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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/01/2021 - Minutes RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, June 1, 2021 (via Zoom) Members Present: Amelia Ossorio, Bill Huls, Brianna Burroughs, Caren Sumption, Christie Randolph, Dave Samek, Evelyn Reingold, Kaie Wise, Kiley Thornton, Mary Clymer, Neil Sheesley, Susan Jessick Staff Present: Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Staff liaison Guests Present: Trenise Williams – Renton Residents for Change, BLM street mural team Laretha Todd – Renton Residents for Change, BLM street mural team Jayme Lynn – Renton Residents for Change, BLM street mural team Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Chair, Mary Clymer at 6:04 pm. Introduction of guests: Trenise, Laretha and Jayme attended the meeting to learn of any possible updates on the Black Lives Matter street mural project. Currently, the City is waiting for responses to the survey letter that was sent to the residents adjacent and within 400 feet of the proposed mural location on S Tobin Street. The residents have until June 4 to respond with their approval or rejection of the project. In order to proceed, the project requires 100% approval from the property owners whose homes are directly adjacent to the proposed location. The Grants Committee has received an updated project budget from the team and will review at the next Committee meeting. Announcements/Correspondence: • The Renton Civic Theatre recently announced their plan to re-open in September with the kickoff to the season featuring the musical Last Five Years and performances of It’s a Wonderful Life for the holidays. • The Call for Art for the downtown monument art closed on May 28 with only two responders. The RFP will be extended until August 27 with an increase in the compensation from $500 to $1,000 per design in order to attract a broader range of artists. Approval of Minutes: A motion was made to approve the minutes from the May 2021 meeting. MSC (Evelyn/Caren) Promotions Committee update: • The May newsletter was sent on Sunday, May 30 with a 25% open rate (602 out of 1,134 sent). o The most popular articles (highest click rate) were the Instagram page for the Hidden Treasure of Erasmus scavenger hunt and the Roadshow Memorial Weekend event page at Dock and Drink. • Most popular Facebook post in May was the announcement of the Little Art Lending Library program and the search for a neighborhood home (4,000 reach and 279 engagements). • The Promotions Committee received 24 requests to host the first Little Art Supply Library. The Committee created a questionnaire to help narrow down the selection and place the first box. The program goal is to create and place three of these free art libraries in neighborhoods around the City. The Committee will return to the Commission to ask for additional funding after the first library has been placed. Grants Committee Update: • The Committee has no grants to present for recommendations at this time. • Caren has volunteered to serve as a liaison and Commission presence at the 2021 KingCon NW event in the fall. • Pending review and further clarification from applicants: o The Black Lives Matter Street Mural has submitted an updated budget worksheet to the Grants Committee for review. o An application has been received from the AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer serving the Benson/Cascade neighborhood and seeking funding for two utility box wrap projects. Outreach Committee: • The Roadshow program had its most successful weekend line up at the Hyatt at Lake Washington over Memorial Day weekend providing four days of music featuring two bands and five solo artists. The venue drew in close to 500 people on Friday and averaged 250 every night following. • The Roadshow team has requested additional t-shirts to represent the Arts Commission at these public events. • Sustainable Renton and St. Matthew’s Lutheran have requested an additional Monday night performance every month and have offered to pay for artist fees. New Business: • Allied Arts 2021 Virtual Art Contest closed on May 31. In total 34 entries were received. AAR is requesting assistance from the Arts Commission to serve as judges for the selection of winners in four categories (6 to 12 years, 13 to 19 years, 20 to 54 years and 55+ years). Caren, Kaie and Evelyn agreed to volunteer as judges (and serve the Committee virtually through the selection of winners). • King’s Chapel The South Renton neighborhood has received permission from the church at King’s Chapel to hang banners on the blank wall of the building facing Gateway Park. The neighborhood has agreed to pay for the printing and installation of 7 banners (10ft x 20ft) that will run the height of the building between the 6 columns. The Arts Commission has been asked to consider partnering on the project to select an artist to create a unique installation to be printed on the banners. The Commission will draft a Call for Artist to request designs for consideration and will pay the artists for their work. It was recommended that a letter of intent be drafted to confirm the responsibilities of the South Renton Neighborhood and the Renton Arts Commission. • Houser Way Trestle Bridge BNSF has agreed to allow the Arts Commission to paint the underpass on Houser Way between Liberty Park and the Community Center. Marsha has recommended a mural design that can be completed by the community that would offer a simple solution to the graffiti issue under the railroad bridge and allow for easy clean up in the case of future tagging. BNSF will not require a permit for painting, but has requested that an employee of BNSF be on site during the painting (at an additional cost of $50 to $70 an hour). This expense will need to be factored into the project budget. • I-405/NE 44th Gateway enhancement project The contracts for the monument and landscape project have been transitioned from the City’s engineering team to Economic Development. The Committee working on the project will work closely with Chip and Jessie to secure a design and artist for the project. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:13pm.