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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-16 Commission on Cultural Development Minutes City of Bangor, Commission on Cultural Development - Minutes - April 16, 2008, 8am, Council Chambers Commissioners in Attendance: John Rohman, Commission Chair, Orion Breen, Susan Carlisle, Councilor Geoffrey Gratwick, Susan Jonason, Sandra Blake-Leonard, Steven Ribble Others in Attendance: Sally Bilancia, City of Bangor; David Whitehill, Bangor Symphony Orchestra; Scott Levy, Penobscot Theatre th Handouts: Minutes of April 11 Programs & Grants Committee meeting; Community Handbook from American Wind Symphony Orchestra; Memo on Special Committee on Comprehensive Planning 1. Commission approved minutes of March 26, 2008 meeting. 2. Review of recommendation by Programs & Grants Subcommittee The Subcommittee met on April 11, 2008 regarding a grant request from the Bangor Public Library to continue offering one free pass per day to the Maine Discovery Museum. Each pass permits admission for up to four individuals. Subcommittee recommends approval. Ribble noted that although he will support this grant, he would like to see programs like these become self-sustaining. Leonard motioned to approve this grant, Breen seconded, Unanimous vote with Carlisle abstaining due to her affiliation with the Maine Discovery Museum and Rohman abstaining due to his affiliation with the Bangor Public Library 3. Traveling Symphony Overview A short video was shown, giving an overview of the proposal by Robert Boudreau’s American Wind Symphony Orchestra. Performance would take place on the deck of the Point Counterpoint II vessel at the waterfront. The vessel includes an art gallery and theater. Interaction between the musicians and students from the community is offered, as well as fundraising opportunities (private parties on the ship). - 1 - Points made in discussion (included in the discussion were David Whitehill and Scott Levy)  Timing is extremely tight because Mr. Boudreau wishes to bring the ship to th Bangor on the week of July 4. American Cruise Lines is scheduled to dock th on July 4 and that week tends to be busy for the waterfront in general. Bilancia has not had a chance to consult with Jim Ring (City Engineer) on the feasibility of bringing the ship here (depth, tides, etc).  The cost to Mr. Boudreau would be $30,000. That, plus funds for advertising and other provisions (portable restrooms and other necessities for large scale waterfront events) would need to be raised. If this project were done by the Cultural Commission (i.e. the City of Bangor), a bid/quote process would have to be undertaken for the cost of hiring someone to organize the event. It was agreed that it would be inappropriate for the City to do this and the hope is that an independent entity (such as the CVB) would take the project on.  Jonason and Rohman expressed that this could be an awareness opportunity for the BSO and the arts community in Bangor in general.  It said in the video that this is for communities that do not have their own symphony. However, Boudreau said that it is very successful in communities that already have one because they can work together. Whitehill said that musician contracts might be compromised if there were a partnership. It would have to be handled carefully.  Levy shared that the Bangor Center Corporation reviewed this six months to a year ago and turned down the offer. th  The idea of the BSO trying to do a July 4 event at the waterfront was brought up. Some felt that the traveling symphony could be a catalyst for that to happen. Others felt that the $30,000 could better be spent by helping the BSO make it happen on their own.  Levy expressed that he feels the City’s cultural appropriation should be used for local arts organizations, not to bring in new events. Local organizations can be their own catalyst for new ideas and events. This will not necessarily draw more people because it is an outside entity. Bottom Line The Cultural Commission’s place is not to facilitate events like this, but to help fund organizations who approach us asking for assistance. If an organization wants to take this on, the Cultural Commission will review the proposal. st Bilancia noted that the next large grant deadline is July 1. Some felt that an exception could be made for a time-sensitive project, but others disagreed. Bilancia will review organizational documents. 4. Scheduling of lunch meeting with Donna McNeil, Director of the Maine Arts Commission will have to be done via email, since we did not receive enough dates from Donna prior to this meeting. - 2 - 5. Downtown Countdown grant report The Cultural Commission granted Bangor Center Corp. $2,000 to sponsor the entertainment at City Hall during Downtown Countdown on New Year’s Eve. Bilancia reported that one of the performers, a school group, had to cancel due to weather. Therefore only $1,650 was technically spent on City Hall. Bilancia stated that the $350 difference could be refunded, but requested that the Commission consider making it a general donation to the event. The vote was unanimous to make the $350 a general donation and not ask for a reimbursement. 6. Special Committee on Comprehensive Planning On April 14, 2008, the City Council established a Special Committee on Comprehensive Planning and charged it with working to implement the remaining outstanding issues from the 2005 Comprehensive Plan and undertaking a 2010 revision. One representative from the Cultural Commission will serve on this committee. It was expressed that John Rohman would be the obvious choice, due to his long-time service to this Commission, the Community and City, as well as his professional experience. The vote was unanimous to appoint John Rohman as the Commission on Cultural Development’s representative to the Special Committee on Comprehensive Planning. 7. Other Business The Commission’s next meeting will be with Donna McNeil in May (date to be determined). The next regularly scheduled meeting will be July 23, 2008 at 8am in the Council Chambers Breen expressed the desire to review the five-year work plan, as he has some ideas to share. Respectfully submitted by Sally Bilancia, Business & Economic Development Officer - 3 -