Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative September Update

Greetings all!

The new arts season is upon us, giving us the chance to fill our calendars with one of a kind offerings by all the talented artists, professional and amateur, we have at our doorsteps. Reverb.mn, Rochester Music Guild, Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Post-Bulletin and KTTC events calendar, Rochester Now and Marquee Rochester apps for your phone - these are just a few ways to find a cure for "nothing to do here blues".  Beyond art events, there are various cultural activities going on as well, such as the IMAA Pearl Gala September 25, or the Latino Fest, Saturday, September 26 at Cooke Park with fun activities for the whole family.

Also, the Dolores Jean Lavins Center for the Humanities in Medicine at the Mayo Clinic would like to extend an invitation:

We are very happy to host Joseph Haj, the new Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theater, for an informal gathering on October 1 in the Mayo Clinic Landow Atrium. Please join us in welcoming him, and hear his comments on a new vision for the Guthrie.

RSVP to the Guthrie Theater at 612-377-2224.

We hope to see you October 1 at 7 pm.

Paul D. Scanlon, MD
Johanna Rian, PhD

A few updates from Collaborative partners:

• Art4Trails has made a lot of progress. With the Rochester Area Foundation as a fiscal agent, they have secured grant money from the RDA, the Judy and Jim Sloan Foundation, sponsorship from Forager Brewpub, some in-kind logo and brand development design work from emen design, and are completing a SEMAC grant application, due Oct 1. Call for artists will be posted on mnartists.org by October 1, and we will be sharing that link.  Panel of judges is being created from the representatives of city, artists, neighborhoods. Kelly Corbin of WeBike Rochester will work with the parks department to pre-permit the sites so the artists won't have to.  Publicity plans are also underway so watch your local news sources and spread the word!

• The Chateau Theater Task Force met for the first time Thursday, Sept 17. Here's the Post-Bulletin article about it if you missed it.  RACC member  and local music producer Jim Fricker reported on the meeting, which basically covered preliminary introductions and procedures. There is no plan in place as yet for how the committee will proceed but there is a lot of expertise on the task force so it is expected that a process will be forthcoming. These meetings are open to the public so they will also work on ways to inform the public as well as gather input. 

• The Request for Proposals for Armory/Senior Center re-use is on the consent agenda for Monday evening's (Sept 21) City Council meeting. The Agenda packet is on the city website and there you can see a copy of the RFP. It looks like there will be a March 2016 deadline, with occupancy available probably first quarter of 2017. The Spaces team will be studying the RFP to learn how we can best approach this project based on needs assessment and organization/individual interviews that RACC members undertook over the last few months. If you are interested in participating in this process, let us know! raccnews@gmail.com

• Please complete the Artists Thrive survey for the Minnesota State Arts Board if you haven't yet and pass it along! It's for all individual artists, all over Minnesota, in all disciplines.  The Minnesota State Arts Board is funded by all of our taxes, so help them serve us the best way they can!

Follow RACC on Facebook and Twitter (@RACCMN) and reach out with ideas or to help.  See you at the (fill in the blank) show!

Artists Thrive survey now available

If you haven't seen this elsewhere, the Minnesota State Arts Board is hoping to survey all individual artists from all over Minnesota and from all disciplines:

The Minnesota State Arts Board is studying individual artists in Minnesota in order to learn what it might take for all artists in Minnesota to thrive. The ARTISTS THRIVE research study will survey hundreds of artists statewide about their needs. Then, the Arts Board will use what is learned to inform how it serves and supports artists.

Would you be willing to help ARTISTS THRIVE? Here are two easy ways–

·         Do you think of yourself as an artist? Or is creative expression an important part of your life? Then complete the survey found here: https://bitly.com/1MmQx06. It should take about 25 minutes.

·         Do you work with or know artists or creative people? Then help spread the word by posting or forwarding this message!

You can access the survey online, or request alternate formats in English or Spanish by contacting the Arts Board. For more information, please contact Renae Youngs, director of research and evaluation, Minnesota State Arts Board at renae.youngs@arts.state.mn.us or (651) 215-1607.

 

Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative August update

Hello arts and culture friends and supporters,

a PSA

Please support C4 (Concerned Citizens for a Creative Community, in case you ever wondered) in their membership drive tomorrow! They serve creativity of all kinds and on a shoestring budget.  This is their first ever membership drive and sustaining memberships will help them keep the lights on. August 22, 6:00-11:00 pm, Cooke Park Design District (6th Ave and 7th St NW). 

