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Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affiars Advisory Commission 11 22 11MINUTES ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION Tuesday, November 22, 2011 Lacy Board Room Carnegie -Stout Public Library 360 W. 11th St., Dubuque, IA The meeting was called to order by Chair O'Rourke at 4:30 p.m. following staff assurance of compliance with the Iowa Open Meeting Law. Commissioners present: Paul Hemmer, Ellen Henkels, Louise Kames, Marina O'Rourke, Sue Riedel, Geri Shafer, Julie Steffen. Staff Present: Jerelyn O'Connor, Jan Stoffel Approval of Minutes of October 25, 2011. Motion by Riedel, seconded by Kames to approve minutes. Motion carried 7 -0. NEW BUSINESS 1. O'Connor shared the official document stating the City Council's Vision, Mission, Five - Year City and Community Goals and Top and High Priorities for 2011 -2013. O'Connor explained that her understanding was the Council's idea was to see cultural and social vibrancy as a tool to build community. How can we use art as a tool in neighborhood development, as creative placemaking, to continue to be an inclusive community and as an incubator to make arts and culture flourish in Dubuque? Commissioners discussed ideas and thoughts about Top Priority Arts and Culture Strategy. Commissioners had the following suggestions: ® Provide free transportation to established art events ® Have established arts groups bring performances out of the usual venue into the unusual to attract another demographic 6 Plan to have public art at the new airport, within the transit and park systems in the City. ® When public art is added, it should be well vetted and soundly fabricated. ® Use the Jaeger Hardware Building as a place for arts activities, community gallery • Use a booth /area at the farmers market showing art being made or performed as an educational tool. ® Use pop -up galleries © Funding is key — Target Foundation is a possible funder ® Encouraging that arts are not being pigeon holed. ® Use murals to connect areas © Identify vacant buildings and use them to create vitality Shafer commented that the Commission already furthers the Council's strategy through its programs and that we may need to heighten awareness to City Council and the broader community about projects that have been funded and other initiatives. She and, O'Connor will work on preparing a report. Henkels also volunteered to assist. It was suggested that this item be placed on the next meeting's agenda for further discussion. 1 2. Motion by Riedel and seconded by Shafer to cancel the December 27, 2011, Commission meeting. Motion carried 7 -0 ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION • O'Rourke reminded Commissioners of the December 8 -11 performances of the Nutcracker Ballet. INFORMATION SHARING 1. Staff reported that the November 14th visit of Rocco Landesman, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, went very well. Landseman was making a site visit for the recently awarded NEA Our Town grant that was a partnership with the City of Dubuque and Dubuque Main Street/Cultural Corridor. The grant addresses art placemaking in the Millwork District. His 3.5 hour visit to Dubuque was maximized to facilitate contact with many stakeholders. o Landseman first met with City and Main Street/Cultural Corridor staff for a Millwork overview - work already done, and work still to come, the legacy of arts in the City, and the vision of the Millwork District anchored by the arts. o He then met with representatives from the five art organizations that were included in the Our Town Grant - Dubuque Art Center, Dubuque Main Street/Cultural Corridor, Fly -By -Night Productions, Julien International Film Festival and Voices from the Warehouse. Representatives explained their part in the grant and participated in a roundtable discussion with Landesman on creative placemaking. o Landesman then toured proposed art spaces and the general repurposing in the Caradco building. o He made comments and met community art members at a public reception held at the end of the visit. He called Dubuque the "poster child" for art placemaking. Also attending were representatives of the media and state and federal legislators. Shafer expressed disappointment that the arts were not at the table in the first section of the visit. 2. Staff distributed copies of three articles for review concerning art placemaking, marketing the arts and arts entrepreneurs. 3. O'Connor shared the State Arts Agency Legislative Appropriations Preview for Fiscal Year 2012 from the National Assembly of State Art Agencies. Legislative appropriations to state art agencies are expected to decrease on average by 2.6 %. Iowa's projected decrease is 6 %, At last report, Iowa ranked 42nd in the in the nation for per capita state legislative appropriations including line items and 34th in appropriations and outside revenue per capita. 4. Stoffel attended an Advocacy Training Session with Americans for the Arts (AFTA) State and Local Government Affairs Director Jay Dick and a Presidential Candidate Forum moderated by Robert Lynch, President of AFTA, on November 16 in Coralville. It was presented by ArtsVotelowa that aims to help infuse the arts into the 2012 election cycle in advance of Iowa's first -in- the - nation caucuses. It is an initiative of AFTA in partnership with Bravo Greater Des Moines, the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Cultural Coalition, the Iowa 2 Alliance for Arts Education, and the National Association of Music Merchants. An Iowa congressional delegation arts report card and interest of presidential candidates' on arts issues were shared. Most candidates add issues to their platforms as campaigns develop. If no questions are asked about the place of arts, it could be likely that it won't be included on agendas as campaigns progress. ArtsVotelowa encourages all art advocates to ask two questions of candidates at caucuses in January: a. What kinds of federal initiatives would you develop in order to support public /private partnerships to help cities and states expand creative economies and create new jobs — from music, arts and architecture to computer software, games and film? b. What specific federal education policies would you promote to ensure our children receive a well- rounded education with comprehensive arts education in their local schools? ADJOURNMENT Riedel moved and Shafer seconded to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 p.m. The next meeting will be held on January 24, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. in the Lacy Board Room at the Carnegie -Stout Public Library, 360 W. 11th St., Dubuque, Iowa. Respectfully submitted, Jan Stoffel `These minutes were passed and approved on (40(4,--( 4A(//zi, Louise Kames, Secretary 3