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Home My WebLink About1998-10-07 CAC MINUTES• • • I. II. CALL TO ORDER City of Englewood CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Minutes of October 7, 1998 The regularly scheduled meeting of the City of Englewood Cultural Arts Commission was called to order at 5:45pm by Chairperson Wolosyn at the Englewood Recreation Center, Conference Room. Present: Also Present: Olga Wolosyn, Chairperson Martha Warner, Vice Chairperson Rosemary LaPorta, Commissioner Janet Spangenberg, Commissioner Corrine Lindsey, Commissioner (left at 6:40pm) Ray Tomasso, Commissioner Ed Krueger, Commissioner (arrived at 5:50pm) Mike Heberling, Youth Commissioner Jerrell Black, ex officio Alex Habenicht, City Council Liaison Bob Simpson, Director of Neighborhood and Business Development Rodney Lontine, Executive Director of Museum of Outdoor Arts Maralee Utter, Citiventures INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Director Black introduced Rodney Lontine, Executive Director of the Museum of Outdoor Arts, and Bob Simpson, Director of Neighborhood and Business Development with the City cf Englewood. Commission members introduced themselves. III. APPRQV AL OF MINUTES Chairperson Wolosyn asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of September 2, 1998. There were none. A motion was made that the minutes be approved as presented. The motion passed unanim014sly. IV. NEW BUSINESS. Mr. Simpson thanked the Commission for allowing the Museum of Outdoor Arts to speak at tonight's meeting and for considering the Museum as a potential tenant at the Cinderella City redeveloped site o i\1r. Simpson asked Commission members to look at the value of the Museum of Outdoor Arts as an anchor tenant and at the potential for the Museum of Outdo or Arts to create a resident program for Englewood residents . Discussion was turned over to Mr. Lontine. Mr. Lontine gave a brief history on the Museum of Outdoor Arts. Mr. Lontine explained that the Museum of Outdoor Arts consists of three (3) components: Arts and Entertainment, Art Collection and Art Education. The Museum's art collection includes over 55 works by renowned sculptors. The Museum offers free festivals, art • tours, concerts, major art exhibitions and holiday lighting extravaganzas to the community. Art classes are offered through the Museum for students of all ages with an annual participation of approximately 4,000 people. Mr. Lontine stated that The Museum of Outdoor Arts is a tier III funded arts orga.'lization by the Denver Metro Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. It is the Museum's hope that by relocating and being in a more condensed area along with a sculptured garden, that the Museum would become a tier II organization. Commission member Lindsey asked if funding from a public/private organization would off-set additional funding. Mr. Lontine replied that it would not. He indicated that it would allow more opportunities. Mr. Lontine spoke in regards to what The Museum of Outdoor Arts sculpture garden and education art center could offer at the Cinderella City redeveloped site . Sculpture Garden and Education Center Objective: • Expa.rid and maximize the assets of the MOA (art/education) and its contribution to the Denver Metro area. • Form an important cultural attraction, education facility, community resource and youth/teen devel opment center through a partnership with the City, businesses, education and arts. • G Use the arts and education -as a catalyst for community cohesion and for the enrichment of our children and the lives of the people of Englewood. :;· • Reinforce the positioning of Englewood as a desirable place to work, live and raise children. The Education/ Art Center would: • Be an environment designed for learning, entertainment and the e!1gagement of the "ruts". • Provide a unique , affordable and "edutaining" alternative to education programs that are currently available to Englewood children and their families. • Provide a cultural institution for young people, a place away from the malls and side streets. A positive creative outlet for teens to devdop collaborative projects and individual explorations. • Enhance community/business/government relationships by creating a partnership in the development and support of a community-based art education youth center. • Provide real a.'1d definable services and benefits to the City of Englewood. • Increase the exposure of the "arts" and ns positive influence over our youth, through interactive and "edutaining" activities and art exhibits. The Sculpture Garden would: • Enhance the City of Englewood by providing the state with a "new" destination-based cultural attraction. The sculpture garden, gallery and art park would house, in part, the growing collection of renowned sculpture and art works that are currently interspersed throughout the • Greenwood Plaza business park by the Museum. Off-site sculpture locations and continuing exhibits would include the plaza, public parks and recreation facilities throughout