Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission 11 24 09MINUTES
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Board Room, Carnegie Stout Public Library
360 W. 11 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, Ellen Henkels, Louise Kames, Paul Kohl, Sue
Riedel, Geri Shafer, Julie Steffen. Staff Present: Jerelyn O'Connor, Jan Stoffel
Approval of Minutes of October 27, 2009. Motion by Hemmer, second by Riedel to
approve. Motion carried 7 -0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Review the Art on the River Committee Recommendations for 2010
Stoffel conducted a review of best practices for temporary public art programs
through the Americans for the Arts' Public Art Network Best Practice Goals and
Guidelines 2009 and Call for Artists Resource Guide 2009. She also researched 20
temporary programs throughout the country through Americans for the Arts' Public
Art listserve. This research was presented to the Art on the River Committee on
November 16, 2009. The findings were:
All /Most of programs:
• Supported by a percent of art or similar program
• Do not charge an entry free for artists
• Limit submissions to three from each artist, one piece from each artist in show
• Have a permanent art program and purchase one or more pieces for that
collection
• Conduct the call and application process online.
• Pay part of stipend at installation and the rest upon removal of the piece.
• Include community members in jury panel
• Establish clear artist eligibility (e.g. geographical, age, professional vs. student,
emerging)
• Collect a commission ranging from 10% to most with a range of 20% - 25%
Many /some
• Give cash awards for best of show, honorable mention
• Establish a theme or special considerations each year ( e.g. functional, river
related, recycled materials)
• Begin a private sponsorship program if no dedicated funding stream is available
or one exists and is threatened.
• Temporary programs are every two years or every 18 months. Some were
started that way and some have gone to that from an annual program.
These recommendations were approved:
• No entry fee charged for artists
• Limit to three submissions from each artist.
• Keep the commission on sales at 25% and do not offer another gallery a cut if
they come forward with a buyer.
• Conduct the call and application process primarily online.
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• Give a $1,000 cash award for Best of Show, decided by the jury. A sponsor will
be sought for next year; otherwise funds will come out of the budget. Award can
be evaluated on yearly basis.
• Seek a corporate sponsor for the Opening Celebration in July. Plan for an
extended sponsorship or other funding program the following year.
• Keep the jury process as is, e.g. seek one judge from the Dubuque -area
community and two from regional public art experts.
The Commission concurred with these determinations.
2. Review Grant Survey Results and Eligibility
Stoffel sent surveys to 15 organizations who applied in the 2010 grant cycle. Seven
responded. Results were presented to the Commission members.
• Some applicants had trouble with the budget section. If they visited with staff
during the application process, they were more likely to complete the section
correctly.
• Applicants would like to have the whole process done online.
• Many applicants did not attend the grant writing workshops. Those who did found
it very helpful.
• Many contacted staff before submitting the application and found it very helpful.
• Applicants were confused by the Commission review sessions.
• General comments about other ways in which the City could support the arts
included: having Commissioners visible at some of the funded events, more
funding, assistance in publicity, and more advocacy
• When asked to identify unmet needs of the Dubuque arts and cultural community
most applicants cited: a centralized entity charged with coordination and
promoting the arts /events from a city -wide perspective, a city -wide marketing
campaign to cooperatively promote all of the organizations in the City, and more
growth and promotion of Dubuque as a cultural hub.
As Commissioners discussed the survey, they felt that many of the comments could be
addressed by better communication on both sides. Many of the items that applicants
questioned were already part of the application process and had not been utilized.
Stoffel will examine the application for clarity. Commissioners urged applicants to take
advantage of the workshops, contacting staff for assistance before applications are
made, and attending the review sessions. Commissioners discussed the fact that they
attend numerous events, but aren't identified or visible. Riedel and Steffen suggested it
would be good for Commissioners to go outside the meeting table and be more visible at
events. Stoffel will get name tags for the Commissioners. The general comments about
unmet needs will be addressed on an ongoing basis and will be communicated to future
Cultural Alliance discussions.
