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Home My WebLink About2011-01-27 Arts Culture Commission MinutesEdina Art Center Board Meeting January 27, 2011 4:30pm at EAC Edina Art Center Mission Statement The Edina Art Center mission is to provide facilities, programs and services that meet and reflect the needs of our residents and neighbors for participation, education and enjoyment in the Arts with emphasis on fine arts. Members present: Hafed Bouassida, Steve Carlson, Maria DePesa, Rick Fesler, Bill McCabe, Heather Randall King, John Swon, Renee Usem, and Jini Washburn Members absent, Ruth Valgemae and Thea Zerbe Staff present: Diana Hedges, Scott Neal, Lauren Schauer, & John Keprios CALL TO ORDER: Bill McCabe, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 4:35 pm. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER MINUTES The minutes for the November 18, 2010 meeting were read and approved. WELCOME — Scott Neal, Edina City Manager Scott Neal, new City Manager, visited the Board meeting today. Welcome and introductions to the Board and the Board members introduced themselves as well. Scott is excited to be working in Edina and with the Art Center, and to help and support the Arts. The question was asked is there a new initiative in regards to the Art Center. Scott said in the next few months there will be a review of the funds and how the Art Center fits into the enterprise funds, but other than that not yet. EDINA PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE-Rick Fesler Brad Benn is working on getting sculptures for next year promenade and has send out over 90 emails and letters to artists and has started to get responses. We are awaiting word from the county to receive permission to install the bicycles mosaics on the York Ave Bridge. No further news on the Police Dog sculpture but will be kept updated. Lois Ring has worked very hard on marketing and has contacted the Edina Town Planner to add an image of public art in their calendar. She also has reported to have upcoming articles in the Star Tribune and the Edina Sun Current covering the Call for Sculptors. Heather asked who is going to be the liaison after Rick Fesler is no longer on the Board. Rick and Bill said that no one has been appointed yet, but they will at the next meeting when Ruth is back in town. WAYS & MEANS Committee— Steve Carlson Steve asked the board with a new City Manager, and the proceeds from the Edina Liquor stores are making up for the deficit of some of the other Park and Recreation sections if the Art Center is going to have to find other enterprises for our funding? The consensus was that the budget was not to change thus far. Bill added that finding other funding at some point will come up. We raise money for the Art Center with Memberships, Juried Show, and other special projects like the Greer Garden, and Taste of Creativity. This next year would be good to look at applying for funds with the Minnesota State Art Board. Taste of Creativity generated fewer funds than was expected about $3,700. Half when to the Auxiliary and remaining half went to EPAC and the Art Center, but proceeds were not far from other EAC events of the past. Next time another event is proposed, the time and energy that goes into such a project should really be considered comparatively with what is to be the expected outcome. Looking at the mailing list there are about 5,000 people of which 1,500 are members and 34- 40% are Edina residents. In 2001 about $33,000 and in 2009 about $25,000 was raised by memberships and in 2010 it was a little less. In the future a membership drive would an idea to raise more memberships and it should not be hard to get another $5,000 from memberships with more attention. GALLERY EXHIBITION-Maria DePesa/Thea Zerbe (absent) Young I's a teen art show is for Edina students in their teens 13-19 years of age (any age with a teen suffix), and its goal is to reach undiscovered art talents within teens and bring it forward to the publics attentions. Plans to fundraise for the show are underway with a pop sale at the high school. Posters have been made and posted at the Art Center and at the High School to follow. The exhibit opens on Thursday, Feb. 24. Bill McCabe asked if the exhibit was open to all Edina High School students (such as those at Blake.) Maria stated that other schools were not contacted, only Edina High School. EDINA FILM FESTIVAL — John Swon John Swon gave thanks to Bill and the new members of the Film committee. The terms of agreement with the Landmark Theater are on going. Proposals for the budget and fundraising for the Ways and Mean committee needs to get signed off on yet and there are companies that have expressed interesting in sponsoring and advertising during the event, but nothing solid till the date is set. The budget is not set yet until the terms with the Landmark Theater can be agreed upon, but after that a clear budget can be written. Next meeting is set for Feb 8th at 4pm and all are welcome to attend. Diana asked if the budge has remained the same in the $10,000 range. John says it is much higher now, but it depends on the Landmark's renegotiation. The film festival is looking to raise more money in the end than it spends. Renee asked when artists going to be asked to submit their films. There will be an open call in the spring, but the committee is also looking for a film director who knows the other quality filmmakers in town that would be good to invite, as well as students from the high school. Renee asked if that if there is anyone we know who has been with the Fringe Festival that would be willing to help with the Edina Film Festival and John answer that the Fringe Festival is much larger than what Edina's will be and that its best to keep things modest and we can not run things for days like the Fringe Festival. Bill McCabe New members, Barbara LaValleur, Colin Nelson, and Thomas Raeuchle are to join the Board next month. There are three new people and there is still one spot on the board that has not been filled. Renee suggested to get names from the city of the people who applied for other boards that did not get accepted so we could ask them to join the Art Center Board. The consensus was that it was unlikely that it would be possible and that many people who apply do it for only one specific board. DIRECTOR'S REPORT — Diana Hedges Diana will provide a list of volunteer opportunities to the board for the next board meeting. Membership Chair is one that could be taken on. Liz Eisenbrey was the last Chair and memberships were high then due to her taking the time to personalize correspondence by hand writing letters to our members. Diana apologized for knowingly breaking city code by putting up a banner "Handcrafted Gifts" in the front yard of the Art Center with the intentions of generating more traffic flow and sales for the Art Center. John Keprios added that this was the case with other city events that have had banners that have also broken ordinance but since the Art Center is on the Crosstown it is the only on that gets noticed and that we should be exempt as well. The idea will be explored at the next Board meeting and brought to the City Council. The sign did help with more street traffic coming into the Art Center and it would be worth asking City Council to help the Art Center. NEW BUSINESS Wonderful to have the Board Members that are leaving Heather Randle King, Rick Fesler, and Jini Washburn, it has been a joy to have them on the Board and wish them luck in the future. On March 21st at Centennial Lakes there will be a recognition dinner for new and retiring board members, RSVP is by March llth to Susan Howl at the City. Board members should have received an invitation in the mail. COMMUNITY COMMENT No members of the community were present. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm. 2 Next Board Meeting will be February 24, 2011 at 4:30pm. 3