HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - January 6, 2020, COTA Meeting MinutesMinutes
COMMISSION ON THE ARTS
Council Chambers
City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue
Monday, January 6, 2020
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Troy Rutter. Members present were Tom
Lockhart, Natalie Robinson, and Deanne Brill. Staff member Tasheik Kerr was also present. Chair,
Steve Sullivan was not present.
Public Forum
No one was present for Public Forum
Approval of the November 4, 2019 Minutes
Moved by Tom, seconded by Natalie, to approve the minutes of the November 4, 2019 Meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion with Jennifer Drinkwater
Tom informed the Commission that Jennifer Drinkwater was ill. She plans to attend the February 3
meeting. Tom stated that the Commission needs to have a plan to address the City Council
regarding the arts. Tom stated that the Commission needs to partner with the City, private sector,
art agencies and ISU to grow the arts community. He suggested several ideas of ways to grow the
arts community.
Craig Kaufman, Auditorium, Bandshell, and Community Center Manager, reminded the Commission
about the City Council’s plan to hold an arts workshop. Craig noted that Mike Sulzberger, of Story
Theater Company, made the request to Council. Mike and Brian Phillips would be working on a date
for the workshop. Craig noted that Mike is also working with Jennifer Drinkwater.
Tasheik reminded the Commissioners that they had planned to develop a survey to send to COTA
agencies in order to garner feedback. Tom responded that Steve planned to develop the survey.
Tom added that he will follow up with Steve.
Jennifer Brockpahler, Director of Ames Community Arts Council, noted that she is willing to help
with organizing information or with gaining feedback from arts organizations.
Annual Grant Recommendations
Tasheik noted that the City Council approved a $15,000 increase. Moved by Tom, seconded by
Deanne to allocate the funding as presented.
2020-2021 COTA Annual Grant Recommendations
ACTORS $16,330
AIOFA $9,900
Ames Chamber Artists $4,742
Ames Children’s Choirs $12,800
Ames Choral Society $3,704
Ames Community Arts Council $11,288
Ames Chapter of Des Moines Metro Opera Guild $1,105
Central Iowa Touring Ensemble $4,025
Central Iowa Symphony $10,910
CoMotion Dance $3,239
Dancenter Dance Company Foundation $2,568
Good Company $1,750
India Cultural Association $8,951
KHOI $5,130
Kids CoMotion $2,900
Octagon Center for the Arts $47,583
Story Theater Company $13,530
Town & Gown $18,039
Amount Reserved for Special Projects: $5,404
Annual Grant Paragraph Assignments:
a. Assignment of Paragraphs for Council
Tasheik noted that every year the Commissioners submit brief paragraphs on what each
agency is requesting. Commissioners were assigned the following organizations.
Brill Lockhart Sullivan Rutter Robinson
Actors Ames Choral Society Central Iowa
Symphony
ICA Octagon Center of
the Arts
AIOFA Ames Community Arts
Council
CoMotion Dance KHOI Story Theater
Company
Ames Chamber
Artists DMMOG Company
b. Volunteers to Attend February 11 City Council Budget Wrap-Up Meeting
Tom volunteered to represent the Commission at the February 11 City Council Meeting.
Upcoming Important Dates
Troy reviewed the upcoming important dates. Troy noted that the Commissioners’ paragraphs are
due on January 10. He also announced that Annual Grant Funding Recommendations would be
posted at City Hall on January 10. Fall 2019 Special Project Grant Final Reports would be due on
January 14. The next Commission meeting will be held on February 3, 2020.
Adjournment
Tom moved the meeting be adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.