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Home My WebLink About12/03/2024 - Minutes RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – 6:00 pm Renton City Hall – Conferencing Room (726) or via Zoom Members Present: Brianna Burroughs, Clara Affleck, Duffy Delgado, Evelyn Reingold, Jake Heare, Kaie Wise, Nadya Helt, Sara Palmer, Susan Jessick Staff Present: Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Staff liaison Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Chair, Kaie Wise at 6:00pm. Recitation of Operating Norms: The operations norms were read at the beginning of the meeting by Evelyn Reingold. Correspondence & Announcements: • Upcoming Events: • Downtown Santa House: December 7, 14, and 21 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Luther’s Table (hosted by the Renton Downtown Partnership). • Clam Lights Opening Night: Friday, December 6 from 6:15 PM to 8:30 PM (runs through the end of the year) • Elf: Playing at Renton Civic Theater at 7:30 PM. • Children’s Business Fair: December 7 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. • Battle of the Badges: December 14 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at RTC. Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the November meeting were reviewed and approved. Motion to approve the minutes was made by Evelyn and seconded by Nadya. The motion carried unanimously. Budget Update: The current budget shows a total of $59,883.35 spent, with $36,282.19 in remaining unclaimed funds not yet allocated to Promotions, Roadshow, or Grants. The allocated budgets include $10,990 remaining for Promotions, $10,025 for Roadshow, and $11,000 from 4Culture, assuming all awards are reimbursed. Additionally, there is $24,617.33 still to be claimed under the Grants budget. 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 Promotions Committee provided an update on the activities from Small Business Saturday. The RMAC-led ornament program launched on the 30th of November and included participation from 15 businesses. More than 750 ornament kits were prepared and distributed, with some businesses contributing their own ornaments as well. This initiative helped highlight local businesses and foster community engagement during the holiday season. Looking ahead, the committee is planning for the Dragon Landing Day event on Sunday, April 13. To elevate the event and ensure its success, the committee will be utilizing funds remaining in their 2024 budget to hire an event coordinator. This role will assist with organizing and enhancing the event, including vendor coordination, performances, and other activities leading up to the celebration. The committee is focused on ensuring the event is well-executed and engaging for the community. Grants: The Grants Committee presented their recommendations for funding. The proposed grants are as follows: • Bryn Mawr PTA Renton Council's project to create a rural scene representing Native American students, with a request of $3,000; • Drum Roll, LLC requested $3,200 for their After Hours at Drum Roll Wine events throughout 2025 and $1,000 for a Battle of the Acoustic Bands event in October 2025; • Hazelwood Elementary requested $1,800 for their Mustang Makers Mural project; and • Seattle Opera's project, EARTH TO KENZIE, requested $3,500. In total, $12,500 was recommended out of the $34,000 requested. A motion was made and approved to fund the five projects as stated for a total of $12,500 (MSC Jake/Duffy). The next deadline to apply for funding in 2025 is February 7, 2025. Old Business: The RFP for the Arts and Culture space (operating currently as the Black River Cultural Arts Center) closed on November 26. Four proposals were received. A selection committee, including two Arts Commissioners and three City staff members, will review the proposals and make a selection by the end of the year. The organizers of the 2024 Issaquah Artist Studio tour provided a debrief on their event held in September, sharing insights that were both encouraging and inspiring. This has sparked interest in building a stronger community among artists living and working in Renton. Plans are now underway to form a subcommittee to guide and develop a studio tour for Renton in 2025, aimed at bringing local artists together and enhancing their visibility within the community. Sound Transit has submitted their plans for the gantry at the Rainier and Grady project. The images were submitted for informational purposes only, and feedback or approval was not required, or sought, from the Commission by the project planning team. An estimate for the repairs to the art at Sunset Park has been received from Western Neon. The estimate is currently under review by the Parks Department for further evaluation and decision- making. New Business: The Annual Retreat in 2025 has been scheduled for Sunday, January 12 from 1pm to 5pm at the Black River Cultural Arts Center. The discussion included the vacant positions on the Commission and the need to promote the opportunity to the public, including those who have applied previously. Applications will be open and promoted in the coming months, with interviews scheduled to take place during that time. Su, Sara, and Evelyn have volunteered to serve on the Selection Committee, where they will conduct interviews and meet with candidates. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:37pm.