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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20231213 - PacketHastings Arts and Culture Commission Agenda December 13, 2023 6:00 p.m. – City Hall Volunteer Room 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Approval of Minutes - November 8th OLD BUSINESS 3. Subcommittee Updates a) Policy & Procedures - NA b) Finance & Fundraising - NA c) Outreach & Communications Sherry & Jeannie 4. Updates from Commissioner - Liaisons with City Commissions 5. Update on Google Calendar 6. Update on City Hall Tour - January 20th Update by Barb NEW BUSINESS 7. Mission Statement Discussion led by Sherry & Jeannie Arts and Culture Commission Mission Statement (Current) The Arts and Culture Commission will advise the City Council concerning arts and culture policies, public projects, issues and initiatives. The commission will advocate for arts and culture in Hastings and will work to ensure an inclusive and cross-cultural environment for all residents. Proposed but open for changes Hastings strives to be a creative regional arts and culture hub where everyone can participate. 8. Budget ($36,000) and Projects for 2024 Persistent Art (Murals, sculptures) Performing Arts (Music, dramatic-acting) Cultural Activities 9. Set Dates for Creative Convergence 10. Announcements 11. Adjourn Page 1 of 5 Hastings Arts & Culture Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 8, 2023 – 6:00 PM Hastings City Hall – Volunteer Room 1. Call Meeting to Order Meeting called to order at 6:07 p.m. Present: Commission Chair Hollenbeck; Commissioners Becker, Humphrey, Skeba, Tribe (remote); Staff representative Lee Absent: Vice Chair Read; Commissioners McCoy and McGinn Also present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha 2. Approval of Agenda Commissioner Becker motioned to approve; Commissioner Humphrey seconded. Motion carried. 3. Approval of Minutes – October 11, 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. b) Finance & Fundraising Subcommittee did not meet this month. Commissioner Skeba suggested members consider timelines of grant processes and noted that most grants must be submitted in first part of year (most in January) for calendar year 2025. If commission’s goal for 2025 is a mural, now is the time to start exploring grant writing opportunities. He noted the grants spreadsheet he created is teased out by arts and culture categories. c) Outreach & Communications Update by Humphrey and Tribe Commissioner Tribe reported she met with Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly and reviewed the commission’s page on the city website, using Red Wing as a guide. Minor corrections were made, and Skelly noted the website as a whole will be revamped. Tribe suggested our page link to the city’s 2040 strategic plan, as well as utilize information and statistics from the Hastings Arts and Culture Plan created by HPAC in 2020. Arts and Culture Commission November 8, 2023 Minutes Page 2 of 5 Skelly requested an eight-week notice for commission events, if possible, so she can implement a communications strategy. That said, she was able to include that day’s sculpture installation information in the Hastings City Update. They discussed the commission’s mission statement and created a draft (modified version from Red Wing): Hastings strives to be a creative regional arts and culture hub where everyone can participate. Tribe requested the group work on this mission statement and suggested members review the commission’s webpages and organize information into future goals. She also provided Skelly with a writeup and photos from the recent Creative Convergence event and photos from that morning’s sculpture installation on the river walk to be added to the website and shared on social media channels. Photos were also shared with Mecca/Dale Lewis. Tribe will reach out to HEP about photos of the dragonfly sculpture installation in Linear Park scheduled for Friday. 5. Updates from Commissioner Liaisons with City Commissions a) Heritage Preservation Tribe did not make connection. b) Parks Commission Skeba noted they didn’t have any requests. c) HEDRA Hollenbeck had nothing to report. 