HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV.A.2 - Arts and Culture Commission Letter of SupportHEDRA Commissioners, September 2, 2024
The Hastings Art & Culture Commission supports the request of the Hastings Prescott Arts
Council (HPAC) to lease the property at 213 Ramsey Street from HEDRA. As advocates for the
arts and active members of this community, we believe that leasing this space to HPAC is the
best use of this space as a community resource. Leasing the space to HPAC would provide
jobs to artists, a community gathering space of creative learning opportunities, and a
continuation of public investment into cultural programming for the community.
As one of the strategic goals of HEDRA, job creation and growth is very important. The leased
space to HPAC could be viewed as a micro small business incubator. Artists would have
economic opportunities to earn income through teaching classes and exposure to the
community for independent projects or commissions outside of the classroom. Another way
artists can gain income is through the potential dedicated studio space provided by the HPAC
lease. Lack of affordable studio space is a barrier to artists creating projects that can support
them financially.
The leasing of the 213 Ramsey St. space would form a strong private public collaboration
between HPAC and HEDRA which would allow a publicly owned property to become a
community resource. Community members would have access to participate in creative learning
opportunities that are not always consistently available in the community.
The HPAC lease would be a continuation of the City’s public investment in art and culture for
the community. It would strengthen the existing physical and cultural infrastructure of public art
assets within Hastings. The City has invested resources in summer programming at the Rotary
Pavilion, several murals in the downtown area, sculptures on the RiverWalk and the
commitment of establishing an Art & Culture Commission to further show the dedication to the
arts for the benefit of the community.
Leasing the building to the Hastings Prescott Arts Council is not just a win for HPAC, but a
strategic investment in the future of Hastings. It will enhance our city's cultural offerings, support
economic growth, and contribute to the overall quality of life for our residents.
Thank you for considering this request. The Hasting’s Art and Culture Commission is confident
that this partnership will yield positive results for our community, and we support and encourage
HEDRA to approve the lease.
Sincerely,
Barb Hollenbeck, Chair