City of Lawrence

Lawrence Arts Commission

Meeting Minutes for January 11, 2006

 

 

Members Present:

Marlene Merrill

Elizabeth Hatchett

Kay Henry

Sandra Wiechert

Jeff Ridgway

Evie Rapport

Liz Kowalchuk

Judi Geer Kellas

Margaret Morris

James Schaefer

Mary Kennedy McCabe

 

Staff Liaison Present:  Michael Tubbs

 

A.      The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Merrill at 6:30 pm. 

 

1.        Announcements from the Chair: There will be an Art and Economic Development Symposium sponsored by the Arts Council of Johnson County. It will take place at Johnson County Community College at 4pm on January 24th. Commissioners are invited and encouraged to attend if possible.

2.        Commission Chair Merrill complimented Staff Liaison Tubbs on his work getting the Arts Commission website up and functioning.

3.        Commission Chair Merrill announced that there are two Arts Commissioners who are going off the commission: Commissioner Ridgway and Commissioner Henry. Commissioner Rapport is up for re-appointment for second term. Staff Liaison Tubbs is working with the Mayor's office on the appointment process.\

 

B.    Approval of Minutes:

 

1.      Corrections to Nov 9, 2005 Minutes: spelling of Commissioner Geer Kellas name: it is Judi with an “i”,  Section C,1.a.: should read “Arts Center” instead of “Arts Commission”. Section 2, a.: photos were printed in the Lawrence Journal World “People and Places” page rather than the “Friends and Family”. Commissioner Wiechert motioned to approve the Minutes with corrections.  Commissioner Geer Kellas seconded.  Motion passed.

 

C.    Regular Agenda Items

 

1.        Announcements from the Chair:

a.        There will be an Art and Economic Development Symposium sponsored by the Arts Council of Johnson County. It will take place at Johnson County Community College at 4pm on January 24th.

b.       Commission Chair Merrill complimented Staff Liaison Tubbs on his work getting the Arts Commission website up and functioning.

c.        Commission Chair Merrill announced that there are two Arts Commissioners who are going off the commission: Commissioner Ridgway and Commissioner Henry. Commissioner Rapport is up for re-appointment for second term. Staff Liaison Tubbs is working with the Mayor's office on the appointment process.

 

2.     Subcommittee updates:

 

a.        Grant Committee: (Commissioner Morris):  The Grant Committee met and worked on a redesign of the grant form. The format is in line with other grants of this nature, such as the Kansas Arts Commission Grants & Mid America Arts Alliance’s programs. We compiled a database list for the mailing of artists and community organizations in Lawrence to publicize the program. Postcards about the grants, the grant workshop and the Arts Commission website will go out soon. The grants are available to download off the website.. The date for the grant workshop is February 6th.  Due date for the grants is 4pm Monday, February 27th. The KAC will come to present their grant program at the workshop as well.

b.       Outdoor Sculpture: (Chair Geer Kellas):  The brochure is complete and ready to go out in the mail.

c.        Percent for Art (Commissioner Schaefer):  The meeting of the full committee met in November. The group decided on areas within the site for the art, and toured the site with the Project Manager Jim Reeves. The decision was made to focus on outdoor areas for the artwork, for more public access to the work. The group also met in December to review process for applications: it will be a two stage process: 1) Applications in form of RFQ’s will be reviewed. The committee will make selections from this pool to ask for RFP’s including details of the design and project plan. Review of the RFQs will be February 24th.

d.       Phoenix Awards (Commissioner Wiechert): Photos of the Phoenix Awards were in the “People & Places” section of the Lawrence Journal World on Christmas Eve Day. Many of the nominees expressed their thanks to the committee & were very pleased with the event. The Journal World was contacted about the awards, so they received great publicity this year via a feature article in the paper about the nominees.

e.        Developmental Workshops (Commissioner Hatchett & Grant Committee): The Grant Committee will hold a workshop on the Arts Commission Grants on Feb 6th at 7pm at the Lawrence Arts Center. The KAC will also come to present their grant programs at 8pm.

 

D.    New Business:

 

  1. A synopsis describing the work of the Arts Commission was put together by Commissioner Wiechert. It is available from her, and from Staff Liaison Tubbs if and when needed.
  2. Nominations for Offices: the offices rotate on a yearly basis.
    1. Chair: Commissioner Merrill

                                                               i.      Commissioner Wiechert moved to accept, Commissioner Rapport seconded. Motion passed.

    1. Vice-Chair: Commissioner Wiechert

                                                               i.      Commissioner Merrill closed nominations to accept Commissioner Wiechert as Vice Chair. All were in favor.

    1. Secretary: nominations pending appointment of new Arts Commissioners.

                                                               i.      Commissioner Hatchett will substitute until the position is filled.

  1. Guest Presentation: Marie Thompson, Artist by Design LLC about the Kansas River Expression of Soul Project.
    1. Project idea was presented as a wildlife habitat / shelter area incorporating artwork for the area north of Santa Fe station and New York Street. The idea was for this area to function as a community sculpture garden, with the collaboration of art and science as the overall idea. Commissioners discussed project idea with the presenter and gave suggestions for starting points for the project: specifically to form a committee to help plan, and to appoint a liaison with the Arts Commission. Commissioners articulated interest in being updated on the development of the project. The Arts Commission also expressed their appreciation for the Speaker’s effort to inform the Arts Commission about the project in its early stages.

 

  1.  Farewells & Presentations to Commissioner Ridgway and Commissioner Henry.
    1. Commissioners leaving the Arts Commission were presented with plaques in appreciation of their service to the Commission.

 

E.     Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Kowalchuk, seconded by Commissioner Geer Kellas.

 

G.    The next meeting will be February 8, 2006, at 6:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted by Margaret Morris