6. Festival of Trees Decision Chair Hollenbeck said this project will not move forward because there was not enough time to get everything done. She also felt there was not total commission buy-in on this project. Even though things didn’t move forward, she noted valuable learning lessons the commission can use to be successful in the future: • Establish event criteria and processes. • Determine how/if event meets commission vision and goals. • Understand commissioners’ capacity. • Assign members specific tasks to complete with deadlines. • Set realistic timelines and consider more lead time with projects. Arts and Culture Commission November 8, 2023 Minutes Page 3 of 5 7. Update on Google Calendar Commissioner McCoy was absent, and the update is delayed until next meeting. Hollenbeck noted she would like this calendar in place by the end of the year. 8. Update on City Hall Tour – January 20th Update by Barb & Kirk Hollenbeck mentioned the Downtown Business Association will be hosting its annual ice sculpture event and suggested, per the mayor’s request, it would be a good idea to tie in a tour of City Hall that showcases art and architecture for residents. Skeba said the tour itself needs to be created, and this is a great opportunity for commissioners to work with the volunteers in the Pioneer Room to create it with stories, pictures, etc. that have been collected. He anticipates tour will be roughly 20 minutes in length and noted this will be the launch of a tour that can be replicated in the future. Humphrey suggested working with HPAC to find volunteers for the event. Skeba proposed that commission members also attend and help. Wietecha suggested high school students as greeters if a few people are needed, as well as other arts organizations who may wish to trade volunteer hours and utilize commissioners for their own organizations’ future events. Hollenbeck noted a commission goal is to build a volunteer base and share resources with other arts groups. Tour hours on January 20th will be determined by the commission. Humphrey emphasized the need for a clear plan and tracking of project tasks, including volunteer recruitment and training. 9. Completion of City Hall Brochure – Update by Kirk Skeba presented the brochure he created to have available at City Hall for visitors who stop in to view the building. NEW BUSINESS 10. Mission Statement Discussion As mentioned earlier in meeting, commission needs to flesh out mission statement and hone in on goals for placement on web page. Hollenbeck suggested this be added to next meeting’s agenda when more commissioners are in attendance to provide their input. Tribe again read the current draft of the mission statement as a starting point: Hastings strives to be a creative regional arts and culture hub where everyone can participate. Arts and Culture Commission November 8, 2023 Minutes Page 4 of 5 She stressed the statement be short and to the point. Humphrey suggested members look at the website and note each bullet point under Purpose section to determine the one umbrella to fit the mission statement and what the commission is striving to do. Hollenbeck agreed to email the draft statement, as well as language currently found on the website, to commission members for feedback and insight. Both will be provided by Tribe. 11. Goals for 2024 – How to accomplish them? Hollenbeck reminded at the last meeting the commission made a list of goals and now must figure out how to accomplish them. Humphrey shared suggestions/goals communicated by attendees at the recently held Creative Convergence event: • Build community garden – educational, medicinal, community bonding, food given back to community (possible grant opportunity) • Create space for creative workshops and classes – wonders if Artspace is fulfilling what it is intended to be. Red Wing Creative Center is an example of a space where artists are implementing programs and opening to the public. Outside of Hastings community education, where are things being held or hosted, and where are artists creating? How are we supporting the artist community? • Expand performance space – current space is limited and further restricted by conflicting event schedules She stated that she envisions multi-year projects rather than items to be crossed off a list. She also suggested we could expand reach by working with HEDRA and combining efforts with other city commissions. Hollenbeck circled back to the list of goals the commission established last month. She brought up the civic arena and said she would like to invite Parks and Recreation Director Chris Jenkins to a future meeting to discuss. Humphrey suggested at the next meeting we put a list of ideas before commissioners to vote on one to two projects to commit to completing. Humphrey and Tribe offered to set up a tracking system for projects for adequate planning and meeting of deadlines. Arts and Culture Commission November 8, 2023 Minutes Page 5 of 5 12. Announcements Becker announced the Veterans Day band concert on Sunday, 1:00 p.m. at the middle school. Skeba resigned his position on the commission. Hollenbeck thanked him for his service. Hollenbeck shared that HPAC’s gala is coming up on Sunday, December 4. 13. Adjourn Commissioner Humphrey made a motion to adjourn at 6:59 p.m. Seconded by Commissioner Becker. Motion carried. The next Arts and Culture Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 13th at 6:00pm in the Volunteer Room at City Hall.