2019 Arts Mean Business Activity ReportCity of Dubuque
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Description
Arts Mean Business 2019 Activity
Memo to City re: 2019 Arts Mean
Report for review
2019 Arts Mean Business Activity
Copyrighted
April 6, 2020
Consent Items # 3.
2019 Arts Mean Business Activity Report
City Manager transmitting the Arts Mean Business 2019
Activity Report.
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
Report-MVM Memo
Business Activity
Report
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Arts Mean Business 2019 Activity Report
DATE: March 25, 2020
Dubuque
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All-A.aia City
111111
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jenni Petersen -Brant is transmitting the Arts Mean
Business 2019 Activity Report.
/..
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jenni Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
Wand
AII•Meeica City
NA1YNI (TlIIWr]
1111 is
2007.2012=2013
2017*2019
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jenni Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
SUBJECT: Arts Mean Business 2019 Activity Report
DATE: March 19, 2020
Economic Development Department
Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
1300 Main St
Dubuque, IA 52001
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
INTRODUCTION
The memo serves as an accompaniment to the activity report prepared for the City
Manager's review and use by Jenni Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator.
On November 19, 2019, the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Arts
Mean Business planning committee, hosted the 4th Annual Arts Mean Business
Luncheon and an Arts Mean Business Academy workshop with keynote presenter, Carl
Atiya Swanson, Program Associate for Springboard for the Arts.
CC: Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
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Arts Mean Business
Novem.er 19, 2019 from 12-1:30pm at t e Grand River Center, 500 Bell St, Dubuque, IA
Keynote address by Carl Atiya Swanson, Program Associate of Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN.
With panel of local champions of arts and business collaboration featuring Brad and Jillayne Pinchuk of
Hirschbach Trucking, Jeff Mozena of Premier Bank, and Mark Wahlert of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.
Who attended the Arts Mean Business Luncheon?
Attendees from across the arts and business sectors including representatives of Travel
Dubuque, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation, Dubuque Bank & Trust, Premier Bank, Clarke University, Dubuque Museum of
Art, the City of Dubuque, Galena Center for the Arts, the City of Dubuque, and others.
Attendees work in tourism, education, economic
development, non-profit administration, city
government, own and operate small businesses,
or contribute to the Creative Economy through
what they produce. Many attending the event
connect with arts in a variety of ways from
volunteering time, donating money, advocating
for the Arts, or regularly attending Arts events.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020: Continue to hone
message for what businesses can learn from attending:
Focus on recruiting specific businesses to be in attendance:
Build on 2019 audience: Provide concrete action steps for
attendees to advance efforts and engagement.
23%
23%
17%
90%
65%
Attended to meet and connect with
others interested in cultivating arts
and business collaborations
Attended because they'd gone to
previous Luncheonls) and found them
to be valuable experiencels)
Attended to hear how and why
panelists support arts and business
collaborations
Are likely or very likely to recommend
this event to someone else in the
future
Felt the event was better or
much better than they
expected
44.
A Cultivating conversation between the arts
and business communities to foster cross -
sector collaboration and multi -faceted
approaches to workforce development and
quality of life issues.
"I think the city is on the right track with seeing the arts as an economic development engine, so continuing
to support the work already happening and removing barriers to keep people doing the things they're
already doing:"
"The panel discussion of business leaders in the community who get it, and see the value in both, was great
and incredibly important. They can speak the same language to others in business who don't seem to care
about the arts unless it affects their bottom line. We need more people like that in this community talking to
their peers:'
"How do we get more artists at the decision table? They help us think about iteration and collaboration
differently. We're good at inviting them when we're doing an art project, but what about when we're
designing bridges, park spaces, interiors of public buildings?"
"The luncheon really sparked some interest for how our organization could help support our arts
community and also have some grass roots/collaborative projects within our office:"
Attendee responses from Survey Monkey
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TOPICS
FORMAT
Artist in residence programs where cities have embedded
artists in city government or for -profit companies to improve
innovation & creativity in unexpected places.
Concrete examples of how other communities turn art into
business.
Another speaker and presentation like is one: INSPIRING!
Arts venue as location for luncheon
More time with panel of local champions
Suggestions made via Survey Monkey
How did you hear about the AMB luncheon?
• City Email
• Sponsor Email
• Media Partner Email
• Social Media
• Word of Mouth
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020: Invest more
in boosted social media: Develop additional
media partners with colleges. NICC. etc. and
nurture current partnership (Chamber. Travel
Dubuque. Dubuque Main Street. GDDQ: More
marketing earlier: Gather and use testimonials
from businesses that 'get it' in promotions:
Reconsider paid print ads with Julien's Journal
and 365ink
Arts Mean Business
Academy Workshop
November 19 at the Smokestack, 62 E 7th St, Dubuque, IA
Presentation by Carl Atiya Swanson, Program Associate of Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN.
