Arts Commission

ARTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MEETING DATE: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 PLACE: Zoom and Marsh Room MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 8:32 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT NAME PRESENT (ARRIVED LATE) ABSENT John Ahearn X Marilynne Bradley X Kathie Cahoon X Beth Corelli X Alex Elmestad X Dottie Englis X Rob Longstreet X Judith Mann X Patrick Murphy X Jan Shapiro X ALSO PRESENT Director of Public Affairs & Engagement Jenny Starkey APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Murphy, seconded by Bradley, to approve the December minutes. AYES: AHEARN, CAHOON, CORELLI, ELMESTAD, ENGLIS, MURPHY AND SHAPIRO NOES: NONE ABSENT: LONGSTREET AND MANN The minutes were approved. COUNCIL PRESENTATION Ms. Cahoon will present an update for the Arts Commission at the next City Council meeting. The presentation will include an explanation of why we updated our mission and goals, a look at events sponsored over the past year, info on our work with public art and the public arts fund. We will also discuss future goals such as the signage, additional murals and the possible name change to the sculpture park. MISSION & GOALS OF ARTS COMMISSION The revised mission and goals were approved. The new copy was added to the Arts Commission page of the website as follows: The Webster Groves Arts Commission is a Commission of the City of Webster Groves, where the arts are a primary value within the community. The Arts Commission promotes and supports the arts and participation in the arts for the benefit of the community. The Commission encourages and maintains connections with organizations within the city that produce programs and activities in the arts. MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES Signs: In the process of moving forward Sculpture Park Naming: In regards to the suggested change at the Sculpture Park, the Parks Commission will also need to endorse the idea. A letter will be sent to them in advance of their January meeting. We will move forward o that idea depending upon feedback from that commission. Poetry Month: Ms. Corelli & Mr. Ahearn going to reach out to Lauren to work with some of the individuals that Lauren worked with in the past. The goal is for the commission to hold three events during the month. Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: We should begin researching/brain storming possibilities for the 2023 recipient. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Elmestad spoke with a contact of his who was interested in helping the City of Webster Groves rebrand as the City of the Arts. This person would be willing to do the work at no cost. Conversation focused on: • Would we need to officially rebrand as City of the Arts? Is it enough to just be unofficially known as the City of the Arts? • How extensive would the rebranding be? • Does the community think of Webster Groves as the City of the Arts? An agreement was not reached to move forward with this although there was interest in redoing some of the City of the Arts banners and possibly using those to highlight arts organizations within Webster Groves. We will continue to discuss City of the Arts branding. We will discuss funding that’s required for additional projects and materials for this year’s budget cycle. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.