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Cultural Arts Commission

Minutes
April 14, 2004

Members Present: John Moser, Chairperson
Carole Butler; Linda Dominic; Eileen Mader; Greg Manougian; George Northway; Jonathan Smith

Members Absent: Dan Creel; Ken Lechter; Sue Pierce; John Tyner

Staff Present: Betty Wisda; Kathleen Moran

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Chairperson John Moser in the Boards and Commissions Room at Rockville City Hall. 

Re: Minutes

The minutes of the March 10, 2004 CAC meeting were approved as presented.

Re: Chairperson Report

John Moser stated his intent to share information regarding Town Center later in the agenda.

Re: Staff Report

Betty Wisda distributed copies of the attached staff report and projected slides of the six sculptures selected for the 2004 Sculpture on the Grounds exhibit at Rockville Civic Center Park.
The opening reception for the exhibit will be June 6.  The selection committee consisting of Eileen Mader, Greg Manougian and Ken Lechter were thanked.

Re: Town Center Temporary Sculpture Project

The CAC discussed and concurred to the concept that a call for entries could be developed to solicit sculpture for temporary display with Town Center during the construction phase.  It was noted this sculpture project would not preclude murals or other art projects.  However, to ensure success for a sculpture project:

• Locations outside of the construction site would need to be obtained and this was understood to be problematic due to the limited public and/or private locations available and appropriate for presentation of a sculpture. 
  
• Themes could be used to establish a connection between works such as whimsical or historical.
  
• The Sculpture on the Grounds honorarium of  $500 per artist/sculpture is low compared to other temporary sculpture opportunities and increasing the honorarium might increase the quality, size and options for selection of works.
  
• The project could be the means of showcasing local artists.
  
• Further exploration on the concept should be undertaken.

Re: Task Force/Committee Updates

Art in Public Places

George Northway, Chairperson, reported that the proposed CIP page for the AIPP program notes a FY05 funding level of $58,269 for projects plus the narrative was understood to indicate that an additional $9,000 is included in the operating budget to support maintenance of the collection and temporary projects.  This combined funding level appears to be significantly larger than prior years.  Betty Wisda was requested to provide the CAC with a history of funding and project expenditures for the AIPP program (both CIP and operating) for the last 5 years.

The AIPP committee agreed to meet on April 29 to work on the revised Master Plan for the AIPP program.  References to the Publicly Accessible Art in Private Development ordinance and the recently presented Lee & Associates’ Rockville Town Center Recommendations for Arts and Arts Related Activities need to be incorporated into the CAC document.

John Moser asked if the commission members were interested in suggesting that the one dollar per capita funding level for the AIPP program be increased.  Due to the increase in population and hence an increase in annual funding for the program, no increase in the rate was recommended at this time.

Private Sector Art

George Northway, Chairperson, reported while watching a recent Planning Commission meeting on television, he watched the representative of the 611 Rockville Pike office towers project have no answer to the question of how this project would meet the responsibility of the Publicly Accessible Art in  Private Development requirement.  George Northway expressed grave concern on whether appropriate communications are being made to developers.  He then requested that the City institute a procedure to notify the CAC of upcoming projects.  It was assumed that this communication should be coordinated through Burt Hall’s office. 

Town Center Phase II

Jonathan Smith reported he is participating as a member of the task force appointed by Mayor and Council to contribute to preliminary planning for the second phase of development in Town Center (the triangle section north of Beall, east of North Washington and west of 355).  The task force is facilitated by Tim Mount of Streetworks and organized by Ann Wallace from Community Planning and Development Services.  The group is providing community involvement via brainstorming on major elements desired within the area and how the area should relate to surrounding areas and existing Town Center plans.  Creation of a one-page summary of the new ordinance was suggested as a promotional/informational tool. 

Outreach

John Tyner, Chairperson, absent.  No report.

Rockville Town Center

John Moser, Chairperson.  No report.

Re:  Rockville Arts Awards/Rockville Arts Sampler

Carole Butler, Chairperson, reported her committee met and evaluated the success of the 2004 offering and recommends that the awards and sampler be continued in 2005 in the same format. Discussion noted the successes of the offering and an expression of gratitude to Carole Butler and her committee.

