Corridor, Ms. Tannos reported that Rachel Storm’s exhibition, “Carichina Women,” ended on December 8th. The next show, to be installed on December 13th, will feature paintings and drawings by Lori Fuller. The opening reception will take place on December 14th from 5:00-6:30pm. • With regard to Art Now, Ms. Tannos reported that the December episode features local artist Lori Fuller. In January, Art Now will highlight Public Art League (PAL), including interviews with PAL board member Eric Robeson, PAL supporter Ginny Waaler, and local sculptor Michael Collins. Episodes are aired every Monday at 6:30pm, with reruns every Tuesday at 11:00 pm, and are available on YouTube. All Art Now episodes can be found online on the Art Now YouTube channel or http://www.urbanaillinois.us/artnow. • With regard to the Urbana Sculpture Project, Ms. Tannos reported that five sculptures had been installed in Urbana for the 2016-2018 cycle. Staff is working to promote these sculptures by creating a web-based guide and print materials. • With regard to Marketing, Ms. Tannos reported that the program’s Facebook, Twitter, 2  December 13, 2016 and Instagram accounts now have 1,292 page likes (an increase of 18 likes), 1,840 followers (an increase of 19 followers), and 365 followers (an increase of 29 followers), respectively. There are two Urbana Public Arts Program ads featured on SmilePolitely.com, which promote Art Now and the Urbana Arts Grants Program. • With regard to Arts in the Schools, Ms. Tannos reported that King School and Capoeira Angola Illinois have been selected as the 2017 Arts in the Schools recipients. They receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. King School will continue its mural project with local artist Glen Davies, while Capoeira Angola will teach capoeira workshops at a number of local schools. • With regard to Urbana Arts Grants Program, Ms. Tannos reported that the application guidelines and form were published on November 3, 2016, and the deadline to apply is February 6, 2017. In addition to the $47,500 available to fund arts projects happening in Urbana, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) has pledged $500 to support the program. The Urbana Arts Grants Program has been promoted through social media, the e-newsletter, a SmilePolitely ad, and print materials. Staff held two separate information sessions at the University of Illinois on November 4th, and at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center on December 1st. A total of about 20 people attended. • The date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. • Discussion: Open Scene Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Ms. Tannos reported that the youth and adult participants had been selected; and they had an opportunity to meet one another, and share their objectives and expectations at a launch event that took place at the Independent Media Center on December 3rd. She also stated the call for artists announced last month was closed on December 5th, and about 50 applications were received. They will be selecting 4 out of the 50 applications received. Two will come from nation-wide search, and two from Champaign County. Ms. Tannos stated that the IMC hosted a fundraiser on November 10th for their half of the cash match for the grant. Ms. Tannos gave a summary on what would take place during the 4 weekend intensive workshops for the youth and adult participants in spring 2017. A brief discussion of the matter by members of the Staff and Commission ensued. • Discussion: Boneyard Spring Celebration 2017 Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Ms. Tannos reported that she had received a recent proposal from a local organization called CITISPACE. CITISPACE was founded about a year or two ago, and consists of urban planning graduate students that work with the City of Champaign and the University in creating art installations. They reached out to the City of Urbana to see how they could collaborate, and Staff felt that the Boneyard Spring Celebration would be a great opportunity to work with them. CITISPACE submitted a proposal titled, Unity Project, which explores themes of identity and diversity and has been presented throughout the world. Ms. Tannos played a short video that illustrated the project for the Commission. A brief discussion of the matter by members of the Staff and Commission ensued. 3  December 13, 2016 • Discussion: Urbana Sculpture Project 2016-2018 Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Ms. Tannos provided an update on the 2016- 2018 sculpture cycle. She stated that she had started developing some marketing materials for the sculpture project which would mainly be web-based. Ms. Tannos stated that she would work more on the materials, and send them to the Commission members in the next week or so. She shared a few more of her marketing ideas with the Commission. A brief discussion of the matter by members of the Staff and Commission ensued. 6. OLD BUSINESS There was none. 7. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Tannos announced that the following meeting would be in January, and that she and Ms. Sammann had discussed the possibility of the Commission getting together afterwards at Crane Alley or something. Ms. Tannos also announced that a PAL installation celebration would be taking place that night at Biaggi’s Restaurant. The PAL throws this event every year to celebrate the arrival of the new sculptures in town. She also reminded the Commission that the opening reception for the new Artist of the Corridor would take place the next evening. 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Sammann made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Ms. Hedlund seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 4