Englewood. • • • • • Be a stimulus to cultural interact ion by incorporating housing, dining, retail outlets, theater and other social facilities with the sculpture garden and art exhibits . • Help to make art a natural and integral part of Englewood. A "best case" example of a community enrichment program. Mr. Lontine discussed rationale of an Education/ Art Center to the community and businesses of Englewood noting that the addition of an important cultural attraction signifies quality of life and plays an important part in economic and community development. Director Simpson distributed information pertaining to the benefits of arts and culture to communities. Discussion followed regarding demographics that the Museum of Outdoor Arts would pull in. Mr. Simpson compared an art facility to another facility , noting that for every $1 spent on the arts , more than $4 are generated through re staurant, hotel, retail, transportation, etc. Discussion was turned over to Maralee Utter. Ms. Utter explained that the Museum of Outdoor Arts would occupy 15 ,000-sq. ft. of contiguous interior space within the Civic Center building along with additional display and common area facilities for public art display and exhibitions. The City would also designate 20,000+/-sq. ft of the adjacent building rooftop, with a bridge connection to the Ci v ic Center, for private outdoor sculpture garden. In regards to funding of the proposal , M s . Utter explained that the City of Englewood would not be putting any money upfront. The Museum of Outdoor Arts would fund the cost of the relocation with the repayment from the City of Englewood through increased sales tax revenues generated by the redeveloped Cinderella City project over the nex t twenty year period. Estimated ~ual amount is to be $130 ,000. -:;· Ms. Utter dis cussed contributions by the Mu seum of Outdoor Arts. Commission members were told that they would b e inv olved in the selection of the fifteen (15) sculptures to be placed among the re de veloped site. In regards to the city costs involv e d in the proj ect and if the City could afford it, Ms . Utter replied yes. Ms. Utter went on to ex plain that there is n ot a better alternat ive or a business deal for the City of Englewood and the Cultura l Arts Commissi on. Director Simp son asked for Commissio n members ' th oughts and input. The que stion was aske d regarding the 1°;;) allocation of capital projects for public art, and if it was separate from this. Council memb er Habenicht stated t hat this proposai was not a replacement of the Cultural Arts Public Art. C ommission member LaPorta spoke in regards to the p artnership be tween the City of Englewood and the Museum of Outdoor Arts . Dire:::to r Simp so n stated that both org anizati ons are looking for a partnership. Simpson commented on the resi dential program . Commi ssion member Tomasso felt that w ould be the sellin g p oint. Di scus sio n en sued reg ardin g the benefits t o Englewood residents . • Director Black was asked for his comment. Black responded that the mission of the Parks and Recreation Department is to provide diverse programs to meet the needs of every citizen of Englewood. Black stated that the MOA organization could provide something at a higher level • that the City of Englewood is not able to provide. Black discussed how the partnership could provide opportunities for both organizations. Commission member Spangenberg asked Commission members if there were any concerns. Commission member Tomasso reported that he was looking from a citizen's point of view. Tomasso also reported that he was concerned for the organizations that are looking for a place to perform that they could afford. Commission member La.Porta commented that it was something that definitely needed to be looked at in the future. Mr. Lontine stated that he is looking at a collaborative effort with Sony theaters for a performance area. Mr. Lontine commented on the opportunities for the Cultural Arts Commission and the Museum of Outdoor Arts for collaborative fundraising and matching of grant funds. Mr. Lontine thanked the Cultural Arts Commission for their support. Mr. Lontine noted that the biggest obstacle was developing something to be proud of in twenty years. Director Simpson reported that he, Mr. Lontine and Ms. Utter would be presenting the same information to City Coun.cil next Monday evening. Commission member Tomasso asked if the sales tax would be generated from out of area • residents. Ms. Utter explained that it is estimated that 20% of sales tax wouid h e g~nerated from Englewood residents, the other 80% would come from outside residents visiting the:$ite. Director Simpson added that they are expecting 1-2 million visitors at the redeveloped site , comparing the number to the 30,000 Englewood residents. Director Simpson, Mr. Lontine and Ms. Utter left at 7 :55pm. Commission members discussed a float for the Englewood holiday parade . V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm. /' {k!uµ_i_L {{ (y!dl1ll, u Deborah A. Severa, Recording Secretary •