Lawrence Arts Commission
Minutes of February 14, 2007
Present: Evie Rapport, Chair; Donna Griffin; Elizabeth Hatchett; Tom King;
Liz Kowalchuk; David Loewenstein; John Reeves; Sandra Wiechert.
Absent: Margaret Morris; James Schaefer.
City Liaison: Michael Tubbs
A. Commission Chair Rapport called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in the City Commission Room.
B. Commissioners Loewenstein and Kowalchuk moved and seconded that the Jan. 10
Minutes be approved as written. The motion passed.
C. 1. Commission Chair Rapport introduced new Commissioner King who is a free lance writer and former professional chef. Reappointed commissioners include Donna Griffin, Elizabeth Hatchett, and Sandra Wiechert. One vacancy remains. Liaison Tubbs distributed prints by artist Lisa Grossman to commissioners who had not been able to attend the recent City reception for all members of all the commissions.
2. As Lisa Patterson, City Communications Coordinator, will be on maternity leave until June, Michael Tubbs will be absorbing her liaison work with the Sister Cities Commission. This means LAC meetings temporarily will be held in Fire Station #5
at 7 pm. The chair also announced a Feb. 20 meeting with City Manager Dave Corliss, formerly a city liaison to the LAC, to discuss the LAC and related topics. March 8th will be Arts Day in the Kansas Capitol. Commissioners wished liaison Tubbs would have the time to attend these and other arts related meetings.
3.a. Commissioner Griffin reported a press release about the grants had been sent out. Forms have been uploaded. Applications are due March 26. Commissioners will review and select winners April 11. After City Commission approval in May, checks will be distributed in June.
Commissioners discussed a possible workshop for these grant applications, but the consensus was none was needed.
Commissioner Wiechert expressed concern about the requested final reports on past grants. Apparently few have been submitted. Discussion followed on the mechanics of these needed reports.
b. Commissioner Reeves reported 30 submissions for this year’s Outdoor Sculpture exhibit, double from last year. Parks and Recreation Department staff will look at the slides and specifications first to cull those which cannot be safely and successfully mounted. The remainder will be put on a CD to send to the juror for review.
c. Commissioners Reeves and Kowalchuk reported on a conference call with the sculptors for the Fire Station #4 Percent for Art project, concerning technical issues of lighting, pavement, text, etc. The signed contract stipulates completion by August 10.
A proposed plaque is not part of the budget.
d. & e. No reports.
f. Commissioner Wiechert presented updates on the many different kinds of artistic activities currently scheduled in Lawrence, as learned at the February Arts & Culture Roundtable meeting.
Lawrence Arts Commission Minutes of February 14, 2007 Pg. 2
D. Old Business
1. In discussing the various LAC committees, Michael Tubbs proposed a budget and finance committee, to include the chair, vice chair, and secretary. It was decided to combine a marketing committee with the website committee.
Commissioners discussed if current LAC projects would significantly add to administration costs, hoping the mayor and city officers will support these projects. Commissioners discussed ways of raising our own funds through grants and other means. This will be further discussed at our strategic planning meeting.
2. Commissioners Reeves and Kowalchuk reported on the January 23rd Arts Congress.
Commissioner Reeves has written a summary letter about it to City Manager Dave Corliss, with copies to the LAC chair and secretary.
3. Commissioner Hatchett distributed copies of a letter from the website designer,
Andrea Wertzberger, asking for articles and committee project descriptions for the website. LAC chair Rapport set the deadline of Friday, Feb. 23, for everything to be sent to Andrea Wertzberger and Commissioner Hatchett.
As assigned, Wiechert will send histories of both LAC and the Phoenix Awards; Morris about Grants; Reeves on the Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit; Kowalchuk on Percent for Art; Rapport on budget and finance; and Hatchett on the website. Commissioners Loewenstein will provide photographs of Percent for Art projects, and Wiechert miscellaneous photographs.
E. New Business
1. Commissioners discussed an orientation session for new commissioners Griffin and King plus whoever will soon be appointed, and also a proposed strategic planning session. In general it was felt best to not combine the two.
The orientation session probably will be on March 3rd or 10th, depending on when/if City Mgr. Corliss can come.
It was suggested that a professional facilitator run the strategic planning session. Carol Nalbandian was suggested by several. Commissioner Kowalchuk will check with her. Commission chair Rapport will work out the details and inform members.
2. Commissioner Reeves had read of the new park shelter being built in the Pinckney Park, and wondered if percent for art funds should or would become available. Commissioners are unsure what these funds really are and how they are to be used. These and other questions will be asked Feb. 20 when the officers meet with City Mgr. Corliss.
Commissioners Griffin and Loewenstein moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed at 9 pm. The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 14, at Fire Station #5 in the Jayhawk Room, 7 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Wiechert, Secretary