Conversation then focused on the only weakness – that of receiving nominations for awards.  Eileen Mader noted that initially the “heart and soul” of offering had been the awards to emphasize the importance of and the support to the arts in Rockville but over time the event has evolved to emphasize the free performance.  It was suggested that to help promote the importance of the awards – recipients could be identified in the publicity for the event and the commission members could be more active in researching and requesting nominations.  Kathleen Moran noted that in 2005, the opening reception for the Rockville Student Art Show at Glenview Mansion will be on the same afternoon as the Rockville Arts Sampler in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and perhaps some cross promotion could be developed to increase further build awareness of the arts in Rockville. (Note - The 2004 student art reception was attended by 700 people.)

Re:  Rockville Town Center Recommendations for Arts and Arts Related Activities

John Moser summarized highlights from three meetings in March relating to arts in Town Center:

• March 16 – CAC Town Center committee focus on temporary projects during the transition.
  • Six priorities for action recommended.
• March 25 – Town Center presentation to the CAC by Don Briggs of FRIT and Art Chambers regarding the Rockville Town Square redevelopment.
  • Summary of specific AIPP art opportunities, additional art options, areas of development not to include any AIPP projects. (Summary of this presentation was previously emailed to all CAC members by Kathleen Moran.)
• March 29 – Presentation at the worksession with the Mayor and Council by Charlie Zucker of Lee & Associates on the Rockville Town Center Recommendation for Arts and Arts Related Activities.
  • Mayor and Council concurred to the creation of a task force to determine and  identify priorities and prepare an action plan for implementation of recommendations within the Lee & Associates report.

After discussion on the importance of "appearance" throughout Town Center for all visitors including those parking vehicles in public parking garages, as well as those driving by the exterior parking garage wall on 355, the following action took place.

FORMAL ACTION:  George Northway moved that the Cultural Arts Commission recommend to the Mayor and Council (with a copy to Burt Hall and Art Chambers) that an artist be hired to work on the architectural design team of the public parking garages in the Rockville Town Square redevelopment project. Eileen Mader seconded. Motion unanimously passed.

John Moser presented the recommended priorities of the CAC Town Center committee based on a review of the Lee & Associates Town Center recommendations:

1. Conduct Groundbreaking ceremonies as major public events.
2. Continue, as feasible, the current agenda of existing Town Center celebrations and events.  Use surrounding Town Center locations for new public event concepts that are presented in partnership with FRIT, Friends of the Library, Rockville property owners, etc.
3. Photograph and document the progress of construction and redevelopment in the Rockville Town Center.
4. Create a series of temporary arts-based projects to excite people's imagination and interest in the future of the redevelopment of the Town Center. Create whimsical temporary art objects and settings to be located in properties adjacent to the Rockville Town Center to enliven the space.
5. Produce and install large photo-murals in the Town Center area to promote interest in the upcoming development.
6. Work on permanent art installations for incorporation into the development.

Inter-twined with the above Town Center priorities 1-6 should be inclusion of:

efforts to engaged school students into coordinated activities, display of literary interests, an established observation area(s) guided tours (as activities) to promote interest in the area

FORMAL ACTION:  After turning the position of chairperson of the meeting over to George Northway, John Moser moved that the CAC approve the priorities as presented by the CAC Town Center committee.  Greg Manougian seconded.  Motion unanimously passed.

Re:  Old Business

George Northway asked the status of the City’s website noting that the CAC site does not reflect current agendas and minutes, the AIPP site is not posted yet, and the art portal to access art related information has not been created.  Betty Wisda will report back on specific times for implementation of the items.

Re:  New Business

Eileen Mader invited commissioners to the May 2 opening of the Rockville Art League exhibit at Glenview Mansion and noted that Councilperson Susan Hoffmann will be presenting the awards at 2 p.m.

Kathleen Moran reported that the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre Box Office was now selling tickets on-line for the National Philharmonic concert and other productions/shows will be added in the near furture.

Re:  Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.  The next CAC meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on May 12 at Rockville City Hall.