Arts Grant Evaluation Panel -Special Meeting

031312 minutes-Arts (78 KB)

Arts, Humanities & Historic Preservation Grant Evaluation Panel - ARTS
Minutes of the Special Meeting
March 13, 2012

Panel Members Present: Dale Loomis, Mark Tully, JoAnn Mundth, Judy Spring, Kay Taylor
UWEX Staff Present: Jenny Erickson
UWEX Arts and Culture Members Present: Judy Ashford, Don Nobs, Donna Stehling

Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 12:52 PM by Erickson and the requirements of the Open Meeting Law were met.

Approval of Agenda
Motion made by Spring, second by Taylor to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Introductions

Review of Process Procedure
Erickson gave a summary of the changes to the UW-Extension, Arts and Culture Committee. She also presented an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the staff, panel members and UW-Extension, Arts and Culture Committee members.

Election of Chairperson
Kay Taylor was selected to serve as chair of the panel for the meeting.

Consideration of grant awards and development of recommendations
The panel reviewed all eleven (11) grants and discussed the pros and cons of each application.
The following are the funding recommendations and comments for each application:

A.) American Players Theatre requested $3,000 and the panel recommended fully funding this project.

Pros:
- Excellent program; not static; constant improvement
- A well-organized event with a long history
- County-wide program
- Accessible to students
- Request seems modest
- Well-written
- Realistic
Cons:
- With an annual operating budget of $5million they may not need the funds
- May need to look toward becoming self-funded in the future

B.) Baraboo Public Library requested $4,800 and the panel recommended partially funding this project at $750.

Pros:
- Great idea, but it needs development
- Creative performance last year
- Qualified performance/coordinator

Cons:
- The project does not match the mission of the library
- The objectives for the project and the budget were not clear
- What will happen if it rains?
- Need an estimate number of attendees
- Not well thought out grant
- Limited to the Baraboo area and one performance
- The volunteers choir is handpicked?

C.) Broadway Kidz requested $5000 and the panel recommended fully funding this project.

Pros:
- The cast is not limited to Baraboo area
- Collaborative effort; partnership with other local groups
- Large cast including a number of kids
- Good depth of resumes
- Summer show
- Reach out to tourists; innovative
- $21K for six performances is reasonable
- May want to partner with UW Baraboo/Sauk County Summerset program
Cons:
- How many kids will be involved?

D.) Kraemer Library and Community Center requested $500 and the panel recommended fully funding this project.

Pros:
- Modest request; well-written
- Reach special needs kids
- Good idea for a tiny community like Plain
- Good timeline
- Time and energy into project narrative
Cons:
- Vast difference in ages of kid expected to attend (3 – 12)
- The one hour event may be too short of a time frame

E.) Reedsburg Players requested $500 and the panel recommended fully funding this project, but this could be a place to cut.

Pros:
- The Reedsburg Players does so much with so little
- Great volunteers
- It grows; keeps kids coming back
- Targets middle school students with is an underserved audience
- Well-written application
- Reasonable timeline
- Budget contains a good mix of funding – students, community money etc.
- Could partner with new Freedom Fest
Cons:
- Consider charging admission

F.) River Arts, Inc requested $5,000 and the panel recommended fully funding this project.

Pros:
- Built on a past project
- Collaboration between Sauk Prairie area and Reedsburg
- Sets up potential gateway for future installations
- Ideas for expansion in the future
Cons:
- How will you tell community members and travelers what the mural means?
- What is included in “sales” listed in the budget?

G.) Sauk County Art Association requested $900 and the panel recommended fully funding this project with the suggestion that the funds not be spent all in print ads.

Pros:
- Love the idea of recycled materials
- Wearable art is creative and innovative
- Lot of potential for growth
Cons:
- No in-kind contributions
- Application could be more complete
- Less Baraboo-centric – the pieces could travel throughout the county
- More community sponsorships to increase prize money
- Promotion could be smarter; not all in print ads
- Overall presentation of grant could be improved
- More creativity in how grant funds are used

H.) Sauk County Fine Arts Festival requested $2,000 and the panel recommended fully funding this project. Judy recused herself.

Pros:
- Expand into visual arts
- County-wide project
- 8th graders get free tickets
- Application improved from last year
Cons:
- Only $800 in ticket revenue, but expecting 800 in attendance?
- More engagement with the general public
- What happened to the choir?
- Continue to develop the program
- May need to move towards becoming self-sufficient

I.) Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce requested $4,750 and the panel recommended partially funding this project at $2,000 or less.

Pros:
- Love the idea
- Interface of commerce and arts
Cons:
- Project is more focused on business/commerce/tourism as opposed to arts
- Include more information on the artist (i.e. examples of work or biography)
- What is the educational outreach?
- Does it appeal to wide audience?
- Juried selection process for the artist would be an improvement.
- Not enough information. There are too many questions.

J.) UW Baraboo/Sauk County Campus requested $5,000 and the panel recommended fully funding this project, but this project could be cut. Dale Loomis recused himself.

Pros:
- Lot of heart and energy
- Love to see it grow
- Could attract regional audience
- Great campus outreach
Cons:
- Hire an event coordinator?
- Mission needs clarity
- High cost for the number in attendance
- Too ambitious
- Clarify long-term vision for this event
- Revenues were down last year
- May need to take a step backward

K.) Wormfarm Institute requested $5,000 and the panel recommended fully funding for this project, but funding for this could be cut. Joann recused herself.

Pros:
- Creative, innovative and constantly expanding
- Collaboration between rural area and art
- Build economics; commerce/tourism and arts
- Educational context
- Very unique; great addition to the county
Cons:
- Personnel costs high perhaps?
- Weather dependent
- What is the sustainability plan for DTour?

The total amount of funding recommended by the Arts Panel is $29,650.

Adjourn
Motion by Loomis, second by Spring to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM.


Submitted by,

Jenny Erickson
Sauk County UW Extension Community Development Educator