ArtPlace America - Letter of Intent Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 13.
ITEM TITLE: ArtPlace America - Letter of Intent
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of the submittal of a Letter of
Intent/Pre-Application prepared by Geri Schafer, Art Management
Consultant and Economic Development Coordinator Megan Starr
requesting ArtPlace America funding for the development and construction
of Creative Commons, a 1 00' x 400' linear park to be located at 4th and
Bell Streets in the Port of Dubuque.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
❑ ArtPlace America Letter of Intent-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
❑ Staff Memo Staff Memo
❑ ArtPlace America 2015 National Grant Application Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBE I
erica .i
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: ArtPlace America Letter of Intent
DATE: November 10, 2014
Recently ArtPlace America announced another round of funding through the National
Grants Program.
Economic Development Coordinator Megan Starr recommends City Council approval of
the submittal of a Letter of Intent/Pre-Application prepared by Geri Schafer, Art
Management Consultant and Megan Starr requesting $500,000 in ArtPlace America
funding for the development and construction of Creative Commons, a 100' x 400' linear
park to be located at 4t" and Bell Streets in the Port of Dubuque. No matching funds are
required to be eligible.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Micliael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Megan Starr, Economic Development Coordinator
Dubuque Economic Development Department
THE CITY OF 50 West 13rh Street
All-AmericaCilp
R Dubuque,Iowa 52001-4564
Du L E Office(563) 589-4393
TTY(563)690-6678
Masterpiece on the Mississippi http://www.cityofdubuque.org
2009•2112-2013
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Megan Starr, Economic Development Coordinator
SUBJECT: ArtPlace America Letter of Intent
DATE: November 5, 2014
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request approval for submittal of an ArtPlace America
Letter of Intent.
DISCUSSION
Recently ArtPlace America announced another round of funding through their National
Grants Program. The National Grants Program is designed to invest in creative
placemaking projects that involve cross-sector partners committed to strengthening the
social, physical, and economic fabric of their communities.
Attached is a Letter of Intent, prepared by Geri Shafer, Art Management Consultant and
myself requesting $500,000.00 in ArtPlace America funding for the development and
construction of Creative Commons, a 100' X 400' linear park to be located at 4th and
Bell Streets in the Port of Dubuque. ArtPlace America does not require matching funds
to be eligible. Should the city be fortunate to receive funding, this grant will be
administered by the Economic Development Department and the city's Arts and Cultural
Affairs Coordinator.
RECOMMENDATION/ ACTION STEP
I recommend approval of the attached Letter of Intent for an Art Place America National
Grant.
CC: Geri Shafer, Art Management Consultant
Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director
F:\USERS\Arts\Arts and Culture Coordinator\ArtPlace 2014\ArtPlace America LOI Staff Memo.docx
ArtPlace America 2015 National Grants Program
Application
Program Summary
Program Summary
General Information
General Inforrmation
About ArtPlace America
About ArtPlace America
Project Information*
ArtPlace America occasionally shares LOIS
with other funders. Please select this box if False
you would like to opt out
Have you previously applied to ArtPlace
America? (Select One) First Time Applicant
Applicant type? (Select one) Government
Other: Please list your applicant type
Are you an Institute of Higher Education? No
Applicant focus? (Select up to three) To
select multiple fields, click the first item, Community Development Culture &
press and hold down the Ctrl key and then Design;Economic Development
click each item that you want to select.
Other: Please specify the applicant focus
type
Artistic discipline(s)present in your
project? (Select as many as apply): To Dance;Design Art;Folk/Traditional
select multiple fields, click the first item, Arts;LIterature;Media Art;Music;Performance
press and hold down the Ctrl key and then Art;Theater;Visual Arts
click each item that you want to select.
