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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-14 Commission on Cultural Development Minutes City of Bangor, Commission on Cultural Development th December 14, 2017 8:30 a.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, 73 Harlow Street, Bangor Commissioners Present: Mary Budd (Chair), Kim Stewart, David Zelz, Allen Adams, Liam Riordan, Stephanie Harp, Amy Blackstone, Jared Hunnefeld Others Present: Clare Davitt Unexcused Absent: Marianne Lynch, Owen Smith 1. Welcome Chair Mary Budd called the meeting to order. 2. Approval of November’s Meeting Minutes Amy Blackstone moved to approve. Kim Stewart seconded the motion. 3. Grant Applications- Introduction to projects Chair Mary Budd introduced the grant process, stating that each applicant will give a short presentation for their project and then will field any questions the commission may have. Bangor Celtic Crossroads- A group in the area who are interested in Celtic music & culture and would like to develop a festival in Bangor for 2018. The idea for a festival started with a concert series held in Bangor and Brewer to build interest around the Bangor Celtic Crossroads group. The festival is expected to be held in late September or October in Downtown Bangor, with events for all ages. Bangor Celtic Crossroads will be partnering with the Bangor Arts Exchange and the Bangor Public Library. They have recently developed a fundraising plan and programming for 2018 which consists of individual donors, sponsors & fundraising events. Programming will consist of a concert series, history workshops, arts programs and celtic poem readings. Questions: - Are there events that happen throughout the year to keep up the interest of a festival? o Yes, they hold the concert at a different time of the year as well as smaller community and fundraisingin events. - The application was for $1500, and that was for marketing? o Yes, the goal for the year is $25,000 for the year, which marketing consists of $3000 of that which does not include fundraising costs. - Are there any other fundraising events in place? o Yes, the Bangor Celtic Crossroads will apply for grants with the Maine Humanities Council, Maine Arts Commission, Maine Tourism and the Stephan & Tabitha King foundation. Have done an individual appeal and received a grant from Machias Savings Bank. - What does the festival programming look like in regards to how much music, lecture, etc. o Programming at the library will be focused on humanities and then there will be at least two concerts, and then workshops focused around music and dance in between the concerts. There is currently a list of potential traveling performers that are working with them. - I noticed there are three vacancies on the board currently, have they been filled? o Yes they have. Beautification Committee- Downtown Bangor Partnership. This proposal is to fund a total of 6 wheatpaste art pieces around downtown. We are asking for $750 from this grant, which will be matched by DBP. The project involves working with known wheatpaste Artist Keirsten Gills to print and install the pieces, much like he did in Waterville and Gardiner. The installation of these pieces will hope to bringing tourism to downtown Bangor, as did in cities of his previous works. The artwork for this project will be selected from a collective of local artists. All funds associated will go to Keirsten and printing costs. If this first prject is successful, the hope is to be able to repeat the project yearly and to have local artists submit work to install. The installation date would be the start of May, with a take-down date somewhere in September. Start- may, end September. The theme of the artwork would be of Maine flora & fauna. The DBP will help market, gather volunteers to help with the installation process and the CVB has offered to help with marketing as well. Questions: - Can you tell us more about what the Beautification Committee does? o The Beautification committee is responsible for putting up the lights in parkway, lights on the lamp posts, wheatpasted the holiday tree base, put fir tippings in the bridge boxes, and do the adopt a garden downtown. - You mentioned that the DBP would fund the other half of the project, is that money already committed by the DBP? o Yes it is. - Can you explain a little more about what wheatpaste is? o Wheatpaste is flour & water baked in a certain recipe, similar to wall paper paste that seeps through paper and sticks to building. - These large scape art pieces will be displayed to the public. Do you have a plan to protect them? o I think you have to look at it as “I hope it doesn’t happen” rather than “what if it does happen”. So far there has been no vandilization of the Bangor Mural, so we have to hope there won’t be for these murals as well. - Are there any ideas for future funding? o For future murals, the hope is to use DBP beautification funds on printing costs, or to get sponsorships, the rock & art shop does some funding to local artists, or by selling merchandise around the murals and to