Minutes_Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission 11 26 13Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMISSION
November 26, 2013
Lacy Boardroom, Carnegie-Stout Library
The meeting was called to order by Chair Ellen Henkels at 4:33 p.m. following
staff assurance of compliance with the Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners present: Ellen Henkels, Katherine Kluseman, Marina O'Rourke, Jessica
Teckemeyer and Julie Steffen. Sue Riedel and Gina Siegert were unable to attend.
Staff present: Jerelyn O'Connor
Members of the public in attendance: Steve Silberman
Approval of Minutes of November 5, 2013. A motion was made by Teckemeyer and
seconded by O'Rourke to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion carried 5-0.
OLD BUSINESS
Review Commission Goals and Priorities and determine next steps.
Commissioners Teckemeyer and O'Rourke discussed their meeting with the city
manager regarding proposed correspondence to City Council on recommending a
Master Arts Plan for the city. Importance of this became apparent to commission after
discussing a proposal for a major public art sculpture, the Ripple. Consensus of the
commission was to focus on advocating for development of a master arts plan. Motion
by O'Rourke, second by Kluseman to make "Advocating for a Master Arts Plan as the
top item under Priority 1: Advocacy /Visibility. Motion passed 5-0.
Commission goals and priorities are as follows:
Priority I: AdvocacyNisibility: Expand Commission's role as a leading
action/policy/networking organization for the arts.
A. Advocate for establishing a Master Arts/Cultural plan for the city.
• Identify funding streams
• Research cultural arts plans
• Research other community models for guidelines for public art
B. Engage the community in its development towards a culturally rich city.
C. Continued advocacy on local and state levels
• Market the Arts Mean Business campaign
• Commissioners write letters to the editor TH
• Monitor grant programs at Department of Cultural Affairs
• Inform governor and other legislators of art activities in Dubuque
• Obtain Council Proclamation for National Arts and Humanities month
• Provide leadership for communication strategies among arts groups in
the city.
C. Find opportunities for arts leaders to participate and cooperate with
community planning and development leaders (Chamber, GDDC, Main
Street, ECIA, etc.)
• Propose and encourage that arts advocates be included in civic
leadership positions throughout the City of Dubuque
• Keep Arts Mean Business on top of mind information for the business
and economic development community
• Utilize Americans for the Arts for resources on business partnerships
• Make a strong link between the arts and tourism.
D. Continue to send consistent message to Council on funding needs
• Make an increased budget request for grant support and arts staff
as needed.
• Make arts funding an issue in upcoming council elections
• Art on the River
Priority 11. Grant making: Ensure appropriate criteria exist and policies are in place for
grant making.
• Monitor effectiveness of utilizing grant programs to promote community
engagement and inclusiveness.
• Provide tools and opportunities to grant applicants to improve grant
writing.
NEW BUSINESS
Funding Request for Master Arts Plan
O'Connor discussed with the Commission the budget improvement request for funding
for a Master Arts Plan. She mentioned that the Commission had already requested an
increase in the Operating Support and Project Grant programs and asked Commission
to rank those requests. Motion by Kluseman, second by O'Rourke to rank the request
for funding for the Master Plan as top priority, followed by increased funding for the
Operating Support and Special Project Grant programs. Motion passed 5-0.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION
Commission asked whether there are awards for outstanding public art programs as
they believe the Art on the River program deserves recognition beyond Dubuque.
Teckemeyer mentioned the Public Art Review which is an annual recognition by
Americans for the Arts. O'Connor mentioned that the Iowa Arts Council has asked
Dubuque to host the 2014 Public Art Network meeting. Iowa Arts Council also
published an article in their newsletter on the Art on the River Program. There was a
suggestion to contact Forecast Public Art to request that the feature Art on the River.
O'Rourke announced the dates for The Nutcracker.
INFORMATION SHARING
The following information was shared:
1. Staff prepared a nomination of Roy Buol for the Public Leadership in the Arts
Award with supporting letters written by Dan Lobianco, Dubuque Main Street Ltd.
and Geri Shafer, former Chair of the Commission.
2. NISOM shared information on the Arts and Humanities Month Celebration and
speech by Greg Sandow.
3. There's a Dubuque screening of the Indie Film, The Other One in early
December at Mindframe Theater.
4. O'Connor provided an update on the 2014-15 Art on the River.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Henkels, seconded by Kluseman to adjourn. All approved. Meeting
adjourned at 5:40 p.m. As next regular meeting would be on December 24,
Commission suggested cancelling the December meeting.
Re pectfully submitted,
,Jerely O'Connor
These minutes were passed and approved on December 17, 203.
Secretary