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Home My WebLink About11/05/2024 - Minutes RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, November 5, 2024 – 6:00 pm Renton City Hall – Conferencing Room (726) or via Zoom Members Present: Brianna Burroughs, Clara Affleck, Dave Samek, Evelyn Reingold, Jake Heare, Nadya Helt, Sara Palmer, Susan Jessick Staff Present: Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Staff liaison Guests: Kit Ofsthus, Allied Arts of Renton Betty Childers, Allied Arts of Renton Linda Middlebrooks, Allied Arts of Renton Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Vice Chair, Susan Jessick at 6:00pm. Recitation of Operating Norms: The operations norms were read at the beginning of the meeting by Nadya Helt. Introduction of Guests: Allied Arts shared an update on their collaboration with the KCLS Renton Highlands Branch, highlighting the variety of free public art workshops made possible with RMAC funding. So far, they’ve held 13 sessions, with two more planned by year-end. The workshops have engaged 249 community members; maxing out classroom capacity at most events. The sessions offered a diverse range of creative experiences, including Henna, Block Printing, Paws With Cause Painting, Pottery Painting, Community Paint Night, Origami, Mini Canvas Painting, Felting Mushrooms, Casitas Típicas, Dia De Los Muertos art, Drum Making, and Botanical Printmaking. This variety has allowed residents to explore new art forms and connect through creativity. Correspondence & Announcements: • Upcoming Events: • Wednesday, November 6: (4:30 to 7pm) US Capitol Tree coming to Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park in the boat launch area • Saturday, November 9: (4 to 5pm) Strands of Strength Author Talk & Writing Workshop (RMAC grant funded) – Renton Highlands Library • Tuesday, November 12: (6 to 8:00pm) Grants Committee meeting • Tuesday, November 12: (6 to 7:30pm) Cozy Crafting Hosted by Renton LGBTQIA+ Community (Renton Library) • Sunday, November 17 (2pm to 6pm): Tomato Tomato grand opening (and Kelly’s birthday) • Saturday, November 30: (12 to 7pm) Small Business Saturday and Annual Tree Lighting Event (Renton Pavilion Event Center) • Saturdays, December 7, 14 and 21: (1 to 4pm) Luther’s Table – Santa House (free photos with Santa) Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the special meeting held in October were reviewed and approved. Motion to approve the minutes was made by Sara and seconded by Jake. The motion carried unanimously. Budget Update: Total spent to date is $47,257.81, with $35,414 in unclaimed funds (not allocated for promotions, roadshow, or grants). Remaining allocated funds are as follows: $15,312.50 for promotions, $12,195 for the roadshow, and $39,500 for grants, which includes an additional $11,000 from 4Culture. This summary reflects current expenditures and remaining funds within each budget category. Committee Updates: Roadshow: Provided a recap of the 2024 Roadshow program, highlighting a successful season wrap-up and exploring options for live music during Small Business Saturday. Proposed ideas include hiring a DJ or inviting roaming carolers and minstrels to enhance the holiday atmosphere. Planning for next year’s program is underway, with a meeting scheduled to discuss new ideas. Allied Arts has also requested additional funding from the Lodging Tax Advisors to expand the Summer Concert Series and support a performance stage at Renton River Days. Promotions: The Olde Fashioned Halloween event on October 26 drew approximately 3,000 people downtown between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, with 357 visitors counted at the event space during that timeframe. The event included a costume contest hosted by the Commission in collaboration with RDP, and received positive community feedback. Volunteers played a key role in supporting and judging the costume contest. The committee will conduct a debrief to consider lessons learned and document ideas for enhancing next year's event, ensuring continued improvement and engagement in future celebrations. Upcoming Events and Initiatives: The Committee is now focusing on Small Business Saturday and the Holiday Ornament Craft Program. On Saturday, November 30, local shoppers will be encouraged to support small businesses and collect a free ornament with purchase, with a "collect them all" theme running throughout the season. Activities will be hosted at the Pavilion, where local artists and arts organizations will lead crafting workshops for shoppers. These activities will culminate in the holiday tree lighting and Santa’s arrival at Piazza Park at 5:00 PM. Dragon Event Preparation: The Dragon Event is set for Saturday, April 13, with ongoing planning underway. As the Dragon Dash 5K/10K run will not take place this year, the Committee will need to independently secure permits and manage street closures without support from Parks and Recreation. The next Dragon Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 14, to further discuss event logistics and preparation. Grants: The committee received nine applications for 2025 grant funding, totaling $44,000 in requested support. A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, to review these applications. The next deadline to apply for funding in 2025 is February 7, 2025. Old Business: Little Free Art Gallery Update – Tomato Tomato Creative is now leading the initiative, with the artist, Marianna Spiritakis, giving it until the end of the year to assess its future. Marianna had suggested the possibility of removing the box due to concerns about vandalism and limited use. However, Tomato Tomato is in favor of keeping the box, citing positive daily public interaction and response since opening their studio next to it. World Cup Square Update – Discussion including the possibility to earmark funds to support art initiatives in the future Legacy Square, expressing interest in getting involved early in the planning process to align with the City’s overall vision for art and activation in the space. The City is currently seeking assistance from architects for the design of the square and consultants for play equipment, which may include opportunities for artistic elements such as mural paintings, gateway signage, and other creative features. Arts & Culture Center Update - The RFP for partnering in the operation of the Arts & Culture Center is now public, having been published on the City's bid page on Monday, November 4. The selected partner will benefit from a lease agreement with reduced rent, contingent upon demonstrating public benefit, such as hosting meetings for arts organizations, providing reduced or free space for artist studios, and organizing events that foster connections within Renton's arts community. Commissioners are encouraged to share this opportunity with their networks. There will be an opportunity for interested applicants to walk through the space on Monday, November 18 at 10 a.m. The deadline for submitting proposals is November 27, with the goal of selecting a partner to begin operations in January 2025. Sunset Park Public Art - Several artists and companies have been approached to assess the scope of work needed for the repair of the public art at Sunset Park. Three companies reviewed the artwork but determined they could not take on the project. We are currently awaiting an estimate from Western Neon, who is working on putting together a proposal that will include removing the rotten wood and replacing it with a metal substrate. New Business: Local Artist Studio Tour Proposal – Artist Ned Mueller inquired about the possibility of Commission support to organize a tour of Renton artists' studios. While there is support from other local artists, no one has yet stepped up to take the lead. Ned is meeting with the organizers of Issaquah’s first artist studio tour for guidance and best practices. The Commission will reach out to the community to gauge interest in the project. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:23pm.