Other: Please specify the artistic
discipline(s)type
Department of Agriculture;Department of
To which of the following has your Commerce;Department of Education;Department
organization, project, and or community^ of Energy;Department of Health and Human
recently applied for federal funding (Select Services;Department of Housing and Urban
as many as apply)? Development;Department of Labor;Department of
the Interior;Department of Transportation;E
Department of Energy;Department of Health and
Human Services;Department of Housing and
Urban Development;Department of
Received Justice;Department of Labor;Department of the
Interior;Department of
Transportation;Environmental Protection
Agency;National Endowment f
Have you contacted elected officials (e.g.
mayor, county executive, tribal leadership;
or congressional delegation)to discuss Yes
your project with them?
We have contacted the Mayor and members of the
With whom and, what has resulted from City Council. The project receive unanimous
this conversation? endorsement 7-0 and was just selected as a"top
priority" by Council members at the goal setting
session during October 2014.
Are you a performing arts organization or
individual artist focused on the performing No
arts?
Is your project led by or focused on Native No
American/Tribal/Indigenous arts?
Is your project led by or does it include a
focus on folk and traditional art(ist)s? Yes
ArtPlace has an interest in understanding
the needs of the field. What is the primary
resource (beyond funding) or piece of
knowledge that could improve the
outcomes and impact of your proposed
project?
Originating out of the City of Dubuque's third award as an All-America City, the design
expresses the positive "ripple" effect of individual and community actions. The existing park
located in the heart of the Port of Dubuque is being re-imagined as a public creative zone that
will animate the neighborhood and serve as a magnet for the area.
Name of organization or individual City of Dubuque
applicant:
FIN #/Taxpayer ID#: 42-6004596
List all other sources of funding for this
project and amounts committed or pending City of Dubuque
(Please enter N/A if there are no other
funding sources):
Funding Source 2 (input N/A if this does
not apply)
City of Ddubuque
Funding Source 3 (input N/A if this does
not apply)
Bloomberg Public Arts Challenge
Funding Source 4 (input N/A if this does Dubuque Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
not apply)
Funding Source 5 (input N/A if this does n/a
not apply)
Funding Source Amount Pending 1 (input $0.00
N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Pending 2 (input $200,000.00
N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Pending 3 (input $1,000,000.00
N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Pending 4 (input 0.00
N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Pending 5 (input n/a
N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Committed 1 $1.05 Million
(input N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Committed 2 0.00
(input N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Committed 3 0.00
(input N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Committed 4 $5,000.00
(input N/A if this does not apply)
Funding Source Amount Committed 5 n/a
(input N/A if this does not apply)
Additional Information: Insert additional In November 2014, applications will be made to
information if needed national and regional foundations and corporations
Does your project budget include
local/regional foundation support? Yes
Annual organizational operating budget for
current and previous two fiscal years (If 2015
applying as an individual, please leave
blank. If not applicable, please leave blank
Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2 2014
Operating Budget Fiscal Year 3 2013
Operating Budget Amount 1 $119,891,633
Operating Budget Amount 2 $114,614,963
Operating Budget Amount 3 $108,848,274
Total project budget: $204,000,000.00
Amount requested from ArtPlace America: $500,000.00
Project Request Type: Capital
First name: Geri
Last name: Shafer
Title: Project Director
Phone: (563) 581-7065
Email: gereneshafer@aol.com
Address: 1207 Adeline St.
City: Dubuque
State: IA - Iowa
Zip 52003
Website: n/a
First Name:
Last Name:
Title:
Phone:
Email:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
ED Website:
Fiscal Organization: City of Dubuque
First Name: Megan
Last Name: Starr
Title: Economic Development Coordinator
Phone: 563-690-059
Email: mstarr@cityofdubuque.org
Address: 50 W. 13th Street
Website: www.cityofdubuque.org
City: Dubuque
Zip: 52001
Fiscal State IA - Iowa
Fiscal FIN
Geographic location of the proposed work
(Please be specific about the location(s) of
your project. If your initiative has multiple Creative Commons
sites, please separate the addresses by
semicolons.
