HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/07/2018 - Minutes �
RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES
� � Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Members Present: Bill Huls, Adrienne La Faye, Dave Samek, Kim Patterson, Mary Clymer, Susan Jessick,
Samantha Goetz-Granquist
Excused Absences: Neil Sheesley, Marsha Rollinger, Evelyn Reingold
Staff Present:
Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Administrative Assistant
Chip Vincent, Administrator, Community and Economic Development
Guests:
Barbara McMichaels, SoCo Culture
Ben Andrews, representing RenCon
Ben Andrews presented an update on the status of RenCon. As a result of new funding sources, the event has
been relocated to Hotel Interurban in Tukwila. In the weekends leading up to the event, a pop-up shop at
Southcenter Mall will be hosted by the organizers of RenCon and serve as a teaser for and location for ticket
sales to the event held on September 15 and 16. The organizers of RenCon are reaching out to the Arts
Commission with the opportunity to partner and sponsor the pop-up shop in the mall with a booth, hosted
activity and RMAC branding (a GAP event application will be presented).
Kennvdale Water Tower Proiect: Public Works has plans to include art in the water tower project in Kennydale
and is requesting support from the Arts Commission. The Water Utility Engineering Manager, Abdoul Gafour,
was absent from the meeting, but requested the opportunity to speak. More information to come.
Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Vice Chair, Bill Huls at 6:16 pm.
Approval of Minutes: The July 2018 minutes were read and approved. MSC(Adrienne/Sam)
Correspondence and Announcements:
Buildin�for Culture Grant to Renton Civic Theatre:The Renton History Museum and Renton Civic Theatre have
received grant funding from King County thanks to King County Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Dave
Upthegrove for securing the funds as part of the Building for Culture program.The Museum will receive
$23,166 to upgrade the museum and the theatre will receive$78,245 to restore seating and improve
accessibility. The Theatre will install 234 new seats and bring the auditorium up to code with additional space
between the aisles.
Budget: The 2019/2020 budget process is currently in the initial phases and under Mayoral review. The
request for an additional $50,000 for the Arts and Culture budget and an FTE Arts Coordinator position have
been submitted for consideration.
Chip Vincent provided an update on the current discussion surrounding the 1%for Art fund. Following the
request in July from Community Services for the blessing of the Arts Commission to access 1%funds outside of
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the contribution resulting from the Sunset Park project, City Departments have been weighing the options of
1%for Art fund calculations. The current code and calculation process are currently under review.
The decision was made to write a letter to the Community Services Department in response to their request for
additional funding for art in Sunset Park. The letter will address the Commission's concerns about the lack of
budgeting for art in the project and offer a willingness to accept responsibility for the coordination and
planning for art in the park. Mary will draft the letter for the Commissioners to review and sign.
Local Arts A�encies' September meetin�:The LAA will hold their quarterly meeting at the Renton History
Museum on Thursday, September 27 between 9:30am and 12:30pm. The Arts Commission will provide the
refreshments. Sam has offered to assist Jessie in the set up and facilitation of host services for the meeting.
Everyone is invited to attend.
RMAC Commissioner Vacancies: There are currently 2 open positions on the Arts Commission, and one student
position that will be vacant at the end of the year. Sam has announced her resignation from the Commission
effective following the December meeting. Mary, Bill and Sam have agreed to form a Committee to seek new
Commissioners to fill the vacancies.
Galvanizin�Art Proiects:
New Business:
• BNSF and Renton Chamber of Commerce project—The Chamber is partnering with BNSF and seeking
additional support from community volunteers and the Arts Commission to make plans to beautify the
area around the tracks behind the Chamber. A meeting for the partners is scheduled for August 16.
Adrienne has volunteered to attend the meeting on behalf of the Commission.
• South Renton Neighborhood—The South Renton Neighborhood is organizing a Call for Artist to paint
fire hydrants in their neighborhood. The Renton Fire Authority and The City Water Department have given
their blessing to the project. A Call for Artists will be drafted and sent out.
• Vigor Fitness mural—The Vigor Fitness Building located at 332 Burnett Ave S is making plans for a mural
on the side of their building facing South 4t"Street. The proposed design was met with mixed feelings by
the Commissioners present. The request was made to see additional options from the artist and an
invitation was extended to the artist to attend the next Commission meeting to discuss the project.
• Pop-up PARK(ing) Day—The event this year is Friday, September 21 between 4 and 8pm. The Arts
Commission has been asked to participate again by hosting a parklet downtown. Sam has volunteered to
work on this project and Susan expressed a willingness to help host at the event, but is unable to help in
the planning process.
• RenCon—Sam presented the request from RenCon seeking sponsorship of the pop-up "mini
convention" at Southcenter Mall in the weekends leading up to the convention. A GAP application will be
completed and sent to the Commissioners to vote on. (An email was received from een Andrews on
8/8/2018 withdrawing the request).
Old Business:
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• City Center Parking Garage Display Cabinets (update)—Three additional sketches representing "Poetry,
Dance and Music" along with the final design for"Visual Arts" were presented to the Arts Commission.
The Artist is on schedule to present complete designs by the end of August and the plan is to unveil the
installed artwork at the Pop-up PARK(ing) Day event on September 21.
• Utility Box wraps in Sunset(update)—The artist held a series of workshops on Monday,July 16 at the
Highlands Community Center, working with day camp students to capture the artistic renderings of the
student's perception of local flora and fauna in the Sunset area.The artist will take the images created by
the students and transform them into finished designs to be installed on the 3 utility boxes in the Sunset
area.
• Boone Kirkman mural (update)—The artist Will Schlough has been selected from the Call for Artist and
has met with Mr. Kirkman in an effort to capture the personality of the local celebrity in the mural that will
stand in tribute to his contributions to the City. The goal is to have the mural installed before the end of
October.
• Summerfest(update)—The event on July 21 was a success. An estimated 500 individuals came out to
participate in the community art and music celebration.
• Pacific Northwest Concert(update)—The event on July 28 was well received by event attendees,
participating artists and the surrounding businesses. The consensus was to bring the event back next year
with more marketing and expanded plans to grow the event.
• Dragon Dedication event—The contract with Western Neon has been extended to 12/31/2018. The
current projected completion date is the end of October, with the goal to celebrate the unveiling at the
Halloween celebration downtown on Saturday, October 27.
Committee Reports: Four applications were received for the Arts and Culture grant. The Grant Committee has
elected to fund the following projects:
• Rainier Chorale-$500(performance)
• Long Tran -$2500 (production of full length feature film)
• Renton Downtown Partnership-$2000 (Scarecrow competition and Halloween art projects)
• Allied Arts -$1500 (Fall Family Concert)
An additional $3,500 remains to be granted. The Grant will be re-opened to solicit additional applications.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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