Arts Commission Minutes

Commissioners Absent: Laurie Fowler, Ken Naigus, Sonia Swigart

Guests: Arlene Catrett, Bridget Karaisz, Mary LaPetz, Nicole Passmore, Paul Vetrees

Approval of Minutes: It was moved by Sharon Rossow, seconded and approved that the February 9, 2005 minutes be approved.

Nicole Passmore was introduced to the Commission as our new Parks & Recreation liaison.

Financial Report: (Treasurer not present) Membership committee has generated over $3,000 to date.

A review of the following Committees' structure, direction and participation was made.

Grand Opening: No longer necessary.

Art House (Refurbishment & Grounds): Still a need and will address needs of exterior and interior. Members include Sue Taylor, Kathleen Tabacyznski, Sharon Rossow, Ken Naigus, Dan Browne, Kathryn Peltier, Paul Vetrees. Will meet as needs come up.

Publicity: Still a strong need for this committee; Volunteer Committee to solicit for this person. Nicole from Parks & Recreation can help send out press releases.

Programming: Committee members include Sue Taylor, Kathleen Tabaczynski, Ken Naigus, Sharon Rossow, Darcy Deneau, Janet Drolshagen. This group will focus more on lectures (DSO, DIA, artist lectures, etc.) and act as a resource for Parks & Recreation to set up classes. Coordination and communication with the Library should be attempted so as not to duplicate efforts. A meeting will commence soon.

Art Out of the Box: Darcy Deneau, Chair. Not an on-going committee. Committee is on task.

Exhibit Committee: Ann Brenner, Arlene Catrett, Darcy Deneau, Janet Drolshagen, Lynn "Po" Jordan, Galina Koriduzki, Mary LaPetz, Eric Simmons, Sherri Mewha, Margaret Neenan, Ursula Murray, Prudy Vannier. It was suggested that the Committee make a calendar of activities 6-12 months in advance. Student Art Show should be at Art House next May. A juried Art Show could be programmed as a fundraiser during the holiday season; i.e., a Holiday Art Market which could help fund the Exhibit Committee. We would like Dan to make us some pedestals for 3-dimensional work. Committee will meet soon to discuss these issues. Note: The Exhibit Committee is responsible for hanging exhibits; not necessarily programming juried shows that will be a fundraiser; NAC will set up a separate committee for this activity.

Membership: In future membership drives, there may be incentives given to members, such as handmade tiles to members who join at a certain level. Also, we should use colored paper for different membership drives in order to track what event is successful at securing members.

Volunteer Committee: Sue Taylor is going to talk to Kathleen McLallen who has expressed an interest in coordinating this committee.

Others: We could use a Hospitality Committee (to set up and clean up receptions), Corporate Sponsorship & Public Relations, Education & Relationship to Schools, Marketing, Community Liaison person (w/DDA, NCBA, Chamber mixers, Rotary, etc. -- Mary Poole was suggested for this position). Sue will ask Volunteer Committee to address these issues.

Michael Farrell Series: Sharon is soliciting ideas from the people who are attending these lectures. It was suggested that we run a "travel" series and an "artist" series and increase the number of lectures we offer; i.e., Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Winter Concert Series: (Ken Naigus not present); tabled for future discussion when budget figures are available.

DIA Lecture Series: March cancelled and re-scheduled for May; very difficult group to work with.

Newsletter: Should be quarterly -- April, August, November, January -- should be targeted around our needs. Paul Vetrees suggested a column on activities at other venues -- Art on the Road. Kathleen T. suggested there may be opportunities for ads (?Publicity Committee to address?). Target mail date for next newsletter -- April 15.

Summer Concerts: A motion was made that we don't commit to spend more on the summer concert series than what we get in contributions from the DDA and the City. It was seconded and approved. (Clarification: If sponsorships are received, any amount received would lessen what we spend from the City and DDA.)

Student Art Show: Chair, Bridget Karaisz. Monetary prizes will not be given this year. Ribbons and certificates will be given. Volunteers are needed to help hang and sit during show openings. Bridget has a friend handling the reception this year.

Business Showcase: March 16; Sue Taylor will be there.

Hutton Park: No information at this time.

Outdoor Landscaping Discussion: Should be committee driven. A meeting will be held at 6:30 on March 15 to discuss these issues.

Congressional Competition: Contact: Ken Naigus. Student show during May. Ken to get details and email information.

Process for AH entry for volunteers during Exhibits: Key to Art House can be checked out on Thursdays and Fridays from the City's police station. Other arrangements will need to be made on Saturdays as the police station is not manned then. They have an exterior and interior key.

Proposal for AH room rental to artists: It was suggested to rent out one of the upstairs rooms (the one with cupboards) to a couple artists as studio space in exchange for open hours. Art House Refurbishment Committee will look into this possibility.

Fall fundraiser opportunity: Tabled for future discussion.

Planning sessions -- next steps: Tabled for future discussion.