Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative March 2015

Team updates:

Spaces (Steve Troutman/Debi Neville):

The spaces needs inventory, while ongoing, is transitioning to talking to artists and arts and culture organizations in a preliminary fashion specifically about how they may see themselves in the proposed arts and culture center as a future use of the Senior Center.  The city council has initiated a new process for individual and organizations to indicate interest in using city owned buildings such as the Silver Lake fire station, the Armory/Senior Center (to be vacated in 2016) and the new addition of the Chateau Theatre (assuming the purchase is approved on April 6).  The spaces team has a goal of being prepared to participate in that process as soon as it officially opens. 

In advance of the Post Bulletin Dialogue event about the Chateau Theatre on March 19, Steve Troutman sent Jay Furst Spaces brainstorming ideas about the Chateau and members of RACC also were present and spoke about the positive implications for arts and culture in town that could come from this historic purchase.  Members of the collaborative were also quoted in a Star Tribune article published Sunday, March 22.  

Public Art/Programming team:

Mary Ellen Landwehr reported on the status of Art4Trails. After the most recent meetings, the team has changed their approach to a smaller concept. Joined by Kelly Corbin of Bikes for Rochester, spaces along the bike trails will be selected to be filled with various installations of local art. Goals include activating these spaces with this art and, when/where appropriate, with special programming, at the same time encouraging area residents to get out and use the bike trails.  Possible future collaboration in this with the Rochester Art Center is being investigated.  This team's next meeting is April 13.

Public Policy:

Policy team is meeting the week of March 22; One upcoming focus will be on the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts CreativeMN.org report on the economic impact of the arts locally and statewide.

Dave Beal also encourages all artists and organizations to attend the April 6 City Council meeting to thank the council and offer support for their foresight in going ahead with the Chateau purchase. Artists and orgs coming together with this one message will help demonstrate the need and excitement for city support for arts and culture.

As always, please reach out if you want to be involved with any of these teams. All are open to any one interested.