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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-13 23-079 OrderCITY COUNCIL ACTION Council Meeting Date: Item No: Responsible Dept: Requested Action: Summary Committee Action Meeting Date: For: Against: City Manager City Solicitor Finance Director Map/Lot: Introduced for: Order Committee: Action: Staff Comments & Approvals Date: Item No: Assigned to Councilor: ANNUAL REPORT of the CULTURAL COMMISSION for the Calendar Year 2022. Per the City of Bangor Code, Chapter 23, Article III, "Commission on Cultural Development," § 23-20, Meetings; annual report; quorum: "The Commission shall meet at least quarterly and, prior to December 31 of each calendar year, shall prepare and submit to the City Council an annual report outlining its activities during the preceding twelve-month period." The Commission on Cultural Development's mission is to promote the development of Bangor as a regional arts center that nurtures the artistic and cultural expression of its diverse peoples, and is authorized to assess Bangor's cultural needs; to develop and maintain a comprehensive arts and cultural policy based on a 5-year vision statement, assuring that plans and policies are developed with consideration of the needs of the community's future adults, providing them with additional incentive to remain or return to Bangor. Commission members for 2022: Jane Bragg, Chair; Barbara McDade, Vice -Chair; Hollie Adams, Aubrae Filipiak; Tristan Greenlaw; Katherine Malea (resigned due to competing obligations); Marge McGill (resigned December; moved out of Bangor); Margaret Rieley; Kevin Smith; Shane Smith; Lovern Stockwell, Dina Yacoubagha (City Council). Grant Subcommittee, Chair Marge McGill Requested and received approval to move grant application deadlines to April and October (from May and November). Reviewed spring applications and made recommendations to the full commission. For fall applications, there were ample funds available and all applications worthy of support and the grant committee chose to not review them before the general commission meeting in November. • Spring 2022 Grant Awardees - Total awarded $4,840 • Launchpad — $840 requested and awarded for wheat paste mural project in downtown Bangor featuring 12-15 installations of temporary artwork, increasing vibrancy, and positively promoting the value of public art. • Penobscot Theatre Company - $4,000 requested and awarded to produce "Queen" by Madhuri Shekar as the opening production for the 2022-2023 season and helping bring two actors and a dramaturg to guide in the portrayal of the Indian diasporic culture that is fundamental to the production. • Fall 2021 Grant Awardees — Total awarded $12,895 • Bangor Community Theatre - $2,895 requested and awarded for support of their project expenses such as performance royalties/rights and purchase of scripts, costumes/sets/props, printing of posters, tickets and programs, and fees for online streaming and publicity. • Bangor Symphony Orchestra - $5,000 requested and awarded for support of its full return of its Bangor Arts Exchange educational and performance programs. • Maine Discovery Museum - $5,000 requested and awarded for support of the Maine Science Festival ARTober Subcommittee. Co -Chairs Barbara McDade and Kevin Smith The city granted the commission $5,000 for the fiscal year over the $15,000 base budget. Creation of a Bangor Arts award was approved by City Council. Thirteen nominations were received from community members. A five -member jury selected Annette Sohns Dodd as the winner of the $1,000 award presented at the opening reception held at the Zilman Art Museum on December 2. In addition to the Bangor Arts award, the ARTober committee, in coordination with the Downtown Bangor Partnership, maintained a calendar of arts events occurring in the month of October and made use of social media. There was a window display at the former Epic Sports building, and 14 State Street. City provided banners. Cultural Assets Subcommittee, Chair Aubrae Filipiak - Reviewed and completed survey of existing public art/monuments, submitted condition report to Parks and Rec director - Finalized new signage for Paul Bunyan statue, submitted content and files to Parks and Rec director - Continued work on third and final story map, focused on family -friendly activities and attractions in Bangor - Led the RFP process for a new piece of public art to be installed on the Davis Brook Stack, reviewed proposals and selected a piece by Wabanaki artist Stephen Hooke. The piece, a stainless -steel replica of a traditional Wabanaki canoe, is under fabrication currently and will be installed in early 2023. 2023 Work Plan 1. Review applications and make recommendations for spring and fall 2023 grant cycles. 2. Continue work on refining grant rubric. 3. Plan and execute an ARTober program. 4. Continue to review cultural assets and development of Story Maps. 5. Address other issues as they may arise or referred by City Council. To Be Approved by the Commission on Cultural Development on January 6, 2023. IN CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY CO 23-079 Passed CITY CLERK