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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-06 PAAC Agenda PacketPublic Art Advisory Committee Thursday, March 6, 2025 3:30 PM Emma Harvat Hall City Hall, 410 E. Washington AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Public discussion of any items not on the agenda 3. Consider minutes of the February 6, 2025 PAAC Meeting 4. Discuss high-level Public Art Strategic Plan priorities 5. Staff updates 6. Old or New Business 7. Adjournment If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, please contact Chris O’Brien, Deputy City Manager at 319-356-5012 or cobrien@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Draft, p.1 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 2/6/2025 Minutes Public Art Advisory Committee February 6, 2025 Emma J Harvat Hall Public Art Advisory Committee Members Present: Leslie Finer, Juli Seydell Johnson, Andrea Truitt, Scott Sovers, Rachel Kinker, Nate Sullivan, Jeremy Endsley Members Absent: Sophie Donta, Anita Jung Staff present: Chris O’Brien Public Present: none Call to Order Truitt called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Public Discussion of Any Item Not on the Agenda None. Consider minutes of the December 5, 2024 PAAC meeting. Truitt noted Scott Sovers listed in minutes in place of Ron Knoche. Changes made for final draft minutes. Johnson moved and Sullivan seconded that the amended minutes from the December 5, 2024, meeting be approved. Motion passed (7-0). South District Bus Stop Bench Project Update O’Brien noted that the project is about 97% complete. Artist (Ethan Wyatt) needs to return to finish a few touch-up items that need to hold off for warmer weather, There will be a ribbon cutting held in the Spring after project is 100% complete. Wyatt has not yet requested payment, however, project is substantially complete at this time. Wyatt appeared later and spoke briefly about the project. He thanked everyone for working with him over the past two years to complete this project. He also noted that it was a difficult project but in the end it was worth it and happy with how it turned out. Updated Public Art Input Strategic Plan: Review Public Input Survey Results O’Brien stated that there were just under 400 responses to the survey with a wide range of ages and areas within Iowa City. The survey identified trends such as likes and dislikes, views on mix of permanent art installations vs. pop-up art, etc. Truitt was excited with the number of responses and has seen growth while on the committee. O’Brien stated that while 500 was the goal, the 400 that responded provided thoughtful responses to the programs that are present in Iowa City. Draft, p.2 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 2/6/2025 Sullivan thought that the fact that some of the artwork was eliciting reactions was a positive. Multiple committee members noted that fact that public facilities were called out as places that should include public art due to the access it allows to the community. Sullivan then noted that there were several mentions of art installations that were University centric, i.e. Herky’s. Truitt and Sullivan noted comments about downtown vs neighborhood art and do you put art where people are or place art to draw people to a location. Stated it may be useful to look into some of the art installations in other cities highlighted in the survey to get a feel for trends and what other communities are doing. March Meeting O’Brien noted that through discussions with Kilburg Varley and Truitt he will send out the materials early due to the volume of items that need reviewed prior. The normal packet will also be sent out at the regular timing. Truitt highlighted that we want to keep the strategic planning process at the front of mind as in April we will spend that meeting going through matching grant applications. Wanted members to make sure to review the documents being sent out. Staff Updates O’Brien noted that he included the year-end report document in the packet but that no action was needed. Also reminded the group that Matching Grant Program application process closes March 14, 2025 and that there were currently zero submitted. Truitt indicated multiple people had reached out to her about submitting applications. Seydell Johnson highlighted her artist talk at the Senior Center. Indicated 25-30 people attended and that it was a fun talk. Old or New Business None. Adjournment Sovers moved to adjourn at 3:49 pm. Finer seconded. Motion passed (7-0). Draft, p.3 Public Art Advisory Committee Mtg, 2/6/2025 Public Art Advisory Committee Attendance Record 2023-2024 Name Term Expires 9/7/23 11/2/23 12/7/23 1/4/24 4/4/24 6/6/24 8/1/24 9/5/24 10/3/24 11/7/24 12/5/24 2/6/25 Ron Knoche N/A X* X X X* X* X X O/E X X* X X* Juli Seydell- Johnson N/A X O/E X* X O/E X X X X* X X X Steve Miller 12/31/23 X X X X X X X --- --- --- --- --- Eddie Boyken 12/31/24 O --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Andrea Truitt 12/31/25 X X X O/E X O/E X X X X X X Anita Jung 6/30/23 X X X X O/E X X X O X X O Jenny Gringer 12/31/23 O/E O X --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Jeremy