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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20231108 - PacketNote: We will not gather at 5:45 before the meeting for photos! Jeannie will not be at the meeting. We will do the photos before the December meeting. Hastings Arts and Culture Commission Agenda November 7, 2023 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Approval of Minutes – October 11th OLD BUSINESS 3. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures NA b) Finance & Fundraising c) Outreach & Communications 4. Updates from Commissioner - Liaisons with City Commissions 5. Festival of Trees Decision 6. Update on Google Calendar 7. Update on City Hall Tour - January 20th Update by Barb & Kirk 8. Completion of City Hall Brochure Update by Kirk NEW BUSINESS 9. Mission Statement Discussion led by Sherry 10. Goals for 2024 - How to accomplish them? 11. Announcements 12. Adjourn *Civic Arena Project Discussion postponed until December’s meeting Page 1 of 6 Hastings Arts & Culture Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 11, 2023 – 6:00 PM Hastings City Hall – Volunteer Room 1. Call Meeting to Order Meeting called to order at 6:10 p.m. Present: Commission Chair Hollenbeck; Vice Chair Read; Commissioners Becker, Humphrey, McCoy, Skeba, Tribe; Staff representative Lee Absent: Commissioner McGinn Also present: Mayor Mary Fasbender 2. Approval of Agenda Commissioner McCoy stated he has an update on the shared Google calendar. It will be added to the updates section of the agenda. Commissioner McCoy motioned to approve; Commissioner Skeba seconded. Motion carried. 3. Approval of Minutes – September 13, 2023 Regular Meeting Commissioner Humphrey motioned to approve; Commissioner Becker seconded. Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS 4. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures Subcommittee has not met. Finance & Fundraising Update by Skeba and Read Vice Chair Read shared that members met and discussed grant writing and the need to identify what they wish to start working on and where it fits into the budget. He said the best approach is to figure out projects and find grants to fit those, rather than finding grants and trying to fit projects into grant criteria. Skeba added that they discussed several ideas, including a mural out by the south side of town—specifically the civic arena. He reminded that the Parks Commission has asked for commission collaboration with that structure. That item will be discussed later in the meeting. The subcommittee also discussed the holiday tree event and will share those thoughts when we get to that item further on the agenda. Arts and Culture Commission October 11, 2023 Minutes Page 2 of 6 b) Outreach & Communications Update by Humphrey and Tribe 1. Recap of Creative Convergence Commissioner Humphrey recapped the event. She distributed a handout created from an activity conducted at the event that highlights attendee feedback about connecting in the artist community, how the commission could support them as artists, and the types of arts and cultural events they would like to see in Hastings in the next five years. The commission will address this information at a future meeting, perhaps January. Attendees included Artspace residents, a Red Wing Arts and Culture Commissioner, an orchestra member, and HPAC writers. She stressed that we should be paying attention to those who showed up because they are clearly committed. Humphrey added that they are aiming to host this event twice a year. The next one will be held in spring, possibly May. Other Updates She submitted a request to Prairie Island Tribal Council – tribal elections just happened and once situated, someone will be reaching out. The Indigenous Peoples’ Day post went out on city channels. Next year, she suggested the commission find an Indigenous artist to connect with and contribute to whatever project we are trying to implement in the city. Another idea is the Minneapolis Migizi Center, a technology center in Minneapolis, that just reopened after burning down in the civil unrest. We can reach out to people and students there to see if they want to contribute anything or work with us. 2. Update on Webpage Tasks to be Completed by Full Group • Choose a date for group commission photo taken by Tribe to be posted on city’s website • Come up with a mission statement (for commission) and operational tagline (for interfacing with residents) • Set up procedures and applications for arts submissions • Activate commission email (Staff member Lee will take care of this) 5. Updates from Commissioner Liaisons with City Commissions a) Heritage Preservation Tribe will be attending their ghost tours event tomorrow night. b) Parks Commission Skeba had nothing new to report. Arts and Culture Commission October 11, 2023 Minutes Page 3 of 6 c) HEDRA Hollenbeck said there was nothing related to arts at this time. d) Civic Arena – Hollenbeck Hollenbeck has been conversing with Parks and Recreation Director Chris Jenkins about the mural on the civic arena. He said they would request it on a flat surface and then adhere it to the building, rather than painting on the building itself. Jenkins sent her email about arena planning process and asked how commission would like to be involved with that. Their consulting team could get commissioners up to speed after stakeholders meet. Hollenbeck asked members if they want to form a separate task force to work on that. Commissioners would like more clarification about what participation means before committing and suggested Jenkins be invited to the next meeting. The group then tossed around several ideas for the project. Hollenbeck said she has also been working with Jenkins on scheduling installation of Dale Lewis sculptures. She will contact Lewis for his availability to determine installation date and details. 