HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-10-ARTS-min Lexington Council for the Arts
Minutes for 3 10 14 (Approved 5 12 14) at Town Offices Building—Parker Room
Attendance
Present—Lynne Klemmer, Cnstma Burwell, Diana South, Jean Hart, Zoe Perry-Wood,
Emily Passman, Jessie Steigerwald
Visiting—Andrea Stumpf, Matthew Pronchick
Absent—Cheryl Meadow, Regie 0-Hare Gibson
Minutes were taken by Jessie Steigerwald (Secretary)
Secretary's report Jessie Steigerwald
Minutes from December 9, 2013 and February 10, 2014 were reviewed. Jean Hart made a
motion to approve the minutes and Lynne Klemmer seconded the motion. The minutes were
approved unanimously
Treasurer's report Diana South
Diana has checked to find out what type of non-profit we are so we have a better
understanding of whether we qualify for specific grants We are a 170 (c)non-profit and we
are recognized through the Massachusetts Cultural Council
Diana reported that there were three grant recipients who did not request funds after
receiving awards in 2013 Dance Productions, Learnquest Music Conference, Lexington
Symphony Orchestra for 300th Closing Ceremony In total, we had $1,000 that was not
claimed for grants and these funds will cycle through to next year when we will be able to
grant that money
Current local account balance (funds that revolve and are used at our discretion) $3,059 84
Chairperson report - Cristina Burwell
2014 Grant updates
Two recipients sent notice that they will not be using the funds we awarded.
- Bach Workshop recipient said he did not receive sufficient funds to do his workshop
We granted him $150 00
- Golden Tncorne Committee found alternate funding. We granted them $275 00
These funds will be available for us to grant in 2015
Old business
Community Center As LCA has been invited to meet with Linda Vine at the
Community Center on March 14, 8 00 a.m. we took times to organize our offer of help in
preparation for meeting. Ways we might be able to assist the development of the
Community Center project, include
- Create a calendar of exhibits
- Streamline outreach to Lexington artists as we are connected through major art
enterprises in town, as well as individual artists through Open Studios
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Lexington Council for the Arts
Minutes for 3 10 14 (Approved 5 12 14) at Town Offices Building—Parker Room
- Jury the shows (themed shows, solo shows, artists-in-residence) and/or identifying
appropnate juries when a specific media is selected as a theme
- Evaluate best potential of specific spaces, like lobby
- Discuss artist-in-resident programming that could provide classes for community center
visitors and also tie in with creation of specific art for CC
- Brainstorm community art challenges could bring people together at the CC and also
create work for display
- Help connect the Lexington arts and cultural community with larger Lex community
On Friday, we hope to identify top pnorties for spaces for public art, and potential
display space for artwork created at the Community Center if they expand programming
after the center opens We see this as similar to successful programs at Cary Library, but
the organizing group could include LCA to benefit from close ties to the art community
We will continue to brainstorm to consider ways to engage Lexington artists in non-
traditional formats, programming ideas that coordinate with art displays (artist talks or
demonstrations) Would be interesting to consider making CC a destination for well-
known artists Could consider outreach to the many university art programs for future
collaborations Other arts programming could include dance, music and other art forms
We agreed we want to make suggestions early in architect's process to make sure that art
can be hung in time for the opening of the Community Center
One space that we found especially intriguing was the main lobby with great height and
curved walls Group discussed ways we might put out a call for original art that is site-
specific for the lobby area. Agreed that it would be imperative to have funding for this
scale project. Suggesting $5,000 as appropriate amount to award an artist who
successfully answers an RFP but might need that to include installation. Agreed that this
was a good project to submit for grant to the Community Endowment Fund. Crstma and
Jessie agreed to work on the grant application which is due at the end of the week.
