2019-09 RACRichfield Arts Commission Minutes
Thursday September 5th 2019 7:00 PM, Richfield Community Center 7000 Nicollet Ave S
Commission Members Present: Larry Nelson, Mia Simpson, Jeff Wright, Karin Wolverton
Absent: Joyce Marie, Chelsea Knauf, Tom Eder
Community Service Liaison: N/A
City Staff Liaison : Marykaye Champa
City Council Liason: Mary Supple
Guests:
Called to Order‐ 7:02 PM
Agenda: approved by voice vote
Minutes‐ approved by voice vote
Sidewalk Poetry Initiative 2020
Everyone agrees that the July Poetry event went well and was well attended. It is likely that we will do
something similar next year to honor the poets selected in the next phase of the sidewalk poetry
installations.
For next year we will have 30 total panels. Two of those have already been selected and it would be nice
for one or two panels specifically for RAC. There was also some discussion about doing poetry in other
languages.
Marykaye said she is not sure if the people doing the sand blasting can do it in other languages because
they may not be able to do accents over letters or other symbols. Marykaye will look into it and see if
they could at least do Spanish.
We will keep the same time frame with a soft opening/announcement going out in December.
We also still want to include youth and allow two submissions per poet.
Pool Mural Update
There will be money to do the pool mural but at this point the mural has been put off until 2020.
Future Planning
There was some discussion around frustrations about it not being clear how RAC fit in with overall city
goals around public art and funding for projects. It was decided that a good first step toward future
planning would be to have a meeting with Amy Markle the new Rec director. Mia will try to set
something up with Amy.
Little Library
Thanks to both Chelsea and Mary we have books for the moment. We may need to do some type of
book drive to restock long term. It was suggested that people check out places like Good Will and book
sales at libraries to help get more books.
Staff Report‐Marykaye
Last year Tom did an open house for artists. It resulted in a couple of new artists being displayed at the
community center. Marykaye has not heard from Tom if this is something he wants to do again this
year.
November 12th RAC presents to the city council.
Marykaye was asked if we would be willing to participate in the Halloween Trunk or Treat event at
Morris Nilsen funeral home. This is a Halloween themed free community event. Many community
organizations and vendors will have tables at the event
https://www.morrisnilsen.com/events/community‐trunk‐or‐treat/ They really like the sidewalk poetry
and want RAC to participate. The event is Saturday October 19th from 5pm‐9m. We could maybe
decorate a van or car trunk and hand out RAC information. Marykaye Jeff and Larry all said they could be
there. So at this point RAC will be participating. Will discuss more at the October meeting.
Adjourned at 8 38
Respectfully Submitted by Larry Nelson, RAC Secretary