One organization asked for clarification of the eligibility requirements for operating
grants. Stoffel researched eligibility requirements of 16 other similar operating grant
programs from cities throughout the country. The minimum eligibility was two years with
most requiring three years. In the City of Dubuque, and all of these other cities, the intent
of this requirement is to make sure that new non profits have a firm financial and
planning footing, have focused their program offerings, and do not rely on operating
grant support as they are developing. The Commissioners were adamant about keeping
the two year rule but recognized that the language in the applications could be
misinterpreted. In the new application for the next funding cycle, that eligibility
requirement will read "Dubuque arts and culture organizations whose primary mission is
arts and culture. Applicants must have been operating as a nonprofit, tax exempt under
section 501c3 of IRS code, for at least two years before the application due date."
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Nothing has changed as regards to intent, the language was just tweaked. Kohl moved
and Kames seconded. Motion passed 7 -0.
3. Listening session planning. Commissioners decided to have the regularly
scheduled meeting in January instead of a listening session because the grant survey
results had given them an idea about unmet needs in the community. The
Commissioners expressed the hope that discussions with the Dubuque Cultural Alliance
groups would serve as another community listening forum in which to address needs.
4. Iowa Public Art Conference, Master Planning opportunities. O'Connor and Stoffel
attended the Iowa Public Art Networking Conference in Des Moines on November 12
and 13. They heard how Des Moines was able to develop their world -class sculpture
park in less than two years. International artist Jaume Plensa, whose Nomade is the
centerpiece of the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden, spoke at a special presentation. He is
also known for the Crown Fountain in Chicago's Millennium Park. Staff attended a
presentation of Iowa Public Art in Review that illustrated public art projects incorporated
into parking structures, sidewalks, building facades and lighting, not only in sculpture.
Stoffel presented Art on the River at the review. Most places with sculpture gardens
have the same challenges we do with climbing or touching the art.
Stoffel reported on presentations made by the City of Clive and others on how those
cities were able to introduce a percent of art or similar funding program and the impact it
has made on the commissioning of permanent art within their communities. Members
wondered if we could begin some budget neutral efforts, perhaps through a grant, to
begin a City -wide study in order to develop a public art master plan, explore funding
options, find ways for cooperative efforts within the arts community, to assess the
permanent art already owned by the city, and build broad -based community support in
recognizing the quality of life and economic impact of the arts in Dubuque. Since the
Mayor and City Council have such a high priority with the arts right now, it might be a
good idea to begin the development of a comprehensive plan. It was moved by Shafer
and seconded by Henkels that staff should investigate grant sources for master arts
planning. Motion Passed 7 -0.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Ideas for Pyatigorsk Park Sculpture. Staff shared an idea from the Iowa Public Art
Conference from another city who commissioned a sister city and local artist to work on
the project together, with a sculpture ultimately placed in both cities. Commissioners will
wait for more contact from the Sister City Committee to discuss the idea further.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION. O'Connor provided a report on the status of the budget
review process since the Commission has a request for an increase in funding. Chair
Shafer will attend the City Council's budget review session of arts funding, now
scheduled for February 8.
INFORMATION SHARING.
1. Iowa Cultural Coalition. Stoffel shared information from the ICC advocacy workshop
she attended on November 9 in Cedar Rapids.
2. Live the Arts Iowa. Stoffel explained the State's new marketing logo and tagline. She
will post the logo on our website.
3. Summer 2010 Art Market. The Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Dubuque Art
Center are collaborating on a summer Art Market to be held for eight Saturdays from
1 — 6 p.m. for eight weeks between July 17 and September 11, 2010. The City is
applying for a Vision Iowa grant to partially fund the marketing expenses.
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Commissioners discussed ways in which Art on the River could be involved. Continued
discussion will take place as the event is developed.
4. Mayor Buol Nomination. Stoffel nominated Buol for an arts leadership award
through Americans for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors. The award
decision will be made by January 1, 2010.
ADJOURNMENT
O'Connor reported that in past years, Commission meetings have not been held in
December if there are no pressing agenda items. Staff and Commissioners decided to
cancel the regularly scheduled December 22, 2009, meeting. The next meeting is
scheduled for January 26 and will begin at 4:30 p.m. Motion by Riedel and second by
Kohl to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried 7 -0.
Respectfully submitted,
toffel
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4 1 se minutes were passed and approved -of
Sue Riedel, Secretary
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