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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - COTA Meeting Minutes 11/12/2011M I N U T E S COMMISSION ON THE ARTS November 12, 2011 2012/13 Annual Grant Hearings The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chair Fred Lewis. Members present were Andrew Zehr, Craig Zywicki, Joel Jacobsen, and Christopher Sutch. Ames Town and Gown Peggy Earnshaw represented the group. Tom Jackson and Melissa Wahl were also present. Peggy recapped the presentations by musicians so far this year. Town & Gown collaborates with other community groups in presenting its season. The 63 rd season is being planned. At least one concert is a string quartet, and another is a piano concert. There is one change to the application in that the Chamber Music Association of Detroit will no longer help to defray the costs for the KLRIT Winner performing here. Ticket sales are less that 1/3 of the revenue. The Musicale is the major fundraising effort. It was noted that the group is on Facebook. Due to the economy, more local dollars are necessary to bring musicians in. A saxophone quartet and a tango group are examples of unusual concerts arranged for the fifth concert. Concert tickets are $25; children are free. It is getting more difficult to find grants for programs. Ames Choral Society Steve Hoifeldt and Tom Mohr represented the Society. This is not a select choir. This is an opportunity for people to improve their skills. The choir tries to conduct a number of community events, like the Good Neighbor community concert. Ames Choral Society has participated in Municipal Band concerts. There are approximately 45-60 singers depending upon the time of year. There are 10 board members. Tickets are $10 per concert; there are four concerts per year. Letters go out to contributors for fundraising; the main paid ads are for the concerts, but much of the advertising is free. The Choir now has a Facebook account. Dues are $45 per year or $25 per semester, and $25 each for added annual family members after the first annual membership. Singers should be at least high school age. There is limited contact with the schools about the concerts – more could possibly be done. There is a break for those under 12 to attend the concerts. Ames Community Arts Council (ACAC) Nancy Brousard and Barbara Walton represented the Council. Nancy reviewed the Council’s mission statement with the Commission. Coordination and collaboration is a major function along with promotion (like the calendar). Funds will be used primarily for promotion. Target funds ($2,000) have been lost. Assistance is provided to Arts in Education. The group is looking at an artistic bike rack program. Grant research is mostly done for ACAC itself. The Council is exploring uses of Facebook. The revenue for Tune -In to Main Street runs into the next fiscal year, since it does not stop in June. There was some discussion about needing a corrected balance sheet. Ames Children’s Choirs Dario Zaffarano represented the choirs. The new Director for the choir is Gene LeVasseur. There are three basic choir levels (beginner, chorale, and concert). Most participants are from Ames. There are 2 main festivals that alternate years. This year the festival will be held in Ballard as opposed to the Middle School (the Middle School canceled for some reason). Next year will be the Midwest Children’s Choir at C.Y. Stephens. The choirs do a bit of touring; they will be going to Washington D.C. for the National Memorial Day celebration (separate fundraising covers that trip). Dario addressed the increase in the request and the changes in financing from previous years with the departure of Dr. Munsen. The negative inventory numbers came from an adjustment to inventory for actual CDs or other items for sale as opposed to what has been carried. There was a possible transcription error in the financials. Fees =$350 for beginner; $375 for chorale; and $550 for the concert choir (plus added cost for the tour). Numbers are down when there is not a major tour. There are around 70 participants in all 3 choirs. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. There are some scholarships available. Ames Chamber Artists Louis Bannitt represented the group. Marriane Chalstrom was also present along with A ndi North and Erin Bilsten. The chorus goes on the road to surrounding communities as well as with other local groups like the ISU choir. The chorus was founded in 1988. Next year will be the 25th year. The fee for participation is $75 annually. Miscellaneous revenue during 10/11 was reimbursement for a meal. The inventory is music; many of the group s in the community share music. The Octagon Heather Johnson was present. Heather summarized the major activities of the Octagon. Permanent staff has gone from 8 to 4. A total of 109 artists participated in the recent art festival. Festival of Trees is now being organized by the Octagon. The Octagon is asking for more in annual grant funds and less in special grants. IAC is down 17% or so in its available funds (local business sponsorship is also down). The Center is more active in social medial and a match arrangement with the