Other spaces that we agreed to discuss include
- possible space for more formal art/ something like a gallery that could be closed off
when the building is unattended
- locked cases that are already available in main hall connecting between building and
mansion
- discussed whether we might play a role in fundraising for future display cases
Art displays in public buildings can move forward with limited funds, but group agrees
that it is important to value artists' work and not make the assumption that artists will be
eager to give for free Installation and receptions also have expenses Through
collaboration, LCA may be able to help support some of these activities at a CC as the
community space to display, consider and appreciate art fits with our purpose
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Lexington Council for the Arts
Minutes for 3 10 14 (Approved 5 12 14) at Town Offices Building—Parker Room
Web / Social Media—Zoe updated group that there is ongoing work on web to inform
artists about resources (art supply stores, grants), calls for artists,job opportunities Zoe
and Emily have been working on this for some time Jean has also started this type of
project and will look over the work in progress Support page is blank and needs paypal
link. Jessie suggests Zoe speak with Cheryl who has experience with Lexington's 300th
Emily would like to work on a project where LCA donors can receive acknowledgement
in a visible community location Possible area to brighten with art is alley between bank
and Michelson's
May 2013 Minutes —Zoe reports that a quorum was not reached. Andrea Stumpf read
the Note in Lieu of Minutes for 5/13/13 Lynne moved to approved the Note and Diana
seconded. The Council unanimously voted to approve
Patriots' Day Parade—Volunteers can meet to work on paper-mache creations for the
parade Cristma will update everyone on the meeting. March 29th at Munroe at 1 00
3 00 p.m on April 5th at Munroe Center Use the right entrance, go upstairs to back hall
(further behind Zoe's studio)
New business —
MCC Grantee Reception Sunday April 13th from 2 00 —4 00 p.m at LACS
— Cristma clarified that the reception is held in conjunction with Lex Open Studios
LCA granted $1,000 00 to Lexington Open Studios this cycle
— Zoe shared what has been done in the past.
(See google doc "Project"folder under"Award Reception Event")
- Event requires press release to announce grantees
- About 70— 100 might participate in reception
(Council, grantees, artists in Open Studios, spouses, friends, family)
Cristma proposed inviting all grantees to join the parade All agreed.
- TASK. gather email list of all grantees to announce the reception ¶de
- LOS Committee would appreciate a contribution toward food and flowers
Motion Lynne moved that LCA contribute $350 00 to the April 13th reception which honors
our grant recipient as well as the artists who participate in Lexington Open Studios Diana
seconded Unanimously approved
Fundraismw—Cristma reviewed last month's special guest, Nan Jeffries
- We need to be clear about what we want to raise money for, as well as how much
we want to raise Then, we should identify possible donors
- Idea request matching grant to double the $4,000 from MCC to double our
available funds
- Idea note total amount awarded in 2014 vs amount requested and strive to
raise finds to close the gap
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Lexington Council for the Arts
Minutes for 3 10 14 (Approved 5 12 14) at Town Offices Building—Parker Room
- We need to advocate for LCA (become "LCA Ambassadors"), and work on
developing one-on-one relationships
- Consider developing an LCA financial support group "Friends of the LCA"
- Events can demand extraordinary time They can also be very successful (e g.,
Historical Society raised about $20,000 at Downton Abbey event) but typically
more time might be invested than funds raised appear to warrant.
- We can build a base of committed people Ideas musical evening at a pnvate
home, special receptions at special places Example, people might pay extra to
have extra time with the artists
- One exercise to try each council member identify (perhaps) 25 people who
might potentially make a gift in a specific $ range
- Another idea put out a grantee press release (Jean Hart volunteered), and also
begin a letter listing LCA's accomplishments to show Lexington how LCA adds
value to the community
- Andrea suggested bnng the donors and artists together Everyone liked this idea.
Zoe suggested working on a list of people to invite to the 2014 MCC grantee
reception. Council members were asked to consider people they know who are
philanthropically inclined (or have friends or family who are)who might
appreciate an invitation to the reception.
- Send names to Cristina and note whether you want to invite through email or
with personal note
Motion to adjourn and disperse was made by Lynne Klemmer, seconded by Jean Hart and
unanimously approved at 8 55 p.m.
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3/10/14Communit Y Center!,: i.. ALL Jessie send draft ALL
minutes,everyone send
any other ideas right
away Jessie will
incorporate for handout
for Friday morning's
visit to
CC
Community Center—building Cristina can talk to Cristina
connections so they understand Linda Vine to reach out
what LCA s community ties are to CC members and
about participants to get to
know the artists with
whom we connect
Spreadsheet of former recipients Diana will gather email Diana
and Council members addresses and add to
spreadsheet
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