Endsley 12/31/25 O X X X X X X X O/E X O/E X Nate Sullivan 6/30/26 X X X O/E X X X O/E X O/E O/E X Leslie Finer 12/31/26 --- --- --- --- X X X X X X X X Rachel Kinker 12/31/27 --- --- --- --- X X O/E X X O/E X X Sophie Donta 12/31/26 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- X X O/E Key: X = Present X* = Delegate attended O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a member MEMORANDUM DATE: March 6, 2025 TO: Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee FROM: Rachel Kilburg Varley, Public Art Coordinator CC: Chris O’Brien, Deputy City Manager RE: Setting High-Level Priorities for Public Art Strategic Plan The current Public Art Strategic Plan covers Fiscal Years 2021 – 2025. As such, we are in the final year of the current plan and should continue to work towards setting priorities, drafting, and adopting an updated Strategic Plan to be effective FY 2026 (July 1, 2025). At the March 6, 2025 Public Art Advisory Committee Meeting, the goal is for the Committee to discuss the review/analyses steps which have been completed over the past year and suggest a few high-level priorities or concepts to incorporate into the final Strategic Plan. Background While the existing Public Art Strategic Plan took the form of a lengthier and comprehensive document, staff’s desire with the updated strategic plan is to create a briefer, more focused plan. Staff envisions a 2-3 page strategic plan document which outlines the following: • Mission/Vision: 1-2 sentences distilling the key objectives of the PAAC o Values: 2-3 overarching values for the PAAC’s work (i.e. equity, sustainability, etc.) ▪ Impact Areas: 3-5 areas the PAAC would like to focus time, energy, and funding (i.e. maintenance, artist workforce, etc.) • Action Items: 3-5 specific actions or tasks for each impact area, which will equate to progress or success (i.e. “Complete at least 1 maintenance project a year”) If the Committee is in agreement with this general approach, Staff recommends the Committee engage in the following discussion questions based on the various analyses which have been completed over the last year (each of which was included in the agenda packet for this meeting): ✓ Summary of Comments from FY20-25 Strategic Plan Review – completed Jan 2024 ✓ PAAC Budgetary & Geographic Analysis - completed July 2024 ✓ Arts Stakeholder Input Meeting Summary – completed August 2024 ✓ Public Input Survey Results – completed January 2025 As you are discussing future priorities, it is important to hold the discussion within the context of the charge and scope of the PAAC, which is outlined in Article VI of the PAAC By-Laws (also included in the agenda packet). For Discussion at the March 6, 2025 PAAC Meeting Strategic Plan Approach 1. Does the Committee agree with the general approach/format proposed by Staff for the updated Strategic Plan? (2-3 page focused document of values, impact areas, and action items). 2. What is the preferred timeframe of the new Strategic Plan? (Staff suggests a 3-5 year range). Strategic Plan Priorities Please note that the purpose of the following discussion questions are to suggest a few high- level themes and concepts for each. The Committee should not worry about “perfecting” the themes or language at this time. Additionally, you do not need to worry about limiting yourselves to a certain “number” of ideas for the questions below – they will be narrowed down later on. The goal of this discussion is merely to brainstorm a list which will give staff direction on more specific language to be discussed and prioritized at an April or May work session dedicated solely to the Strategic Plan. 3. Based on the analyses which have been completed, what are a few key themes/concepts that might embody the “Values” of the PAAC’s work? 4. Based on the analyses which have been completed, what are the key “impact areas” you believe the PAAC should focus on in the coming years? 5. What are some specific action items or priority tasks you would like to see accomplished in the coming years? (These can be general since the final “impact areas” have not been solidified yet). Next Steps Staff will use the discussion from the March 6th meeting to develop a draft outline of new Strategic Plan values, impact areas, and action items. The Committee will discuss this outline at an April or May Strategic Plan Work Session, with the goal of refining, prioritizing, and finalizing the items and language. The goal is to adopt a final version of the new Strategic Plan in July 2025. FY20-25 Public Art Strategic Plan PAAC Review & Comments (Jan 2024) At the January 2024 Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) meeting, the PAAC reviewed the FY20-25 Public Art Strategic Plan and identified key items in the Strategic Plan which they would like to prioritize in the final year of the Plan and possibly going forward: Goal 1: Reviewing existing program. • Review public art program through an equity lens – breakdown of projects/funding in neighborhoods, demographic analysis, etc. • Consider whether another public survey would be valuable. If yes, what are our objectives? • Aim to increase participatory