City of Lawrence
Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC)
August 10, 2011 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Craig, Sarah Harris, Jane Pennington, Kathy Porsch, Mari Russell

MEMBERS ABSENT: Christie Dobson, Amy Kelly, Mandy Lamb, Lori Madaus, Christie Dobson, Darin White
STAFF PRESENT: Diane Stoddard, Kelly Unger (intern)

GUESTS PRESENT: Kate Dinneen, Emily Eakes, Saralyn Reece Hardy, Eric Kirkendall, Lucy McAllister, Steve Nowak, Margaret Perkins-McGuiness, Bobbie Rahder, Tim VanLeer

 

Commissioner Porsch called the meeting to order and explained that LCAC, in its effort to identify a vision for the arts in Lawrence, is considering embarking on a strategic plan. She invited Steve Nowak, director of the Watkins Museum to talk to us about the strategic plan process used in Toledo, OH. 

 

The Toledo effort in 2003-04 had a planning committee of about 30 people including artists and representatives from both small and large arts organizations such as the symphony, the opera, the art museum, educational and govermental entities. A coordinator was hired to oversee the process and there was intent to emphasize the arts as a partner in economic development. The coordinator ran the meetings, set the agendas, and conducted town-hall meetings looking for input from individuals. The group met for a year with monthly meetings while smaller groups addressed specific goals. The work began by identifying what worked and did not for each organization and identifying goals: 1) encourage collaboration and create a unified arts calendar; 2) establish an arts district and look at recommending a live/work space for artists; 3) identify funding & resources. The effort had broad representation from the various arts groups but it was hard to maintain a connection to the mayor's office and to keep focus on the goal of economic development. Once the plan was established, there was no follow-through and it was criticized as being primarily directed toward the institutions rather than individual artists.    

 

Comments from the Commissioners and guests included:

·         Instead of preparing a plan, we should invest in the process; emphasize sharing; and conducting summits;

·         Bert Nash had a summit regarding mental health support in Douglas County. They used task forces to do the work that then contributed to the summit which was widely attended by the public. In the end, the effort fell apart because of lack of funding to continue the work.

·         How to get past looking for benefit for each organization and move it to look for the community benefit? Don't start with the focus such as economic development.

·         Factors for a successful strategic plan require having staff and facilitator; there needs to be executive commitment from the mayor and the city commission; look at the NEA tool kit for strategic-planning; pitch the idea to city officials and DON'T proceed if they're not supportive; if the benefit group is too amorphous, it will fail; a plan needs an implementation plan and commitment; if there's no follow through with a budget, it discourages participants.  

·         We’re hearing continual emphasis on the need for a paid position to serve as the arts czar and the need for a facilitator to keep the energy going.

·         A good next step would be developing a vision for the arts in Lawrence; what do arts mean to the city? How should we be investing? How do arts foster economic development? We need to build a compelling vision and perhaps start with the Arts Round-Table in Lawrence that already exists.

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Minutes from the June meeting were approved.

 

Commissioner Porsch moved that we pay for the Phoenix Award cabinet to be built and installed at the Lawrence Arts Center; motion 2nd by Commissioner Pennington. This issue has been discussed at previous meetings and we have sufficient money in the budget. It passed by consensus of all present from last two meetings.

 

The Kansas City Arts Incubator has disbanded. A good deal of their operating costs was funded by renting space for receptions. It was determined that the space was in violation of fire-codes and could no longer be rented.

 

The Kansas Arts Commission is still in business although the office is closed and there is  no staff. The Governor has made new appointees to the commission. NEA is currently considering whether Kansas will still qualify for federal grants.

 

The Lawrence Arts Center is willing to host grant workshops on a Saturday morning. Commissioner Porsch suggested we sponsor two workshops, one directed at individual artists and another that would target organizations.

 

Commissioner Porsch has established a LCAC Facebook account; she will be posting grant opportunities & Lawrence events and already has over 100 friends.

 

The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce has decided to stop contributing 1/3 funding for Final Fridays ($300 per month); Commissioner Porsch suggested that LCAC consider assuming that role--$3600/yr--as a partner with the Lawrence Arts Center & the Downtown Lawrence Association; for the balance of this year, we could reallocate the $1000 that was allocated to DLAD for Flash spaces; next year we could consider reducing our expenditure on the Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition.

Arts Sustainability Task Force: Commissioner Pennington reported the group continues to meet and she will be interviewed by Hank Booth on August 25 from 8:30-9am on KLWN; She suggests that commissioners should approach various community members about their "vision" and reminded us of the Lied Center open house for the arts on August 27.

 

Community Arts Grants: Rewriting of the guidelines is underway.

 

Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition: The Jan Gaumnitz sculpture placed outside the Eldredge Hotel has been damaged. The artist and city staff are conferring regarding repairs. Commissioner Craig has had the past brochures scanned and they are now on the LCAC website. Craig will talk to the Lawrence Public Library about housing the brochures.

  

Phoenix Awards: The deadline for nominations is August 26. Commissioners are encouraged to recruit applications.

 

Percent for Art: We need clarification as to who is on the committee for the Lawrence Public Library project and who should be calling the first meeting so input can be made while the building design is still in process. Diane Stoddard offered to investigate and report at our next meeting. It has been suggested the Percent for Art funding generated by the Water Treatment Plant be donated to support the new Theater Lawrence building rather than to commission a piece of art.

     

LCAC’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget will be allocation will be $22,500.

 

The LCAC Retreat may be held in January 2012.

 

Meeting adjourned.