Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission 5 22 12Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION
Tuesday May 22, 2012
Lacy Board Room
Carnegie-Stout Library
The meeting was called to order by Chair O'Rourke at 4 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with the Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners present: Paul Hemmer, Ellen Henkels, Marina O'Rourke, Sue Riedel, Geri Shafer
(on phone), Julie Steffen. Commissioners excused: Louise Kames
Staff Present: Jerelyn O'Connor, Jan Stoffel
Public present: Jean Tucker - Dubuque Symphony Orchestra; Jennifer Klinkhammer and Sue Becker
- Dubuque Chorale; Anthony Davis and Valorie Woerdehoff — Loras College.
Approval of Minutes of April 24 2012. Motion made by Riedel, seconded by Henkels to approve.
Motion carried 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Review of Special Project Grants. The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission met to
review a record 14 grant applications from Dubuque organizations requesting $91,286 in funds
from the FY 2013 Arts and Culture Grant Program for Special Projects. Chair O'Rourke pre-
assigned Commissioners to introduce individual grants. Other Commissioners added
additional comments. The grants were reviewed in alphabetical order.
O Brick Road Films, Dubuque's Historic Millwork District- a Visual Record, $7,500.
Riedel introduced. This will be a great historical documentary. Track record strong with the
Field of Dreams work. This documenting needs to be done now as the Millwork district is
developing. Should have explained more information about the principal artists. The project
will be educational, and makes good use of sponsors. It was hard to see from the narrative if
the video would be produced as part of this grant. The narrative lacked enough detail.
® Dubuque Arboretum Association, Inc., Japanese Garden Installation, $2,580.
O'Rourke introduced. This project was well thought out and has been planned for awhile. The
application demonstrated the love and passion the volunteers have for the Arboretum. It is
unfortunate that the Arboretum is only accessible by car — a bus route would be a plus to make
it accessible to all. Budget is reasonable. Narrative was light on the merit and qualifications of
the original artists. A special project grant funded an element of the Japanese garden in the
past.
o Dubuque Chorale, Legacy of the British Isles: "I have had singing..." $6,400.
Shafer introduced. The project has an interesting historical context. The City goals were well
addressed. This is a new opportunity for the Chorale and has been well planned. The
Commissioners recommended that the Chorale film the final concert. This story has not been
told before with such variety of media. There is a solid plan for sponsorships. This project will
have a strong public appeal and be located downtown.
• Dubuque County Historical Society, Julien Dubuque: The Artistic Portrayal, $8,070. Riedel
introduced. Interesting to contract with nationally known forensic artists. Young people will be
interested in the authenticity because of exposure to CSI type TV. The project is timely. Do people
really care what Julien Dubuque looked like? This is the type of programming on the History
Channel and will appeal to a wide audience. Would open more opportunities in the community to
delve deeper into our own history.
• Dubuque Fire Pipes and Drum Band, Purchase of Uniforms, $6,225. Hemmer introduced
grant. He questioned whether the grant is even eligible since he considers uniforms to be
equipment. Discussion followed. Some Commissioners felt that uniforms are equipment and
others recognized that uniforms were important to programming.
• Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque at Work, 1912-2012 Photography Exhibition, $7,762.
Riedel introduced. Steffen abstained. This grant shows good use of partnership. It is unique,
involving history and art. Tim Olson is a recognized Dubuque artist and this is a creative
project. There will be free access through the museum. Excellently planned with a reasonable
budget. It is interesting to consider if someone 100 years from now will continue the project.
• Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Summer Melodies, $9,730. Shafer introduced. Hemmer
and Steffen abstained. Exciting for the Symphony to perform at an unusual venue to attract
and cultivate new audiences. The grant was very well written. While ticket prices to many
cultural events can sometimes be high, it is great to see the Symphony go back to free
concerts.
• Grand Opera House, Ghosts of the Grand, $4,000. Henkels introduced. Hemmer abstained.
This project shows a new way to present history through haunted legends. Good job of
reaching out to the Boys and Girls Club for free Sunday performances. The timeline and
budget could have been more detailed. Good use of local writer and actor. Nice way to honor
the gift of historic materials.
• Julien Dubuque International Film Fest, Film Festival 2013, $8,000. Steffen introduced.
This year's event was a great success and well executed. Commissioners suggested that
publicity could have been better. The downtown arena was a good venue. This grant showed a
good array of funding sources. Strong grant writing. Need to explain specific target markets
better. Is this new or existing program? Congratulation to all involved this year for event that
has the potential to be a large tourist draw.
• Loras College, Black History Month: African American Achievement Program, $4,750.
Henkels introduced. The spoken word genre is not readily available in Dubuque at this time.
This shows an opportunity for some education for the community. It addresses City goals well
and will be an exciting and worthwhile event. Using the paper survey is very good. The
application lacks detail on how to reach a diverse audience. The strategic plan should be
updated.