Site Address 1 501 Bell Street
Site City 1 Dubuque
Site State 1 IA - Iowa
Site Zip 1 52001
Site Location Name 2
Site Address 2
Site Address City 2
Site Address State 2
Site Zip 2
Site Location Name 3
Site Address 3
Site Address City 3
Site Address State 3
Site Zip 3
Site Additional Information: Please include
the intersections or boundaries of this area Port of Dubuque, 5th and Bell Streets
of activity
Project Narrative*
Name of Project Creative
Commons
A concise description of your project: (be judicious in crafting a SHORT
description that accurately describes your community, what is distinctive about it,
what your challenge is, and how you propose to address that challenge.
A community of 59,000 located on the Mississippi River, Dubuque is a regional destination
hosting visitors from all fifty states and nearly 30 countries. In an area underutilized, the new
park design will offer imaginative ways to present a wealth of arts and cultural experiences for
all who live, work, and visit- increasing vibrancy to the area
1. Describe the place(s) in which your project will take place (e.g. block,
community', city/town, population, demographics, businesses, natural resources,
etc.)
The Creative Commons will be located in the heart of the Port of Dubuque. The 100' x 400'
linear park one block from the edge of the Mississippi River with nine businesses, a hotel, a
convention center, a casino, and the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in the immediate
area.
2. Why did you choose this place for your work?
Usually vacant,the Commons design and increased visibility will help brand it as a destination
for the 1,700,000 visitors, 9 area employers and 1,400 employees visiting the historic riverfront
area.
3. What local challenge/opportunity (social, physical, and/or economic) does your
work seek to address?
Dubuque supports 45 arts and cultural organizations that appeal to a diversity of audiences.
Creative Commons will act as a beacon to these organizations as well as regional, national and
international artists and provide a shared forum to examine and explore creative exchanges
between artists, institutions and individuals.
4. What is the larger portfolio of strategies in your community^, as you
understand them, within which your project is (or plans to be) situated?
Arts and cultural play an important role in Dubuque's economy and social infrastructure.
Through significant partnerships between the City of Dubuque and the Arts and Cultural Affairs
Advisory Commission, the support of individual citizens and numerous arts and cultural
organizations, Dubuque is one of the most vital, creative and attractive places to live and work in
the area Creative Commons supports the City of Dubuque's community goals of social/cultural
vibrancy and inclusivity to engage visitors, citizens, employers, and employees, economic
prosperity by providing cultural and creative amenities for area employers and employees, and
environmental integrity by incorporating sustainable components and practices into the design.
5. How are the arts/artists integrated into your project and larger community^
strategy?
Creative Commons will incorporate the City's Cultural Arts Goals to enrich community life by
providing a place that will offer a variety of accessible arts and cultural activities, promote
affordable and accessible participatory arts and cultural experiences, and utilize them to
encourage a better understanding of cultural diversity in the world.
6. Please describe your work's artistic ambitions and/or the process for
determining an artistic vision.
By engaging artists and arts organizations that utilize music, light, sound, installations,
performance, stories, and theater to explore our social and cultural character, patrons will have
the opportunity to engage in the arts in a fully-accessible and centralized location—adding a
sense of vibrancy and a palpable connection to the arts.
7. Identify your existing partnerships with individuals, organizations, and entities
that are vital to your project's success and describe their role in the development
and execution of the project.
Architect Steve Ulstad designed the Commons which was endorsed 7-0 by City Council. During
recent goal setting in October, it was named as a high priority. Regular meetings are held with
the City of Dubuque, Inclusive Dubuque, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Greater
Dubuque Development Corporation, property owners in the Port, Dubuque Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau, Downtown Cultural Corridor, Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, and
arts and culture organizations to seek input.
8. Why are you working with these partners?
Dubuque has a long history of success utilizing these cross-sector partnerships among these
organizations. This collaboration allows for shared measurements across all stakeholders and
ensures that the vision for Creative Commons meets shared arts and culture and community and
economic goals. Regular input from these partners representing arts and culture, business, and
the government ensures strong community involvement and long-term sustainability of the
project for future generations.
