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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/1/2023 - Minutes RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, August 1, 2023 – 6:00 pm Renton City Hall – Conferencing Room (726) or via Zoom Members Present: Bill Huls, Brianna Burroughs, Evelyn Reingold, Janna Kushneryk, Kaie Wise, Marvin Rosete, Mary Clymer, Susan Jessick Staff Present: Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Staff liaison Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Chair, Susan Jessick at 6:00pm. Correspondence & Announcements: Upcoming RMAC-funded events: • Remaining Summer Concert series dates are as follows: August 3, August 17, and August 31. • Summerfest, Piazza Park is Saturday, August 12 from 10am to 4pm Approval of Minutes: A motion was made and carried to approve the minutes from the July meeting. MSC (Kaie/Mary) Budget Update: • $10,550 remaining in uncommitted • $11,000 remaining from 4Culture for grant program support • $15,000 for Capital Art Projects (reserved currently for the Williams Streetscape project) • Flexibility in utilizing unspent funds • Potential to allocate for Promotions and Roadshow Committees' budgets - any unexecuted awarded grants or below-funded reimbursement requests contribute to uncommitted funds. Promotions Committee update: The Promotions Committee presented upcoming event opportunities to engage with the community. These events will also serve as partnership opportunities with Frameworks to conduct community outreach and support the update to the Arts & Culture Master planning process. The events are as follows: • Summerfest in Piazza Park on August 12. • Renton Wine Walk on September 1. • Booth opportunity at the Seattle Film Summit on Saturday, September 9. In addition, the Commission needs to plan and actively participate in the Olde Fashioned Halloween event on Saturday, October 28. These upcoming events offer great potential for community involvement and enhancing the Commission's outreach efforts. Roadshow Committee update: • Remaining Summer Concert series and performances at the Farmers Market continue. Grants Committee update: Grants Committee has reviewed the project proposals received in the fourth and final round of the 2023 Art Grant cycle. The Committee made the following recommendations: • Public Mural at 327 Williams Ave S (Renton Licensing Office) Recommendation: $5,000 - The committee strongly suggests applying an anti-graffiti coating to preserve the artwork. • Free Little Art Cabinet/ Marianna Spiritakis Recommendation: $350 - The committee also allows an additional $50 for materials to support on-the-spot art creation. • Crea Makerspace Recommendation: $4,950 • Family First Community Center Foundation /DKI Acting Academy Recommendation: $5,000. It was further stipulated that if the interest in the program is significant and the initial $5,000 is expended quickly due to high demand, the Commission will consider allocating additional funding to accommodate more students seeking scholarships for the program. Total Recommended Approval of Funds: $15,300 A motion was made and approved to fund the four project proposals as recommended by the Grants Committee MSC (Marvin/Evelyn). Old Business: The Arts and Culture Master Plan is progressing with active involvement from various stakeholders. The update highlights the following key points: • Potential Grouping Strategies: The update mentions the evaluation of candidates to determine the best fit for the Steering Committee and focus groups. Further discussions are underway to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are represented adequately. The involvement of stakeholders and engagement activities is driving the development of a comprehensive Arts and Culture Master Plan for the City, ensuring that the community's creative needs are effectively addressed. The meetings will be scheduled for early August. Arts & Culture space - The selection committee presented their recommendation to the Commission, proposing Tommy Segundo's CreNative Designz proposal for the arts and culture space. Tommy's proposal stood out due to his strong connections to the school system and the native community, which foster community engagement and collaboration. His expertise as a seasoned grants writer was also noted as an asset for securing funding. The committee was impressed by the proposal's deep understanding of the space's needs, inclusivity, and adaptability, making it a perfect fit for the project. After thorough discussion, the committee unanimously recommended selecting Tommy's proposal, as it aligns perfectly with the space's vision and has the potential to create an inclusive and impactful arts and education environment for the community. MSC (Bill/Marvin) New Business: Downtown Monument Sign Wrap – During the meeting, a motion was proposed and approved to fund the wrap of the downtown monument sign located on the corner of Bronson Ave S and S 4th. The artwork for the wrap was selected through a call for artists initiated in 2020 as part of the Wells Ave Streetscape project. Funding for the project ran out before the art installation could take place. The approval of funds will now enable the completion and installation of the selected art on the monument sign. MSC (Bill/Brianna) Vacant Positions – It was decided that an open application period for new Commissioners would be initiated and promoted throughout the month of August. All applications received on or before August 31 will be considered, and applicants will be invited to attend the September meeting for further discussion and review. The purpose of the open application process is to underscore the significance of transparency and inclusivity in the selection procedure. Event Participation and Commissioner expectations - During the meeting, event participation and Commissioner expectations were discussed. The participants highlighted the importance of being dependable and fulfilling commitments to ensure successful project execution. Commissioners were encouraged to ask for help when needed and emphasized the significance of a collaborative and supportive approach. Overall, the Commission agreed that by working together and being reliable, they can enhance the impact of their efforts and effectively serve the community. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:43pm.