HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/02/2018 - Minutes ,�II�.
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RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES
Tuesday,January 2,2018
Members Present: Mitch Shepherd, Mary Clymer, Samantha Goetz-Granquist, Neil Sheesley, Ben
Andrews, Bill Huls, Marsha Rollinger, Kim Patterson, and Su Gow,
Excused Absences:Adrienne La Faye, Dave Samek, and Evelyn Reingold
Staff Present: Chip Vincent, Administrator, City of Renton Department of Community& Economic
Development; Elizabeth Higgins, RMAC Liaison
Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Chair, Mitch Shepherd at 6:00 pm.
Guests: Councilman Ed Prince, City Council President; Cassie Welliver, Executive Director of the Carco
Theatre; Barbara McMichael.
Cassie Welliver gave an update on the Carco Theatre, including a report that the City of Renton
provided financial assistance to the Theatre last year. Carco has 2 FTEs, high school and college
internships; a 40' x 40' "moderate thrust" stage; seating for 300; a robotic camera;two-month
rotation of artists'work in the lobby; and a public access television channel (channel 77 serving 6
South King County cities).The staff is working with neighborhood centers to televise local events.
Barbara McMichael spoke about the King County Library System program, "Bookmarks and
Landmarks,"which will be presented in Renton in May. She said there is a crowd-sourced, interactive
map on line, "Engaging Trees"to support the cultural significance of trees.
Approval of Minutes: The December 2017 minutes were read and approved.
Correspondence and Announcements:
New Business:
It was decided that the RMAC would hold its annual retreat on February 13t", in lieu of the regular
monthly meeting.The retreat will be at Southport from 3:30 to 7:30 pm.The purpose will be planning
the Projects, Programs, and Events for 2018. RMAC officers for 2018 will also be determined at the
retreat.
There was a discussion of the possible reorganization of the RMAC, including assigning tasks to
commissioners; having bi-monthly business meetings that would alternate with committee or working
meetings; establishing term limits; reducing the number of commissioners from 13; and working more
closely with the Economic Development Division.
Although the retreat will present the opportunity for annual planning, there was a brief discussion of
possible events that were successful in 2017 that might be repeated in 2018,with the intention of
building on that success and creating momentum to make them even more successful.These
included:
• Downtown mural program (the Boone Kirkman mural that is currently funded and a new
mural project on the west side of the Renton Civic Theatre)
• Summerfest music festival
• Yappy Hours (possible rotate locations this year)
• Rotate art at the Renton Outdoor Art Gallery(send a RFP to artists)
• Film Summit
• RenCon
There was also a question of whether the Seattle International Film Festival might return to Renton.
An inquiry will be made to Preeti Shridhar about this.
There will be a presentation at the March meeting about the possibility of Renton hosting the
Cascadia Poetry festival in 2019.
Old Business
• The RMAC-sponsored New Year's Eve Concert at the Renton Civic Theatre,which was free to
the public, was well attended, and a big success.
• New murals in 2017 included the Whistle Stop Ale House mural and "COLOR: in Morse Code"
a mural at 601 S 3rd St (facing Smithers).The former was funded by the business owner, and
designed by Marsha Rollinger and painted by Marsha Rollinger and Mary Clymer.The latter
(funded by RMAC) a GAP project concept/design by Marsha Rollinger and painted by Marsha
and Mary and documented by Mitch Shepherd, is not only a great addition to Downtown
Renton, but also was featured in an international publication, Uppercase Magazine.
• The "Seattle" Film Summit was held at the Hyatt Hotel in December. It was deemed an
"Insightful experience," by the approximately 320 attendees, and continues to create buzz in
the local film industry.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.