9. Describe the activities you have used and/or will use to enlist and involve all of
your community's stakeholders
Directors make presentations to the City Council, business leaders, individuals, arts/culture
organizations, community organizations, and area educational institutions to involve and enlist
support for the Commons. The development of a website is planned to engage a larger audience
for the project
10. Please describe the project activities for which you are seeking ArtPlace
support (please provide specific activities, not aspirational goals).
Creative Commons is designed to represent the flow of the Mississippi River and the
surrounding limestone bluff areas using materials native to this area. A circular kiosk is
integrated into the design which will allow the use of technology for short films, storytelling,
maps and cultural history. Technology infrastructure for programmable light and sound
experiences will be integrated throughout the Commons. Proposed materials include limestone,
granite, polished concrete, stainless steel, solar lighting and permeable pavers. Support will
enable construction of sitework including stone piers and landscape walls, site pavements,
decorative paving,foundation for the interactive kiosk, necessary infrastructure including
underground piping and conduits, and proportioned contingency and professional fees.
11. Why is now the right time for your project?
A recent All-America City award winner, Dubuque identified inclusivity as a community goal.
Arts and cultural experiences in the Commons will allow numerous opportunities for
engagement across ages, ethnicities, incomes, preferences and abilities.
12. What will be different in your community^at the end of the grant period as a
result of your project?
By developing a dedicated public space for creative exchange, we envision Creative Commons
as a place where people regardless of differences is encouraged to engage in arts and cultural
experiences as a universal language to connect with each other - whether a visitor or resident.
13. What projects or places, if any, have inspired your approach to creative
placemaking?
The pARTnership —Willoughby Arts Complex in Juneau, AK; Project 51 —Play the L.A. River;
Miami Light Project; Polar Lab, Anchorage, AK; Light Brigade, Anchorage, AK; Gil Pelanosa's
8-80 Projects;
Capital Projects: If you have any expenses related to the rehabilitation or
construction of a permanent facility/space/structure in your budget
Yes
14. What market and community'need will your project meet? 350 characters
with spaces
The Commons will serve as a magnet for all working, living, and visiting the area The project
will establish a year-round destination for discovery in the Port of Dubuque on the Mississippi
River. By incorporating language, sound, music, installations,theatre,film, and art at the
location, the Commons will bring cultural vibrancy to the area
15. Who are the existing users of your place/space (age, ethnicity, location,
economic status, gender, etc.)? How will this project change the composition of
your users/audience? 350 characters with spaces
The Forum in the Commons is dedicated to promoting multi-cultural performances. The
interactive kiosk will inspire people to share their stories and explore how ideas can ripple
through the community and become inspirations for change. The light and sound show
experience will engage us to explore our history, our community, and our diversity.
16. What other spaces located near you are doing similar work? Of those doing
similar work, who do you see as partners? Who do you see as competition? What
is the current utilization of this (these) space(s)/place(s)? 500 characters with
spaces
There are two locations within walking distance —the Alliant Amphitheatre and the parking lot
adjacent to a business. Neither one would be seen as competition since those locations focus
more on special events, outdoor festivals, weddings and very few arts and cultural activities that
would compete with the unique experiences planned for Creative Commons. Public art displayed
with Art on the River along the Riverwalk would also establish a connection and result in an
increase in area traffic.
17. How will your project stand the test of changing trends (financial,
organizational, long term maintenance, community, demand, etc)? 500 characters
with spaces
Designed to be flexible, versatile and adapting to a variety of artistic expressions Creative
Commons will ensure its significance by continually engaging artists and partners to address the
ever-evolving creative vision of the community. The City of Dubuque will provide ongoing
maintenance and programming support of the Commons. Community partners across all sectors
will research and plan for long-term sustainability, demand, and changing trends to ensure
relevancy for future generations.