• Matter (Dubuque Art Center), Faces of the District Public Art Project, $7,000. Steffen
introduced. The application shows some evidence of collaboration, and the reuse and green
initiative component is good. It ties into the City goals. The budget is heavy on staff salary and
has a high dependence upon grant money. Lacked detail regarding the credentials of the jury
and how applicants would be recruited. Is an artist fee necessary? Timeline not developed.
Confusing but creative application.
o Multicultural Family Center, Native American Heritage Month, $8,822. Shafer introduced.
This looks to be an expansion of a previously funded project. It is a worthwhile project showing
a female perspective. It will have a positive impact on the target audience and is free. Perhaps
a small fee or free-will offering could help for expenses. The application needs more
explanation about the project and timeline.
® Northeast Iowa School of Music, Lollipops $ Music for our Preschoolers, $2,700.
Hemmer introduced. It is a nice little project in collaboration with the library with the right
ingredients. Great appeal for children and will combine music and reading. It will be nice to
have a program where children will be able to move with the music instead of sitting still.
Realistically budgeted. Commissioners suggested that the performers are specially instructed
in how to interact with this age-group.
® University of Dubuque, Mid 20th Century American Regionalist Prints Project, $7,747.40.
O'Rourke introduced. Shafer abstained. Good recognition of the Association of American
Artists at work in this community through this grant. City goals are well addressed. Shows a
way to connect with the Dubuque Museum of Art. A nice way to recognize the Knute Family
gift to the University of Dubuque. Using students as research assistants and docents a great
idea.
A short break was held for Commissioners to total their points. The voting was as follows:
ORGANIZATION
FUNDING
REQUEST
Hemmer
HenkeIs
Karnes
O'Rourke
Riedel
Shafer
Steffen
Total
Ave.
Dubuque Museum of Art
$7,762.00
Dubuque at Work, 1912 -2012 Photography
100
99
NA
90
100
94
483
96.6
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
$9,730.00
Summer Melodies
90.00
NA
95.00
100.00
96.00
381
95.3
Dubuque Chorale
$6,400.00
Legacy of the British Isles: "I have had singing..."
100
100
NA
95
94
80
90
559
93.2
Northeast Iowa School of Music
$2,700.00
Lollipops & Music for our Preschoolers
100
94
NA
93
88
94
84
553
92.2
Grand Opera House
$4,000.00
Ghosts of the Grand
91.00
NA
95.00
92.00
81.00
90.00
449
89.8
Dubuque County Historical
Society
$8,070.00
Julien Dubuque: The Artistic Portrayal
67
98
NA
98
95
96
84
538
89.7
University of Dubuque
$7,747.40
Mid 20th Century American Regionalist Prints
69.00
97
NA
93
92
89
440
88.0
Julien Dubuque International Film
Fest
$8,000.00
Film Festival 2013
93.00
78.00
NA
90.00
88.00
83.00
88.00
520
86.7
Loras College
$4,750.00
Black History Month: African American Achievement
65.00
98.00
NA
90.00
93.00
90.00
84.00
520
86.7
Dubuque Arboretum Association,
Inc.
$2,580.00
Japanese Garden Installation
69
92
NA
95
88
83
90
517
86.2
Brick Road Films
$7,500.00
Dubuque's Historic Millwork - A Visual Record
82
87
NA
80
90
75
90
504
84.0
Multicultural Family Center
$8,822.00
Native American Heritage Month
65
81
NA
90
80
91
84
491
81.8
Matter
$7,000.00
Faces of the District Public Art Project
63
78
NA
70
77
74
67
429
71.5
Dubuque Fire Pipes and Drum
Band
$6,225.00
Purchase of Uniforms
0
88
NA
70
78
74
73
383
63.8
A motion was made by Hemmer and seconded by Riedel to fund the top six ranked applicants at their
full grant request using the carryover of $4,662 in FY 12 budgeted funds. Motion passed 6-0. The
recommendations will be forward to the City Council for a decision at the June 18 Council meeting.
Recommended grant awards are:
• Dubuque Museum of Art
• Dubuque Symphony
O Dubuque Chorale
6 NE Iowa School of Music
O Grand Opera House
O Dubuque Co Historical
Dubuque at Work, 1912-2012 Photography
Summer Melodies
Legacy of the British Isles
Lollipops & Music for our Preschoolers
Ghosts of the Grant
Julien Dubuque, The Artistic Portrayal
$7,762
$9,730
$6,400
$2,700
$4,000
$8,070
Items from Commission.
1. Commissioners suggested that we should explore the opportunity for grantees to appear at a
Council meeting to explain their project and thank the Council for approving the grants.
Information Sharing:
1. Purchase of service grants process approved by City Council. Staff distributed copies of
the City's new Purchase of Service Grant Guidelines.
2. O'Rourke and Stoffel will attend Americans for the Arts Convention. It will take place in
San Antonio, TX, from June 6-10.
Adjournment
Motion by Hemmer, seconded by Riedel to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:30
p.m. The next meeting will be held in the Lacy Board Room on June 26 at 4:30 p.m.
Res ectfully submitted,
Ja(toffeI, Arts/id Cultural Affairs Coordinator
These minutes were passed and approved on June 26, 2012.
Louise Kannes, Secretary