2018-06Richfield Arts Commission Minutes
Thursday June 7th, 2018 7:00 PM, Richfield Community Center 7000 Nicollet Ave S
Commission Members Present: Chelsea Knauf, Larry Nelson, Mia Simpson, Karen Wolverton
Absent: Derek Sandbeck, Joyce Marrie, Thomas Eder
Community Service Liaison: Lisa Rudolph, not present
City Staff Liaison: Marykaye Champa
City Council Liason: Mayor Pat Elliot‐ not present
Guests: Jim Topitzhofer, City Parks and Recreation Director
Called to Order‐ 7:00PM
Agenda: approved by voice vote
Minutes‐ approved by voice vote
Standing Reports
Art Display‐ Marykaye/Mia‐ The community center is full until next year. There is a new artist coming in
Friday the 8th. There will be a reception at the community center on June 19th from 5: 30‐8: 30 for Rei
who is the artist currently at city hall.
Little Library‐ Larry‐ The library is doing well at the moment.
Artists Resource Group‐ no report.
Summer Activities
Shakespeare in the Park‐ the Shakespeare group will again be doing three shows in Richfield in June.
They have not needed much assistance from the commission but it was decided to keep on the agenda
so we can make sure we maintain the connection. They will be performing at Vets Park on the 9th,
Augsburg Park on 6/23, and Woodlake on 6/28.
Photo Contest‐ Photo contest will be Wednesday August 1st. Mia and Karin thought they could be there
to act as judges.
4TH of July/Penn Fest ‐ At this point no other commissions have expressed interest in doing some type of
group to march in the July 4th parade. We may have to look at participating in the parade next year.
Mia and Karin will start looking into opportunities for the arts commission involvement in Penn Fest.
RAC Activities at the Farmers Market. The first RAC event of the year will take place on Saturday June
9th from 9:30‐11:30. The theme will be “Robots Rock”. Kids will have a chance to paint robots and build
mini robots. There will also be events on July 14th and October 13th
Calendar of Events‐ There was some talk that we need to develop of year calendar of events. We will
look at putting some type of calendar in some type of Google doc at the August meeting.
66th Street Project‐ Jim Topitzhofer
Sidewalk Poetry Initive‐ The poetry could start going into the sidewalks starting next year. It
could start at both ends of 66th street. There is already some procedures in place. It may be just
a matter of scaling things up. There will be some discussion about forming a subcommittee for
the poetry on 66th street at the August meeting.
Review of art fund proposal‐ Jim talked went over the presentation that is going to be made
Before the city council on July 10th.
We are asking for $10,000 for public art. Public art helps to humanize the bricks and mortar
that make up the city.
The first year the money would go to a pay for a mural under the 35W underpass on 66th street.
In future the commission would put together an RFP for other art projects. Initially those
projects would be part of the 66th and Lyndale Street projects. After that it could be used for
other projects around the city.
The money could also be used as part of matching funds that could go toward public art that
might be part of new private development projects.
Commission members are willing to approach community businesses and organizations to help
fundraise for public art projects.
Jim is still deciding whether we should ask the city council for the money through our
presentation or if he should just put it in his department budget.
Announcements
Joyce has been named Outstanding Citizen of the year by the Richfield Human Rights Commission. The
presentation will be June 12th.
Crossroads Panorama youth art summer camp is July 12th‐26th
Friends of the Band shell are looking at putting together a Jazz festival once the band shell is completed.
There is no July meeting.
Adjourned: 8:26pm
Next meeting Thursday, August 2nd.
Richfield Community Center
Respectfully submitted by Larry Nelson, RAC Secretary