6. Follow up on Collaborating on Events (2023) a) Christmas in the Park – Update by Skeba Skeba reported he had provided different variations of the event to stakeholders, including Parks Department, and solicited relevant feedback. Commissioners and Mayor Fasbender discussed several options and agreed on the following: When: Kickoff of this event will coincide with Holiday Hoopla and the Mayor’s tree lighting event on Saturday, November 25 at 5:30 p.m. Trees will be on display for two weeks. Where: North lawn behind City Hall Plan: Commission would purchase 10 live trees (estimate $1,000) and solicit 10 civic groups to sponsor those trees. Commission would provide tree stands and lights (estimate $1,000); civic groups would provide their own decorations. Vice Chair Read motioned to proceed with the tree lighting event and purchase 10 trees, as well as tree stands and lights for a total budget request of $2,000. Seconded by Skeba. Motion carried. Commissioners will work to get this item on the City Council consent agenda at a November meeting. Arts and Culture Commission October 11, 2023 Minutes Page 4 of 6 b) Holiday Hoopla – Update by Hollenbeck Hollenbeck reported the city hall tour previously scheduled to coincide with the Holiday Hoopla event has been moved to January 20 to tie into the Downtown Business Association’s ice sculpture celebration. She asked if the commission would like to host/sponsor an ice carving with commission name and noted there are several different price points. While on the topic of city hall tours, Hollenbeck said she and Skeba met with volunteers in the Pioneer Room to put together a flyer for art pieces for building tours—which have expanded beyond art to also include history and architecture. The Tourism Bureau has been conducting tours, and it would be ideal to draft a script for tour guides to include a 20-to-30-minute narration of information and stories collected by the Pioneer Room volunteers. The goal is to launch this at the January 20 event. c) Shared Calendar for Community Arts Events – Demonstration by McCoy McCoy shared a mockup of a Google calendar he created to show how inputted information presents and explained the various access controls, what information can be displayed, what information can be uploaded, and how that information will populate. Other features include the ability to subscribe to the calendar or single events, and the availability to also create a community arts directory. Organizations could share the calendar with a shareable link. The group discussed which organization could host the calendar. Read offered to discuss this with HPAC at their upcoming meeting. Commissioners also wanted clarification on any limitations the city may have to link the calendar to the city’s website. Staff member Lee will connect McCoy with the city’s IT Manager to discuss. They were impressed by the calendar and wish to move forward with researching and pursuing. Next steps would be to make calendar guidelines and provide training to users. 7. Create Subgroup to Select Artwork to Lease for Riverwalk Hollenbeck reminded the group that with recent lease agreements for three Dale Lewis sculptures, that still leaves two vacant pads to fill next year. She asked how the art should be selected and suggested a subgroup be created for this purpose. It was pointed out the commission will be leasing art annually as previous contracts expire. Commissioners agreed to revisit this topic in January. Arts and Culture Commission October 11, 2023 Minutes Page 5 of 6 NEW BUSINESS 8. Identify Community Groups and their Events to Collaborate on in 2024 Commissioners brainstormed about community groups and prominent events they would like to partner with: • IDEA/Pride event, as they need organizational support • BR4R to work on Juneteenth event • Indigenous Peoples’ Day event • Cambodian community for Thao Lao Cambodian New Year event • Artspace regarding its arts mission and management support • Rivertown Days • Hastings Community Band (Becker would like to invite them to future meeting) • Hastings Concert Association for ways to boost attendance and membership • Make Music Day • Halloween • Holiday Hoopla • Paige in Parks Department about summer events to see if there are opportunities for collaboration Commissioners agreed that collaboration should be a reoccurring topic for discussion at future meetings. 9. Goals for Completion 2024 • Continue working with riverfront and leasing sculptures • Flesh out persistent art around town • Goal around better connecting with surrounding communities (Humphrey stressed how important it is to take the time to show up at their events to see how they do it, networking, getting to know them—and not just asking for their help with no investment of our own.) • Revisit the idea of connecting with high school arts department (utility boxes) • Submit grant application on a project • Push forward on arena ideas • Plan for Highway 61 project (start date 2027) – and keep that discussion going • Mural on south and west sides of town (Mayor Fasbender said we are getting a new Welcome to Hastings monument on Highway 55) • Make inroads with HEDRA – can help them make connections in arts community to revitalize; mural/artwork on buildings • More community garden space within town/curated medicinal garden – make art design in garden Arts and Culture Commission October 11, 2023 Minutes Page 6 of 6 • Natural art installations – working with Parks Department • Tours – gardens, historic homes • Add art aspect to a festival – or host our own like other cities do • Presence at Makers Market and arts and craft festival – Rivertown Days Upon her exit, Mayor Fasbender thanked commissioners and said the community is going to appreciate commission efforts once they start seeing more involvement. She went on to say the commission is new, and the city wants arts and culture in community. She gave credit to City Administrator Wietecha for resolving it and figuring out a way to make it happen. She added that the commission is proving to city leadership that they are worth being here. 10. Announcements Hollenbeck reminded that some commissioners’ terms are up at the end of the year. She asked that any members let her know if they wish to opt out, so the city can put out a call for new commissioners to fill any vacant seats. Hollenbeck will pitch ice sculpture tour at the ghost-themed Hastings Historical Society meeting tomorrow. Becker noted the Veterans Day concert with the 204th Army band on November 12 at 1:00pm at Hastings Middle School. He also asked that Al, a representative from River Valley Band, be invited as special guest to December meeting. McCoy announced Black Dirt Theater will be hosting its middle school musical show, Finding Nemo Jr., on November 2 and 3. 11. Adjourn Commissioner McCoy made a motion to adjourn at 7:45pm. Seconded by Commissioner Humphrey. Motion carried. The next Arts and Culture Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 8th at 6:00pm in the Volunteer Room at City Hall. * Reminder that a group commission photo will be taken at 5:45 pm—prior to the meeting. *