Tribune. Public reaction to the new gallery has been very positive. There is a jury panel to select the shop consignees. An effort has been made to bring in more reasonably priced merchandise. Equity is negative right now as a result of roof damage and boiler issues. The Octagon is looking at how to handle the gap in programs for children between 12 and 17. Heather mentioned that there is a need for more publicity for those young people to either go into adult classes or stay in classes for younger children. There are more workshops now for use of digital technology. There is more of an effort to cont ract with ISU. Art on campus is handled through the Brunnier. Story Theater Company Lori Sulzberger was present for the Company. It was formed in 2006. A musical will now be an annual event. ISU students are providing excellent support. Workshops and classes are offered during the summer. A teen theater club is being considered. They do have to turn away a number of children now for the main stage auditions, so the Company is looking for ways to involve more children in theater. The participation fee is $125 for main stage, but there are need-based scholarships. Tickets are kept low to try to get more people interested in arts. Tickets are given to social service agencies. Many take classes that may not actually get cast for the main stage. The group is beginning to accumulate some equipment. The budget shows what is expected in terms of finances and Part 3 shows what is being applied for. “Memberships” are expenses for memberships of Story Theater to the Chamber and others. It was suggested that scholarships be shown as an expense. Central Iowa Symphony Julienne Krennrich was present for CIS. A broad range of ages of people participate. The summer pops concert is free. CIS tries to collaborate with other arts groups (particularly choirs). Voice for the young artists’ series will be expanded to college students. The competition is basically self-supporting; the main expense is for the Auditorium. CIS tries to keep most purchases with local businesses. An honoraria system exists for the music director and key players (the lead in a section). Fundraising generally covers the honoraria. Music is also expensive if it is not in the public domain. CIS is working on visibility. Concerts will not be free, but will be $15 for adults and $10 for seniors; school/ college students are free. CIS is using social media (Facebook). Friends of Ames Strings Ted MacDonald represented the group. The summer workshop is again the topic of the request. Generally the people conducting the workshop are from outside of Ames to give the students more variety. Coaches are high school or former high school students. The fundraising in 2010/11 was to buy the harp for the school system. There is a record enrollment in orchestra at all levels of the school system; there is a 9 th grade orchestra and then a 10-12 grade orchestra. The group is trying to raise more family memberships to make up the shortfall (if any) in the budget. Co’Motion Dance Valerie Williams represented the group. Valerie gave a review of Co’Motion Dance Theater. The Company presents work of artists, but also has an educating function, since there is little to no dance education. More often physical education is about sports and socialization. Co’Motion Dance Theater is a modern dance company, and COTA money allows the group to work locally and not tour as much. This is basically a part-time company now. Next year, (2012/13) the intent is to go back to a full time Company and tour more. Next season will continue at the Auditorium. Co’Motion provides the only real program available to amateur adult dancers. The live music aspect of performances will continue. Much of the money is to pay musicians. Higher 2012/13 expenses reflect the touring and new dancers. The group will use space at ISU Dance for rehearsal. There are more professional schools and companies now in Iowa. A 3-concert season is planned. Kids’ Comotion The workshop is 4 hours per day for 3 weeks. Children must generally be at least 8 years old. There is a 50% return rate from year to year. CMD has a serious composition component. Susan Jackson and Larry Gleason we re also introduced to the Commission. Children learn a good deal of self-confidence through the program. ACTORS This is the 56th year for the theater. Typically 5 shows are done per year, one of which is a musical. Larger casts may have 30 people. Tickets are $15-$20 and there are 6-9 performances of each show. The building needs more work. Shows are calculated to break even. ACTORS is trying to be more realistic in terms of money coming in from ticket sales. Comedies make money, but dramas and musicals give a more broad -based approach. The large marketing increase is due to an effort to attract more audience by improving the quality of productions and increasing the marketing efforts. Television ads and looking at billboards are being considered, along with larger print ads. Stanley Rabe and Michael Jackson presented. ACTORS is using electronic media more (Facebook). The roof is the depreciable asset on balance sheet. The Commission adjourned at 1:25 p.m. SL/ekt