Focus on Springboard for the Arts' 12-part Artist Toolkit for creative business development
A.
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Who attended the Arts Mean Business Academy?
40%
20%
20%
Attendees represented the visual arts, music, and theater disciplines as well as owners
of creative businesses and galleries, cultural event planners, and community members
interested in learning more about how they can support and participate in the creative
econom of Dubu'ue and the T r t._-.-_
Attended to meet and connect
with others working in the arts
Attended to develop new
business skills to advance their
creative careers
Attended to learn more about
Springboard for the Arts and
their programs
100%
Are likely or very likely to
recommend this event to
someone else in the future
Felt the event was better or
8 6
much better than they
expected
The Academy was attended by a broad range of
ages, from beginning comic book artists and singer -
songwriters in their 20's, to experienced professional
sculptors and arts administrators in their 60's. The
event also drew newcomers to Dubuque, a couple
considering relocation to Dubuque, and people that
have lived here their entire lives.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020: Look to expand
networking and professional development opportunities
beyond once a year to bi-monthly or quarterly; Explore
partners who may already be doing professional
development for creatives and market / connect to
network; Look to local creative economy to teach
workshops on business development
Nurturing the creative economy through
professional development and networking
opportunities with a focus on fostering new
connections and highlighting the sector's
community wide impact.
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One of the most beneficial parts of the evening was a lively discussion lead by Swanson in which he asked
participants to discuss what types of resources were they looking for to support their artistic endeavors and what
kinds of resources or opportunities did people in the room have to share? This demonstrated the lack of an effective
conduit for members of Dubuque's creative economy to efficiently and regularly network through.
NEEDS
Gallery / exhibition space
Indoor / outdoor spaces where visual and
performance art can be combined
Networking opportunities
Connections to festivals / calls for vendors
Studio space
More storm drain mural opportunities
RESOURCES
Mural walk on Central through DMS
Pop-up shop opportunities with DMS
Headshots through Lu Supply Co.
Small business planning with SBDC
Studio space for rent at Key City Creative
Exhibition opportunities at Smokestack, Public Library
Songwriters Showcase with Galena Art Center
Needs and resources communicated during group conversation of workshop
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TOPICS
Suggestions provided via Survey Monkey
Researching grants and connecting with donors
Time management strategies for juggling non -arts day jobs
while maintaining a creative practice
Networking with other artists
Basic business building skills and resources
Strategies for diversifying products to live as full-time artist
Best practices for collaboration with other artists
Best practices for securing private investment
Brain health and balancing work, life, and creative practice
Engaging more diverse voices and audiences in the arts
How did you hear about the AMB Workshop?
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020: Invest more in
boosted social media: develop additional media
partners with colleges. NICC. etc. and nurture
current partnership (Chamber. Travel Dubuque.
Dubuque Main Street. GDDC): More marketing
earlier: Gather and use testimonials from former
participants in promotions: Utilize 'Artist Directory'
being developed by Arts & Culture Master Plan
Creative Economy working group
• Facebook
• City Email
• Media Partner Email
2019 Arts Mean Business expenses totaling $5,162 were supported largely by FY20 Special Projects grant funds
after approved reallocation by the City Manager ($5,125). Earned revenue totaled $2,401 from the sale of $25
Luncheon admission and $5 Workshop admission, along with a $300 cash sponsorship from Travel Dubuque. This
provides a remaining balance of $2,662 for additional Arts Mean Business activities in FY20. In -kind sponsorships
included lodging for the presenter covered by the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and promotional
support from Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Dubuque Main Street, and Outside the Lines Gallery.
27%
46%
06%
39%
46%
Expenses
16%
Revenue
66%
• Presenter $856 • Paid Promotion $1,294
Food $2,404 • Facility $200
• Office Supplies $32 • Ticketing Fees $236
Miscellaneous $140
• Luncheon Tickets S1,600
• Academy Tickets $106
Misc Cash / Check $395
_ Sponsorship $300
Sponsors & Media Partners
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Planning Committee
Stormy Mochal, Owner of Outside the Lines Gallery and Practicing Visual Artist
Ali Levasseur, Event Manager at Five Flags Event Center and City Arts Commission Chairperson
Nick Haider, Clarke University and City Arts Commission Member
Ralph Kluseman, Business Counselor for Northeast Iowa SBDC
Jenni Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator for the City of Dubuque