HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-02 Commission on Cultural Development Minutes
Commission for Cultural Development
Minutes of Regular Meeting Sept 2, 2005, 7:30 a.m.
Minutes of Regular Meeting Sept 2, 2005, 7:30 a.m.
Bangor City Hall Council Chambers
Bangor City Hall Council Chambers
Attendees:
Attendees:
Members: Evelyn Silver, Steve Ribble, Jim Linehan, John Rohman, Chair
Members: Evelyn Silver, Steve Ribble, Jim Linehan, John Rohman, Chair
Staff Sally Bates
Staff Sally Bates
The commission discussed how best to proceed toward implementing
its mandate to: conduct a “Cultural Survey” assessing Bangor’s cultural needs. Said
conduct a “Cultural Survey” assessing Bangor’s cultural needs. Said
survey shall be updated every five years. The initial survey and any update thereto shall
survey shall be updated every five years. The initial survey and any update thereto shall
be reported to the Bangor City Council. The Cultural Survey shall include, but shall not
be reported to the Bangor City Council. The Cultural Survey shall include, but shall not
be limited to, an inventory of the City’s cultural assets, a list of the City’s cultural needs,
be limited to, an inventory of the City’s cultural assets, a list of the City’s cultural needs,
and strategies for meeting those needs and preserving existing assets. The term
and strategies for meeting those needs and preserving existing assets. The term
“cultural asset” is intended to be broadly construed to include a wide variety of items,
“cultural asset” is intended to be broadly construed to include a wide variety of items,
including, but not limited to, musical artists and venues, visual forms of expression such
including, but not limited to, musical artists and venues, visual forms of expression such
as painting, murals, and sculptures, literary resources, dance and performance art, folk
as painting, murals, and sculptures, literary resources, dance and performance art, folk
art and performance, etc. See Endnote A.
art and performance, etc. See Endnote A.
Sally Bates was asked to draft a grant application to Maine Arts Commission for
Sally Bates was asked to draft a grant application to Maine Arts Commission for
$4,500 as a follow up to the initial discovery research project that resulted in the
$4,500 as a follow up to the initial discovery research project that resulted in the
Bangor Region Cultural Directory.
Bangor Region Cultural Directory.
John Rohman volunteered to contact the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public
John Rohman volunteered to contact the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public
Policy to invite Kathy Hunt to address this subject of a cultural assessment at the
Policy to invite Kathy Hunt to address this subject of a cultural assessment at the
next Commission meeting.
next Commission meeting.
John Rohman also said that he would ask Maine Arts Commission for a job
John Rohman also said that he would ask Maine Arts Commission for a job
description for someone to update the cultural inventory that exists. An application
description for someone to update the cultural inventory that exists. An application
and interview process will be developed to screen interested parties.
and interview process will be developed to screen interested parties.
The steps to carry out the mandate were identified as
The steps to carry out the mandate were identified as
1. Inventory
1. Inventory
2. Assessment
2. Assessment
3. Plan
3. Plan
with some concurrency. It was decided that the assessment phase could begin
with some concurrency. It was decided that the assessment phase could begin
while the inventory was being updated, and that a series of public meetings
while the inventory was being updated, and that a series of public meetings
would be one method of getting broad-based community involvement in
would be one method of getting broad-based community involvement in
developing an assessment.
developing an assessment.
Sally Bates was asked to formalize the Commission's request for coordination between
Sally Bates was asked to formalize the Commission's request for coordination between
the developing cultural plan and the update of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
the developing cultural plan and the update of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 7, at 7:30 a.m. in
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 7, at 7:30 a.m. in
Council Chambers.
Council Chambers.
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Endnote A: The Commission shall draft a comprehensive “Arts & Cultural Policy”, using a 5-
Endnote A:
year vision statement and strategic objectives that support the vision statement and based
on an assessment of Bangor's cultural needs and assets.
B. The policy shall, inter alia:
B. The policy shall, inter alia:
i. identify those features that are essential to a favorable economic environment for
i. identify those features that are essential to a favorable economic environment for
artists, including venues for marketing their products and services, and affordable
artists, including venues for marketing their products and services, and affordable
housing;
housing;
ii. identify an appropriate balance for arts/culture/humanities amidst the entire
ii. identify an appropriate balance for arts/culture/humanities amidst the entire
spectrum of community needs, remaining mindful of our citizens' basic unmet
spectrum of community needs, remaining mindful of our citizens' basic unmet
needs; and
needs; and
iii. assess the quality and economic impact of existing cultural assets.
iii. assess the quality and economic impact of existing cultural assets.
C. The draft policy shall be reported to the Bangor City Council, who shall have the sole
authority to adopt, reject, or revise said policy.
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