Now here are updates from our Collaborative partners.

Art4Trails 

Rochester Area Foundation is acting as fiscal agent for this project of art installations along river trails, so team co-lead Mary Ellen Landwehr is in the process of working on three grants: Think Bank, Rochester Downtown Alliance and SEMAC.

In conjunction with the Park board, 10 sites have been chosen along the river, starting at Slatterly Park and ending at the southern end of Silver Lake, across from the RPU power plant. Two installations will be located in Mayo Park, on the east side of the river.

A capstone public event celebrating the project is in the planning stages but likely will be an interactive event, such as a parade along the bike trail to showcase all of the installations. This is tentatively scheduled for June 11, 2016.

The selection committee is forming; call for artists will open October 1 and close November 30. We will be sure to let you know about the call!

Senior Center/Armory

The Spaces team subcommittee working on the Arts and Cultural Center proposal for the Senior Center/Armory has compiled its information from input sessions and form submissions. The model is still in flux - how to serve many small tenants with a range of commitment abilities - and the team continues to meet with different interested parties to formulate the best and most creative use of the space to present to the City Council. It will be several months until the Senior Center vacates the building so there is still time for study and research

Chateau Theatre

At the August 18th City Council meeting,  Mayor Brede requested to form a Task Force for the Reuse of the Chateau Theatre. He will be drawing names from a number of sources, one of which is the Collaborative.  On behalf of RACC, Audrey Betcher will bring three names to the mayor for consideration from RACC membership: Dave Beal, Steve Troutman and Barb Depman. Jim Fricker of North Coast Productions will also be recommended as a musician/artist rep from the community. 

Brad Jones of the Convention and Visitors Bureau is also willing to give tours of Presentation Hall to interested groups. He hopes to be able to accommodate more local artists in the refurbished space but he also needs to know what any needs and/or limitations are from both sides. We are willing to facilitate putting tour groups together, so please contact RACC at raccnews@gmail.com if you would like to be a part of this tour. 

Public Art Master Plan 

Dave Beal from the Policy Team reported on the status of the Public Art Master Plan and the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust’s consultancy contract with Forecast Public Art of St Paul. The Trust board has put together a 25 member steering committee based upon recommendations of the consultant and local advisors. This committee, once officially confirmed, will have its first meeting in October, with three more to be scheduled through approximately February 2016. The understanding is that this group will follow open meeting laws and their meetings will be announced and open to the public. A smaller liaison/advisory team was also formed to assist the consultant in his work with the community in between the steering committee meetings. Dave Beal is a member of both of these committees and will keep the Collaborative informed.

Here's a repeat from last month, but it bears repeating 

There is a plethora of sources for information on all the happenings in and around our region. For a fine overall community (although primarily arts) information aggregator, check out ReVerb.mn.  Among other options, you can download RochesterNow and Marquee Rochester apps for your phone, follow the 507 Magazine from the PB, submit and find events on the PB events calendar, KTTC/Fox community calendars, the Convention and Visitors bureau and the Rochester Downtown Alliance online calendars, calendars of other arts organizations such as the Rochester Music Guild and the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust  - there are many ways to keep up to speed so bookmark your favorite!  We'll keep sharing things on our Facebook and Twitter feeds as we are able, and feel free to post on our page with any arts and culture news you want to let the community know about.

Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative July update

Midsummer is in its full glory and we Minnesotans are soaking it all up as we know so well how to do. The RACC teams are no exception, with many of us taking advantage of summer's offerings and focusing on those current joys. There are a few updates to pass along however:

The input survey team finished collecting responses July 1st and are collating results. From that information, they are working up the next stage as concerns an Arts and Cultural Center in whatever form or venue that may end up in.  They will still take input (send it to raccnews@gmail.com) but they are moving forward in their process.  More to come on that and on the Mayor's ideas for a kind of Chateau Theater use study as the Spaces teams gathers details.

News from the Policy team is that the Public Art Master Plan consultancy project with the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust and Forecast of St Paul will be confirmed soon. We look forward to sharing their next steps when we have more complete information.