have the funds raised go back to future art installations. - You mentioned a collective of between 4 and 6 artists, will they be working together or independently on each piece? o They will bew orking together as a collective, which will be named as a partner of the pieces along with Keirten and the DBP. Bangor Symphony Orchestra- The Bangor Symphony Orchestra has now moved it’s headquarters to downtown Bangor to the new Bangor Arts Exchange building. The new building is a project in partnership with Launchpad and the Bangor ballet to create a shared community space to help bring the arts to the downtown community. We have applied for this grant to help with funding for exterior signage. Having the exterior signage would benefit the Bangor Arts Exchange as well as the arts programs being featured. Having this exterior signage would signal to the community that this is a house of the arts. This new arts building looks to have a more active arts role in downtown. There was a total budget of $125,000 for the updates to the exterior of the building. We are currently in conversations with a few people from the city regarding historic restrictions. We are looking to have two signs, one on York street and one off Exchange Street. We have currently reached 75% of our goal for overall fundraising. Our strategy is to attract third party rentals as well to gain income as well. This project would be filling a void in arts in the downtown community. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra is requesting half the cost of the signage from the commission- $4,000. Questions: - Would the signage be for the new Bangor Arts Exchange, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Launchpad or read something else? o The logo would be for the Bangor Arts Exchange and would include the acronym logo with the swish design, as well as have the words “Bangor Arts Exchange spelled out”. - Are there any thoughts on having a marquee sign to advertise events? o There will be one in the lobby. We do rent the building so we are limited on what can be installed. For example, there can be no signs below the second floor. - You mentioned that the new BAE space has reached 75% of its fundraising goals. Can you name some of the major funders? o The Stephan & Tabitha King foundation, Bangor Savings Bank, Hamil, and a number of individual donations. There are also internal goals with groups of donors who are coming together as well. - What is the relationship between BAE fundraising and BSO fundraising. o Both organization’s fundraising is for projects within the building. Our goal was to isolate fundraising for the building from regular, ongoing fundraising for programming. - Are the other organizations within the building fundraising also, the Bangor ballet & Launchpad? o Both the Bangor Ballet and Launchpad are pushing the BSO campaign for the building to their constituents. Peace & Justice Center- This project would be a series of three murals across three of Bangor’s youth community centers depicting several civil rights leaders. The hope is to kick off the project on Martin Luther King Jr. day. The project will consist of three separate murals at three separate locations, taking three weeks each. I am hoping to go to these centers and work with the youth that are currently in their programs, to have the youth help in painting the murals and while doing so learn and reflect on the figures depicted. The plan is to have placards explaining each figure. Hopefully this project could lead to future art programs with the youth centers. We have run a few art programs at Peace & justice center, and have painted a mural at Holly #7 Birthing Center, depicting all local Bangor services for women. I have also done a wheatpaste installation by going through the historic preservation society which we were hoping to turn the space into a revolving wall for future wheatpaste projects. I also painted the murals near Leadbetters. A 7ft by 12ft piece which took two weeks for strictly painting. Questions: - Can you tell us what the cost for this project would be? o The majority of the cost would go to material and operating expense for time which is projected to be about 120 hours each per mural. - Can you be more specific about what materials a project like this would require and what the total costs for materials would be? o Material costs are projected to be about $30 per mural for paint & primer. The attached budget breaks down what each artist will be responsible for doing. - The three murals would more or less be the same core concept repeated three times at three different locations? o Yes - You mentioned the locations being the Bangor Parks & Rec, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club. Are there any other locations you have in mind or any back up locations? o Yes, the Maine Discovery Museum and a location for the Bangor High School Civil Rights Team. - Can you describe the successes & challenges of your previous art projects? o We have learned that the more you have the project together, the smoother and faster it will go. We have tried to