Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affiars Commission 10 23 12Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION
October 23, 2012
Lacy Board Room
Carnegie-Stout Library
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. Julie Steffen arrived at 4:45 p.m. Gina Siegert arrived at 5:30
p.m.
Staff Present: Jerelyn O'Connor, Jan Stoffel
Approval of Minutes of September 25, 2012. Motion made by Henkels, seconded by
Kames to approve minutes as read. Motion carried 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. FY2014 Budget Request. O'Connor explained that staff has submitted the FY
2014 budget request for Arts and Culture with no improvement packages
submitted. A copy of the budget request and accompanying narrative was
shared with the Commission for review and approval. Since two improvement
packages were approved by the City Council for the current year for staffing (an
additional 10 hours per week) for the Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator and a
$10,000 increase in the Operating Support Grant program, the consensus of the
Commission was to not request additional improvement packages at this time.. It
was commented that the narrative provided a good summary of the arts and
cultural affairs activity.
2. FY 2012 Specials Projects Grants Closing Reports. Stoffel reported that all
Special projects grants from 2012 had been successfully completed and final
reports have been submitted.
3. Introduction and swearing in of Commissioner Gina Siegert. Chair O'Rourke
administered the Oath of office at 5:30 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Update of Iowa Arts Council grants and review program and innovations
offered by other municipalities. Stoffel reported that the new granting
guidelines through the Iowa Arts Council are not yet available. Grants manager
Linda Lee had been on a medical leave. Stoffel visited with Matt Harris, the
director of the Arts Council about its direction with the grants. They will be "right-
sizing" the grants, not slicing the pie into small pieces. They hope to do fewer
things, but do them well. There will be no new Cultural Leadership Partner grants
in the near future. They will move to fewer deadlines, do a better job of review
and fund excellence. The Arts Council follows the NEA definition of artistic
excellence and merit .They also home to streamline the process for the
applicants.
Stoffel searched other municipalities with grant programs. Many of the cities
included in Dubuque's population cohort from the Arts and Economic
Prosperity IV did not have granting programs. Findings included:
• Most grant programs required a 1:1 match, with some requiring 1:1 cash
to in -kind ratio.
• Most cities also had a maximum grant award.
• Grants were given in a variety of categories: Arts and Business
Collaborative grants, Theatre rental and Marketing Assistance,
Presentation projects, Educational, Neighborhood Development,
Community Initiatives.
• Larger grants required a 501c3, smaller grants required Articles of
Incorporation or fiscal agent.
• Succinct, measurable goals were included in the grant applications.
• Many of the grant programs used community engagement, involvement of
new audiences and preservation of cultural heritage language.
2. Special Project grant program discussion. The commission discussed ways in
which our grant program might reflect the City Council priority goals of social and
cultural vibrancy, establishing a welcoming community that includes all citizens of
Dubuque and appealing to those of all cultures. They asked staff to analyze
grants from the last few years to look at the pattern of match amounts. The asked
staff to examine all of the collected research and make recommendations at the
next meeting.
3. Arts Means Business marketing plan. O'Rourke accepted the Arts and
Humanities Month Proclamation from the City Council and remarked about the
economic impact study numbers. Stoffel appeared on Mediacom Newsmakers
about the data. A brochure about the economic data and the report on City Arts
funding is in production and will be presented to the Council at a later date. An
electronic form of the brochure will also be available online.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION
1. The City of Dubuque was recognized by Dubuque Main Street for conducting the
Arts and Economic Prosperity IV economic impact study and releasing the data
in 2012.
2. Karnes attended Faces from the Warehouse opening. It was well attended, with
over 700 people voting for their favorite banners that will be on display in the
Millwork District through May.
3. Hemmer reported that he often conducts tours from passengers from the
American Queen. He recently hosted a visitor, a retired opera singer, who
requested to sing on the Grand's stage and deemed it a cultural opera gem.
INFORMATION SHARING
1. O'Connor and Stoffel met with Quad City Arts Executive Director Carmen
Dar land who wanted to vist Art on the River and discuss arts initiatives in the
City
2. A Public Art for Rural Communities conference was held in Coon Rapids and
features Melinda Childs, one of the jury members for Arts on the River 2012.
3. Public input meeting on South Port of Dubuque redevelopment are being held
to talk about possible uses of the area.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Hemmer, seconded by Kames to adjourn. Motion passed 7-0. Meeting
adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Next meeting is Tuesday, November 27, 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Stoffel
Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator
These minutes were passed and approved ont
Su Riedel, Sec etary