Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission
Minutes of June 10, 2009
Commission Room, City Hall
Present: Amy Kelly, Chair; Susan Craig, Christie Dobson, Donna Griffin, Matthew Herren, Secretary;
Jane Pennington, Kathy Porsch, John Reeves, Joanne Renfro
Absent: Grant Fitch, Dave Loewenstein, Vice-Chair
City Staff: Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:07 P.M. by Chair Amy Kelly.
B. The Minutes of the May meeting were reviewed and approved as submitted.
C. New Business
No new business.
D. Unfinished Business
Ms. Stoddard passed out a breakdown of the current year’s budget. Twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) remain, because there was not a new Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit installed. Discussion about what to do with these funds included taking a survey of public artworks and their condition, to update a previous one made my Parks and Recreation. This will allow us to identify works in need of maintenance or repair. In addition, the idea of an online survey sent to local artists and arts organizations was introduced. The response to this survey may help direct Commission planning and programs, and add background to grant proposals. A sub-committee of Commissioners Kelly, Griffin, Porsch and Reeves was named to focus on strategic planning. It was also agreed that a published catalogue of public art works be made, perhaps with help from KU students. It is understood that these special projects can be funded by the budget surplus, and this surplus can remain available until 2010, with contracts or agreements in place by December 31, 2009.
E. Regular Agenda Items
1. Announcements from the Chair
No report.
2. Subcommittee Reports
A. ODSE: No report.
B. Phoenix Awards: Commissioner Pennington will hold a sub-committee meeting to review artists to commission the 2009 award. Commissioner Craig suggested several potential candidates.
C. Website: Commissioner Griffin completed a final report for the KS Arts Commission. Payment will be mailed to Andrea Wertzberger this week. In August we shall discuss possible updates to the website.
D. Grants: No report. We are still waiting to hear reports from 2008 recipients.
E. Roundtable: No report, monthly meeting has not happened at this time.
F. Commissioner Items
A sub-committee of Commissioners Kelly, Griffin, Porsch and Reeves was named to focus on strategic planning. The Website committee has been changed to an Outreach committee, consisting of Commissioner Renfro as Chair, and Commissioners Dobson and Herren.
G: Staff Liaison Items
Ms. Stoddard reported that the Reynolds-Nance mural is underway. She also noted that there are several signage problems with Public Art Navigator, particularly with KU pieces, which are creating obstacles. The ODSE piece ‘Conventional Apparatus’ was repaired for $1,000 and removed by the artist. ‘Time Marker’ has also been damaged, and photos of its condition will be sent to the artist.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:33 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Matthew Herren, Secretary