activities, through PAAC-funded programs and outreach with other entities • Continue to review/refine grant rubric annually and other policies/procedures regularly Goal 2: Expand opportunities • Review previously developed inventory of locations and make available for artists/respondents as projects and programs are rolled out • Continue to be less downtown-centric, and reach more areas of the community • Transition Neighborhood Art grant/Art in Neighborhoods Program into an application model Goal 3: Care and Maintenance of Existing Art • Continue funding Art Maintenance budget line. • Explore more professional condition assessment & formal art maintenance plan. • Review potential funding sources and evaluate feasibility of things like fundraising. Consider changes to frequency of recurring programs to increase budget flexibility. Goal 4: Collaborate • Increase outreach with stakeholder groups and local organizations – explore partnerships with SSMIDs, school district, and targeted non-profits • Plan annual meeting with arts stakeholders and organizations • Identify any ways public art can continue to be more involved/incorporated into capital projects Goal 5: Build Awareness • Where will our messaging “break through the noise” and land with the right audiences best? • Prioritize annual report to be shared with stakeholder groups, Council, and the public A full version of the FY20-25 Strategic Plan is available at www.icgov.org/publicart. Last 3 Years: PAAC Budget vs. Actual (with carry over) Staff insights: • The annual adopted budget is approximately $51,500, and the revised budget is nearly double or double this amount, due to large carryovers. • Annual carryovers for grant funding is to be expected due to grant program timing. Recurring carryovers for large public art installations are reflective of a lack of progress on these projects in recent years: the Lucas Farms Neighborhood project and South District Bench project have been carried over for 3+ years. • Due to recurring carryovers for large public art installation projects that have not yet been completed, no new large projects have been pursued in recent years. • Sculptor’s Showcase and Matching Grants are the only two formal, recurring projects each year. Budget priorities are guided by the PAAC. The frequency of these programs can be maintained, altered, or new annual programs can be established within the Committee’s budget constraints. FY 2022 Budget Line Revised Budget *includes prior year carryover Actual Exp. EOY Carryover Sculptor’s Showcase $7,500 $8,500 – Grants $15,400 $8,100 $6,800 Neighborhood & Public Art Installations $57,466* $17,133 $40,333 Maintenance $2,000 – – Misc. $3,080 $400 – FY22 TOTAL $85,446* $34,133 $47,133 FY 2023 Budget Line Revised Budget *includes prior year carryover Actual Exp. EOY Carryover Sculptor’s Showcase $14,500 $14,500 – Grants $28,800* $13,800 $15,000 Neighborhood & Public Art Installations $42,137* $5,867 $32,937 Maintenance $4,900 $3,359 – Misc. $1,296 $742 – FY23 TOTAL $91,633* $38,268 $62,437 FY 2024 Budget Line Revised Budget *includes prior year carryover Actual Exp. EOY Carryover Sculptor’s Showcase $12,000 $12,000 – Grants $30,500* $15,210 $15,290 Neighborhood & Public Art Installations $47,537* $6,400 LFNA, SD Bench Maintenance $8,790 $11,643 – Misc. $1,450 $735 FY24 TOTAL $100,277 $45,988 TBD Staff insights: • 70% of projects occurred in Low-to-Moderate Income Areas over the past 5 years. (Excluding projects located in the Downtown District, 34.2% of projects occurred in Low- to-Moderate Income Areas). • 60% of Public Art expenditures directly benefit individual artists and performers or non- profit arts and cultural organizations *For visualization purposes only; precise data may be skewed due to carryover funding **2024 amounts reflect anticipated expenditures, with FY24 ending June 30, 2024 Last 5 Years: Map of Public Art Advisory Committee Expenditures LMI Area Location Marker Color Key: • Blue = Sculptor’s Showcase • Purple = Community Grant • Orange = Neighborhood or Public Art Installation • Green = Restoration/Maintenance Notes from group discussion at 2024 Arts Stakeholder Meeting Discussion Question: What would you like the PAAC to focus on over the next 3-5 years? • Need more exhibition space (this was seconded and thirded, etc..) • Do a better job of promoting existing exhibition space and spaces that take applications for exhibiting art, like hospitals • Permanent Space for temporary exhibits - public space for art • Pop-up exhibits taking advantage of empty storefronts would be great o Example of Realtors hosting art exhibits in homes they are selling o Work with downtown / commercial realtors? • Not enough access to affordable, right-sized studio space • There’s a real need for some kind of “public square” for artists to come together and congregate/collaborate • Would love to see more permanent sculpture as public art downtown • Would be great to see more performance of literature as public art to build on our identity as a city of literature • Having an Art Center with gallery space, studio space, and classes is a missing piece of the arts ecosystem in our city