structure the program as much as possible. We have also learned that you can engage student interest by just saying yes and encouraging them. Art is for everyone, so incorporate them and their ideas in the piece as much as possible. It will make it personal to them. - You mentioned placards, but I don’t see those in the budget? o They will be painted placards with the name of the person. - Do these murals need to be sealed? o Not really. There are a lot of acrylic paints that do not need to be sealed. - Are these permanent murals or wheatpaste? o We are open to a wheatpaste option, but we are thinking permanent. - How will participants learn about people depicted in the murals? o We will give the instruction and lessons and will submit the lesson plans to the host. - - Do you have any plans for matching funds? o We don’t currently have any plans. This is a hypothetical project. We are hoping to do it but without funding we might not. But there is a lot of volunteer time and in- kind donations involved. Penobscot Theatre Company- The Penobscot Theatre Company is asking for support for a production in the spring. This production tells the story of a young woman veteran after three tours in Afghanistan with severe injuries. She was burned and undergoing a new therapy involving virtual reality. The University of Maine is currently working on developing this therapy which gives us a local connection. Maine has a large number of veterans, and this production is even more significant that it is a woman’s story, a woman veteran, and also written by one of the nation’s prominent writers. We are also partnered with the science festival, to promote works that promote scientific development through the arts. Performances of this production will coincide with the festival and festival programs will drive audiences to the performances. There will be workshops at the festival by therapists who have developed and used this technology. We ask for your support for cost of this production and in planning community based projects which require additional support. Questions: - For many of your shows, you bus in students. Do you plan to do this for this production? o We are hopeful to and there has been a conversation to engage high school age students. - Can you describe the specific way the funds would be used? o They would help offset the costs of professional performers. Specifically the director, actors and technical requirements due to projection required for this production. 4. Grant Discussion Celtic Project- Chair Mary Budd recommend funding the project at the full level. Liam Riordan second. Wheatpaste project- Liam Riordan expressed that the request is very reasonable and would feature local Maine artists. I favor of funding at the full level. Allen Adams seconded and expressed the interest in this becoming a self-regenerating project. Bangor Symphony Orchestra- Liam Riordan brought to mention that this would be one of largest grants given, but that he is very comfortable funding for what they have requested. Mary Budd expressed that she hopes the designers take into account that it is the Bangor Arts Exchange being advertised, and not just another sign that doesn’t get recognized. But that long- term it would be great in the community. Jared Hunnefeld seconded the motion to fund at the full level requested. Peace & Justice Center- Liam Riordan was in favor of funding at the full level requested. Stephanie Harp mentioned that it would be great to get all aspects of the project involved- Youth plus art plus history, therefore she seconds the motion. Amy Blackstone wondered if they should make the funds contingent on confirmation from the building owners? Mary Budd thought it would be sufficient to require a final report, which is asked of all organizations awarded grants. Penobscot Theatre Company- Liam Riordan brought to the table that the Penobscot Theatre Company does a wonderful job with production and community outreach. He supports funding at the full level. Stephanie Harp seconded, noted that the application was flawless with zero holes and all questions answered. Liam Riordan confirmed that the commission has agreed to fully fund all five applicants. Mary Budd mentioned that the board appreciates the diversity of applications, the creativity of applicants, hope that the trend will continue in the future. 5. Other Business - New city council representative for the Commission on Cultural Development, Clare Davit, introduced herself to the commission. - The AEP5 rack card is currently in the process of being printed. Once printed, it will be distributed to the thirteen participating business. - This will also be Mary Budd’s last meeting as her term as Commission chair has expired. It will also be Stephanie Harp and David Zelz’s last meeting. Thank you to them for their service. th - The new members on the Commission will be announced December 27, and we will vote on the new officers at the January meeting. 6. Adjourn Future Commission Meetings (8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers): 2018 January 11 February 8 March 8