Minutes_Arts Commission 10 27 09MINUTES
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Board Room, Carnegie Stout Public Library
360 W. 11t" Street, Dubuque, Iowa
Meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with the Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners present: Paul Hemmer, Louise Kames, Paul Kohl, Sue Riedel,
Geri Shafer. Julie Steffen and Ellen Henkels were unable to attend. Staff
Present: Jerelyn O'Connor, Jan Stoffel
Approval of Minutes of September 22, 2009. Motion by Kohl, second by Riedel
to approve. Motion. carried 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Pyatigorsk Park Sculpture and Art on the River and Sister City
relationship. Jeff Walters, a member of the City Council's Sister City
Committee, attended to bring the Commission up to date on the status of
the proposed art piece to be placed in Pyatigorsk Park. He explained that
Iowa is one of seven Sister States in the US and Dubuque has had
multiple cultural and economic exchanges for many years with Pyatigorsk.
It is a city in southern Russia, similar to Dubuque in its mix of tourism and
. industrial aspects, but twice in size. Commissioners viewed the proposed
art work. The design was representational of Pyatigorsk being the city of
_ five mountain peaks - pyati meaning five in Russian. Commissioners
wanted to know more about the process used in selecting this piece, were
other artists involved, the dimensions and materials used,. and if there
would be only this submission. They suggested that the design reflect the
relationship between the two cities. There is a $5,000 budget for the
project from Art on the River funds. For costs concerns and also to create
a cultural exchange, the artist would probably construct the piece in
Dubuque with possible support from artists in the community.
Commissioners suggested for the Russians to review the Art on the River
website to examine the examples of outdoor sculpture and the information
the City usually requires from submitting artists. They suggested that the
_ -.-- _. Art on the River Committee review the designs in the future: There is no
definite timeline in mind, and Jeff will seek more information from
Pyatigorsk and keep the Commission posted.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Determine improvement level budget request. Members discussed
options for requesting a budget improvement package from the City
Council. Chair Shafer consulted with members not present during recent
discussions. Consensus was reached to request a flat percentage of
funding increase to the Operating Support Grant Program. Since FY06,
the cumulative operating budgets of applicants has risen from $7.3 million
to $10.3 million and the number of eligible applicants is growing The
Commission has_ never been. able to fund to its guidelines of 6% of the
operating budget up to a maximum of $50,000. If the Commission had
fully funded to these guidelines, $260,000, to $300,000 would have been
required each year. Commissioners recognized that arts and cultural
groups have been negatively affected by the economic down turn and
need support, but they also cautioned that the City has many financial
obligations and increases in funding may be modest if approved. Riedel
moved and Hemmer seconded to request a 10% increase in Operating
Support Grant funds, bringing the total from $200,000~to $220,000. Motion
carried 5-0. '
2. Strategic Plan Update. Chair Shafer advised commissioners to peruse
the updated plan. The plan will be revisited in six months, with the
expanded planning session to be held in August.
ITEMS FROM THE COMM~ISS~ION: Chair Shafer Commented on the well-
attended Cultural Alliance event at the library on October 24. Commissioners
were concerned that the Cultural Alliance is not as active as in the past and that
brainstorming solutions to city-wide arts collaboration, cooperation and
communication is important to continue. Chair Shafer asked that Commissioners
be kept informed of the final report status of special project grant applicants.
Deadline for final reports is September 30 after the year of funding. Staff will
provide copies of all final reports annually on or before September 30.
INFORMATION SHARING:
Commissioners were provided a time line of Commission activities for the coming
year. Stoffel. will begin conversations with area groups regarding community-wide
arts marketing and event publicity. The City of Dubuque received an award from
the get Reel Film Festival for sponsorship of this year's event through Special
Project Grant funding. Voices form the Warehouse and the Dubuque Arts Council
sent letters of thanks after their events through Special Project funding. Stoffel
will attend the Iowa Cultural Coalition meeting on November 9 in Cedar Rapids
on arts advocacy, Stoffel and O'Connor will attend the Iowa Public Art Network
meeting in Des Moines on November 12 and 13.
ADJOURNMENT
The' next Commission meeting is scheduled for November 24 and will begin at
4:30 p.m. Motion by Riedel and second by Kohl to adjourn the meeting at 5:55
p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
~~.
n Stoffel
These minutes were passed and approved on
~._. __ _
~~- Sue Riedel, S cretary
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