The Finance team, headed by Cassandra Buck, is working with Rochester Area Foundation staff to learn more about options and avenues of funding and financing. Let us know if you'd be interested in working with Cassie on this team.

Public Art and Programming team, lead by Mary Ellen Landwehr, continues to make progress in its Art4Trails public art project for 2016.  They are finalizing the submission process, have a good partnership going with the Parks department, and hope to begin fundraising in early August. Keep your ears open for updates on how you can participate in this exciting new public art opportunity!

As you may have discovered, there is a plethora of sources for information on all the happenings in and around our region. For a fine overall community (although primarily arts) information aggregator, check out ReVerb.mn.  Among other options, you can download RochesterNow and Marquee Rochester apps for your phone, follow the 507 Magazine from the PB, submit and find events on the PB events calendar, KTTC/Fox community calendars, the Convention and Visitors bureau and the Rochester Downtown Alliance online calendars, calendars of other arts organizations such as the Rochester Music Guild and the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust  - there are many ways to keep up to speed so bookmark your favorite!  We'll keep sharing things on our Facebook and Twitter feeds as we are able, and feel free to post on our page with any arts and culture news you want to let the community know about.

We welcome any and all to come under our big collaborative tent and work with us. For example, would you like to be on a communications team to consider how to streamline all of these calendars? Do you know something about finance or policy and want to contribute to the work of those teams? You don't have to be an artist or an arts or cultural group administrator or a community leader - you just have to think it sounds interesting and fun. RACC is grassroots - it is YOU reading this newsletter, and we say come on in and join us!

Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative June update

Things are still happening with arts and culture in Rochester, even as the lazy days of summer have hit. Although it's hard to be lazy in a city with so much going on!

What's happening 
First, here are a few "heads up" alerts:

• Art Blitz on Saturday 3:00-11:00 pm all over the block around the Creative Salon (4th St & 1st Ave SW). Stop by our booth and say hello! (and drop off some of your flyers or business cards)
• Look for a survey coming your way from the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) called Artists Thrive. They want to hear from individual artists they don't usually hear from to get a broader sense of Minnesota's artistic communities.  As the survey creator put it: "We need to reach respondents who represent the full diversity of artists and creative people in Minnesota, not just those who are already likely to respond to an Arts Board request."   Please take a few minutes to fill it out when/if you get it and let us know if you don't because we will be one of the sources distributing it. 
• Did you know that Charter House has a small art gallery, called the Parkside Gallery, with revolving exhibits? Their new show, featuring the art of Dr. Kevin Reid, opens July 16, with a reception from 4:30-7:00 pm.  The jazz combo CCB will be providing music. The gallery is open to the public so please stop by and take a look (the most recent exhibit showed art of C4's own Phil Taylor and Bobby Marines).
• Unfortunately the IMAA (Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association) event Walk Around the World, in celebration of World Refugee Day, was cancelled Saturday, June 13, due to bad weather. However, they are planning their second annual Pearl Gala for September 25 and would welcome your help in a number of ways.  Here is more information. 

Team updates

Spaces 
Interviews are ongoing to gather input and initial commitments in support of an Arts and Cultural Center in the current Senior Center/Armory. Feedback by July 1 is encouraged as the committee works to develop a viable business plan in advance of a Request for Proposal opportunity when the city council has defined its process.  An important part of the business plan is also having a management system in place, so the committee is actively working on that piece as well. Please contact raccnews@gmail.com to set up a meeting with a member of the interview & input team if you want to know more.

The Spaces team has also stayed in touch with the Mayor's office as he does preparatory work for a future Chateau Commission. The work of this commission will be to figure out the best use of the Chateau Theater once the purchase is finalized. We will keep you posted on the Chateau Commission as we learn more about the Mayor's plan and what the City Council proposes for this decision process.

Programming and Public Art
The #Art4Trails project is making great strides. The committee is finishing a proposal for a grant from SEMAC to help fund this exciting idea for public art along the bike trail in downtown Rochester. #Art4Trails is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2016, so be ready for a Call for Art to be coming your way in the fall of 2015.

Policy
The policy team is keeping abreast of what is happening with the Public Art Master Plan consultant proposal. The latest from the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust is that the work will probably start in July. As the consultant begins to put his oversight committee together, our understanding is that it will comprise representation from a broad swath of the community.  We look forward to fresh eyes and a fresh perspective for a sorely needed piece of policy.

