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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-27 Arts Culture Commission MinutesDraft Minutes ☐ Approved Minutes ☒ Approved Date: 8/24/2017 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Arts and Culture Commission Edina Art Center Studio 14 July 27, 2017 4:30 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Anne Miller called the meeting to order at 4:34 p.m. II. Roll Call Commissioners Present: Stella Chaffee, Douglas Hegley, Heather Isaacs, Ray Meifert, Anne Miller and Russ Rubin and Steve Suckow. Commissioners Absent: Susan Chandler, Cheryl Gunness. Student Commissioners Absent: Jane Howe and Mollie Mertes. Staff Present: Michael Frey, General Manager, Edina Art Center. III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Suckow with a second by Commissioner Rubin to approve the meeting agenda as amended to strike Item IV, Approval of Minutes. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes A. Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting Minutes V. Community Comment No community members were present. VI. Reports/Recommendations A. 2017 Work Plan – Initiative 1 – Feasibility of a New Art Center Commissioner Hegley gave a brief review of the draft letter to Council written by Commissioners Chandler and Hegley. The letter is in response to Initiative 1 of the 2017 Arts & Culture Commission Work Plan-Feasibility for a New Art Center. A copy of the letter was circulated electronically prior to the meeting. The Commission offered comments. Commissioner Meifert reported on a 2002 Rand Corporation Report by Kevin Murphy stating the Mechanisms of Arts Impact – Economic, Cultural and Social. The report talks about how a strong arts presence has the potential to bring people from outside to an area, and the social capital an arts center offers and the added benefit to the community. In addition, companies that support the arts are highly respected. Draft Minutes ☐ Approved Minutes ☒ Approved Date: 8/24/2017 Commissioner Chaffee stated there is a disadvantage for people moving to Edina if there is less of a focus on the arts. Commissioner Isaacs asked about any discussion on artist work/live spaces. All members were very grateful to Susan Chandler and Douglas Hegley for their work on the draft letter. B. Site Visit – White Bear Center for the Arts Commissioners Miller and Suckow and Staff Liaison Frey visited the White Bear Center for the Arts earlier in the day. Member Suckow reported that the White Bear Center for the Arts is a 501(c) 3, and was a former warehouse space with low visibility. The building was demolished for $750,000 and re-built for 3.5 million. Peter Kramer was the architect hired to create a beautiful renovation in partnership with artist Kinji Akagawa who was consulted on outdoor spaces including a labyrinth. The building has three multi-purpose classrooms, a multipurpose gallery that is plumbed with a vitrine cover on wheels. It is a delightful space; light, airy with high ceilings and lots of outdoor space, a community oven and class to build community oven, and a library with gas fireplace. The Center saw an 82% increase in participation once the new building opened. There is a vibrant space for cultural activities, the building is near downtown White Bear Lake and the community can grow with a prominent, visible location. A community theater is being planned for the adjacent vacant lot. Commissioner Miller noted that the grounds are beautifully landscaped with space for outdoor programming. The center is an independent 501(c) 3 with no relationship with the city. They have one FTE development director, a core group of donors over the long term and 160 volunteers. The building is located one block from the high school, two blocks from the middle school, and four blocks from the elementary school. Commissioners Meifert and Rubin will visit the Minnetonka Center for the Arts on Friday, and Commissioners Chaffee and Gunness will visit Artistry in Bloomington on Monday, July 31. VII. Correspondence and Petitions None received. VII. Chair and Member Comments None voiced. VIII. Staff Comments Staff Liaison Frey spoke about the 2018 Arts & Culture Commission Work Plan. IX. Adjournment Commissioner Chaffee motioned to adjourn with a second by Commissioner Rubin. Motion carried. The July 2017 Arts & Culture Commission meeting was adjourned at 5:23 p.m.