City of Lawrence

Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission

December 8, 2010 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Susan Craig, Eric Dobbins, Christie Dobson, Sarah Harris, Amy Kelly, Lori Maddaus, Kathy Porsch;

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mandy Lamb, Jane Pennington, Darin White

STAFF PRESENT:

Diane Stoddard, Zalneraitis, Lawrence’s Economic Development Coordinator/Planner

PUBLIC PRESENT:

N/A

 

 

Minutes from November were approved with one correction.

 

Task Force Report: The Arts Sustainability Task Force distributed their minutes from Oct. 10, Nov. 9, and Nov. 30 and reported on the visit to the Arts Incubator of Kansas City (113 West 18th Street, KCMO). Zalneraitis reported that his interest in the Arts Incubator started with a First Friday visit and led to the Nov. 30 visit. The Lawrence group met with Jeff Becker, Executive Director & Program Director, who shared information about the history and operations of the Incubator. They have a low cost building where they offer training, arts equipment, and rental space for events. The rental space is leased every week and provides about 1/3 of the Incubator’s operation costs.  

Commissioner Kelly asked if it would be possible for Lawrence to undertake a similar project and Zalneraitis said yes, if everything aligns.

 

Commissioner Dobbins asked how such an Incubator differs from the Lawrence Arts Center (LAC) and Zalneraitis explained that while LAC has an educational focus, the Arts Incubator is training artists in business practices.

 

Commissioner Dobson reported that the Arts Sustainability Task Force has had several meetings and is leaning toward an Incubator for Lawrence because of it being artists-focused. Strategic planning by the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC) is required. She recommends that LCAC use the money that we have set aside to hire a consultant to help craft a RFQ and she identified potential advisors or consultants. She suggested the consultant might facilitate a LCAC retreat in January where we could identify the top priorities for the arts in the city of Lawrence; determine how an arts czar position would function; and indicate how we could approach developing a strategic plan.

 

Commissioner Porsch suggested we need a 3-5 year plan with a 3-prong approach: inventory arts in Lawrence (learn the players & organizations); develop a strategic plan with stake-holders; and implement the strategic plan.

 

Commissioner Dobbins said we must involve the patrons who would buy artists' work in our planning and Commissioner Porsch asked how to develop a culture of people who want to buy art. Stoddard emphasized that we need the empirical information to convince the City Commission to invest in a new arts position and we need to identify how the arts economy benefits Lawrence.

 

Zalneraitis offered to draft an RFQ based on our discussion and on the notes from previous discussions for response from LCAC. At our January meeting, LCAC will then discuss and approve an RFQ to hire someone to help LCAC prepare a strategic plan which might lead to hiring an arts czar for the city. 

 

Election of Officers: Commissioner Dobson presented the slate of candidates which consisted of nominating Commissioner Porsch to be Chair, Commissioner Pennington to be Vice-Chair, and Commissioner Craig to be Secretary. Commissioner Dobson moved and Commissioner Maddaus seconded the election of this slate. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Kelly was thanked for her stellar service as Chair.

 

Outdoor Downtown Sculpture: The call for entries has been distributed.

 

Miscellaneous: General discussion of ideas for future projects and directions for the LCAC included sponsoring a summer arts festival, instituting an arts incubator, developing a performance space, meeting the challenge of how to pull together the various arts organizations for a single purpose. All of these may be revisited if LCAC has a retreat to talk about Strategic Planning later this year.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.