Communication

As always, you can be in touch with the Collaborative through our email raccnews@gmail.com, our Facebook page, our Twitter feed (@RACCMN), or this blog. We welcome and exist because of feedback and participation. Don't be shy - if something interests you or you see a need, reach out.  Join us in our big tent of collaboration, creativity and community!

Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative May Update

We are hearing from people and organizations on a regular basis who are excited by what is happening with the Collaborative, and we want to say welcome! Join the conversation and the fun.

It hasn't been said for awhile, so we want to remind you of the RACC aspirational statement:

Rochester will be a vibrant, active, diverse and inclusive arts and cultural community for all. Local artists and arts and cultural organizations will be supported by each other and the broader community as a vital resource for the community's health and growth.

Informational interviews ongoing

In light of those aspirations, members from the RACC steering committee have been reaching out to arts organizations, cultural groups and individual artists and meeting with them one-on-one.

The meetings taking place have two primary goals:

1. To learn more about activities, missions, needs, dreams, and about how RACC and individuals and organizations can interact and support each other in all sorts of capacities, and 
2. to gather input and feedback specifically about potential interest in and uses for an Arts and Cultural Center - uses such as shared office space, meeting space, performance space, kitchen space. A center which can serve all those needs would be an incredible asset to our community.  As it happens, there is an opportunity right now to create such a place in the soon-to-be vacated Senior Center (aka the Armory or the Castle).  Information gathered will be highly valuable when the time comes to offer proposals through to the City Council. 

At these meetings, interested parties are also requested to return by July 1 a non-binding statement of intent to become a member of the Arts and Cultural Center. This will enable any proposal going forward to demonstrate a foundational level of support by potential users.

The interview team has an extensive list of people and groups to contact so if you haven't heard from them yet, you probably will soon. Feel free, however, to contact RACC at raccnews@gmail.com and make sure we know about you.

Update: Master Plan for Public Art

On our other exciting front, as has been previously blogged about, the Policy team has been busy since April working with the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust vis a vis their plan to bring a consultant from Forecast Public Art in St Paul to come down and help develop a Master Plan for Public Art in Rochester. The Trust requested in April and the City Council agreed to provide at their May 18 meeting matching funds to help pay for this consultant.  That plan now is moving forward.

Two important things of note: we learned that when Forecast Public Art does these kinds of projects, it always does so with a steering committee comprised of a broad swath of the community, which was the recommendation also of the RACC policy team. The other item of note is that this request was approved in large part because members of RACC stepped up immediately to offer their support and particular expertise to the members of the Trust, the offer was quickly accepted and acted upon, and it was thus demonstrated to the city leadership that arts groups can work together for a common goal. The road is not always smooth, but it can lead us all forward.

Did you know: event calendars 

You are probably familiar with event calendars from the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Alliance, Post Bulletin, KTTC, etc, and these are great comprehensive resources. However, there are some out there focused especially on arts and culture happenings in town that may highlight offerings you are unaware of.  Here are a few to get you started - let us know about others!

• reverb.mn
• Rochester Music Guild
• Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust
• SEMAC  (grant funded events)
• Zumbrota Area Arts Council
• Lanesboro

Logo design

The work of the Collaborative is important, and we want the community to know that we are living out our aspirational statement as best we can.  To that end, we would love an exciting logo that represents! Email raccnews@gmail.com if you would like to help with that.


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Public Art Master Plan proposal update

Since the April  City Council Committee of the Whole meeting where the request was made by the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust for $15,000 in matching funds for a consultant to help develop a master plan for public art, there have been several meetings between Trustees and representatives from the Collaborative.

The outcome of these talks has been the formation of a committee to advise the consultant in his work (he comes from Forecast Public Art in St Paul).  It is important to note that this work is going forward with the understanding that public art is being defined as anything that activates a given space, whether an installation or a performance of some kind, permanent or temporary.  The committee membership, which is still being confirmed, is made up of people who can speak to and represent the various constituencies: visual arts , performing arts - both of these at the organizational and individual level - , logistical concerns, policy concerns, etc.

The City Council originally had this request up for a vote at its May 4 meeting, but now it is scheduled for the May 18th meeting.

Further information will be posted as the arts and culture community continues its work to develop a shared vision and voice,  starting with this first important initiative.