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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/03/2020 - Minutes 1 | P a g e RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, March 3, 2020 Members Present: Bill Huls, Brianna Burroughs, Christie Randolph, Kaie Wise, Mary Clymer, Susan Jessick, Kiley Thornton Excused Absences: Dave Samek, Evelyn Reingold, Marsha Rollinger, Neil Sheesley Staff Present: Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Administrative Assistant Chip Vincent, CED Administrator Guests: Ben Andrews, Seattle Film Summit Brian Morris, KingCon NW Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by RMAC Chair, Mary Clymer at 6:02 pm. Introduction of Guests: Ben Andrews presented the community report from the 2019 Seattle Film Summit. He made special note of the event’s increased attendance, reporting 720 ticket holders, and commented on what the organizers considered the “big wins” including participation in the event by community leaders (the list of panelist and presenters at the 2019 event included State Senators and Representatives, city councilmembers, industry influencers and a keynote address from King County Executive, Dow Constantine). The 2020 event is scheduled for November 21 through the 23rd and will return to the Hyatt on Lake Washington. The organizers of the 2020 event are hopeful the Arts Commission will help connect community organizations and artists with an interest in the film industry with the November event. The estimated cost to attend is $200 for a weekend pass. Student pricing will be available. Brian Morris presented the re-branding of Renton City Comicon which will now be referred to as KingconNW. The name is intended to emphasis the regional ownership of the event and be more inclusive to the surrounding municipalities who have offered funding in previous years. The event will return in 2020 to Renton Technical College and will be held October 3 and 4. A day pass to the event is $25 or $45 for a weekend pass. Kids 10 and under are free. The 2020 event will emphasize education as the foundation for programming. Event organizers are currently seeking partnership with businesses who have a tech/science background and who are able to provide a hands-on learning experience for kids and families. The event will feature three “kingdoms” that will each have a unique emphasis. 1. Scientia – Where Science rules and offers you a world beyond your imagination 2. Innovatia - Welcome to the kingdom of innovators, creatives and builders 3. Adventia - The kingdom the offers you games of adventures, thrills, and challenges Approval of Minutes: A motion was made to approve the minutes from the February 2020 meeting with an adjustment to reflect the $1,000 earmark for promotional items from the Summer Music Sponsorship. MSC (Bri/Susan) Correspondence and Announcements:  Spark! Commissioners are invited to attend the first meeting of the Downtown Business Forum on Wednesday, March 4 at 8:15am at BLOQS on Wells Ave S. 2 | P a g e  Puget Sound Educational Service District Regional High School Art Show – The piece “Royal Blue” by Hazen High School student Mindy Trinh was selected by Evelyn, Neil and Christie as the recipient of the Renton Commissioner’s Choice Award. The award will be presented at the PSESD annual art show on Wednesday, March 18 from 6 to 8pm.  Committee of the Whole update - Mary and the CED department will provide the Council with an Arts Commission update at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, March 23. The Commissioners are invited to attend.  Forgotten Stories: NW Public Art of the 1930s – the Jacob Elshin mural loaned to the Tacoma Art Museum will be on display at this exhibit through August 16 Committee Reports:  Grant Committee – The committee will be hosting a grants workshop on April 23 at the Renton Library from 6 to 8pm. The workshop will include an overview of the RMAC grant application process, a discussion on grant writing techniques and hands-on assistance for interested applicants.  An application from the Owl Project, requesting support to complete the community tile project initiated at the 2016 Renton River Days celebration, led to a discussion on the ownership of the Owl Project. In previous years, the Owl Project partnered with the Arts Commission to provide opportunities for the community to participate in the creation of art. In July 2019, the founder of the Owl Project, Meena Merchant announced her intentions to hand the Owl Project over to the Arts Commission. The decision was made to review the grant application as submitted and to invite Meena to attend the April meeting to provide a more thorough explanation of what “ownership” of the Owl Project would entail. Budget Update: No new expenses to report. On-going Projects, Events and Programs:  Renton Hill Utility Box wrap – The Renton Hill community will be meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at 6pm on the 7th floor of City Hall and at that time will be presented with a portfolio of artists who have expressed an interest in providing art for utility box wraps around the City.  Renton Housing Authority Utility Box wrap – The residents at the Kirkland Avenue Townhomes are currently reviewing the same portfolio of artists to responded to an RFP for utility box art and will make their selection as well.  RMAC Summer Concert Series – The Arts Commission will be recognized as the presenting sponsor for the “summer music series” which will include three concerts in the downtown, three concerts at Coulon and the main stage at Renton River Days. The Commission has been asked to provide the welcome at the downtown and Coulon concerts. New Business:  Equi – The South Renton neighborhood has requested permission from the Arts Commission to paint the city owned art piece, Equi, located in Burnett Linear Park. The neighborhood intends to submit a grant request through the Community Services Neighborhood grant process to pay for the purchase of paint and would like to have the blessing of the Commission before they do so. A motion was made and approved to allow the South Renton neighborhood to paint Equi but retain the right to approve the color selection before painting begins. MSC (Mary/Bill) 3 | P a g e  Inspired Storefronts – The Renton Downtown Partnership (RDP) is launching a program to encourage downtown business owners to take pride in their window displays and work together to create a vibrant, unified downtown by participating in a seasonal rotation of themed window displays. Participating downtown businesses will receive a kit (4 in 2020) to inspire displays that will be based on popular events in the downtown. The four themes for 2020 will be dragons (to celebrate “hatch day” for the rooftop dragon); rubber ducks (River Days); scarecrows (fall) and a holiday display. The RDP is hopeful the Arts Commission will be a partner in the program and help connect business owners with artists and community groups who may be interested in providing design assistance and potentially adopting windows (both occupied and vacant). The program also intends to partner with local artists to fill vacant storefront windows with art installations that fit the four themes.  4 Culture grant – Kaie presented her intentions to submit a grant to 4Culture for an individual project seeking funding for artist installations in the downtown storefronts. The grant is due March 4, and Kaie is seeking support from the Commission for the project. The Commission agreed to support the project and provide assistance with the call for artists and will entertain a grant application for financial support. The meeting was adjourned at 7:48pm.