2025-02 Arts Minutes
Administrative Duties
● Call to Order
o Aric Bieganek, acting co-chair, 7:02 pm
o Attendance: Aric Bieganek, Stephanie Jacobson, Crystina Clauson, Sharon Christensen
(City Council liaison), JIll Murphy (City liaison), John Blackshear, Ann Bieganek, Janie
Mork, Lucas Smith
o Absent: Stephanie Eaton, BJ Skoog (Community Services Commission liaison)
● Approval of Agenda
o Motion: Ann Bieganek; 2nd: Janie; All in favor
● Approval of Minutes
o Motion:Stephanie J.; 2nd: Janie; All in favor
● Welcome to new and returning commissioners
o Brief introductions
o New commissioner: Crystina Clauson
● Nominations/Elections: Chair/Co-Chairs, Secretary
o 2025 Chair: Aric Bieganek
o 2025 Secretary: Stephanie Eaton
● Budget update
o Full budget is $1500 for 2025
o 2024 budget was spent in full
2025 Prioritized Activities
● Art in our Schools: Collaborating on Arts experiences with Richfield Schools
○ Dual Language
■ Feb 7, 2025 Friendship Dance
● Theme - Glow
● Art Project: Glow Wands
● 5:30-5:45 Call time, 6-8 pm event
● Aric and John are available to volunteer
○ Sheridan Hills - Updates
■ Sheridan has a spring carnival in May that could be a possibility for a RAC
collaboration
○ Middle School - generate ideas/select contact
■ With changes to the theater program at RMS, ideas include Open Mic, Fringe
Fest-style variety show
■ Need an email contact
■ Could reach out to local theater companies to assist, such as Crossroads
Panorama
○ High School - Senior Art Show
■ Jill will reach out to the HS Art Teachers to gauge interest in another show at the
community center
● Art in our Community: Updating RAC materials – Updating /Innovating Art Walk Brochure
○ Remaining photos/locations
○ Create digital version
○ Create sub-committee with sub-committee chair
■ Crystina and John will coordinate with Aric as a sub-committee. They will meet
before March meeting to map out a plan for the new brochure
■ Goal is to have new paper brochure available by the April meeting to post on
RAC website and print copies for summer events
● Art in our Community: Pride Roundabout maintenance
○ New plan: 2 colors in spring, 2 colors in fall
■ Spring colors will be purple and green
○ Select spring dates
■ Selected May 4, 10, and 17 (backup for weather), 6:30 am
● Art in our Community: Nature Area Poetry Walk - Mississippi Valley Poets & Writers
○ There is a new contest this year so poems can be replaced. MV Poets is accepting
submissions Feb. 1 - April 15, with judging happening April 15 - May 1
○ Kickoff event will be Aug. 16
2024 Previous Activities
● Art in our Community: PennFest Contacts
○ Updates: Sidewalk/Street Artist, Landsby Property Manager, Posters on Board, Young
Builders and Designers
■ Ann: Tod Pod updates at March meeting
● Art in our Community: November - Authors Event: Sat., Nov. 23rd - recap
○ Feedback: The audience at the event was mostly elder residents, so we should host the
event earlier in the day in 2025 or even in a different time of year
○ Could be morning with Coffee/Donuts
● Art in our Community: Summer Farmers Markets
○ Idea: Host author event in the building at Veterans during one of our three farmer ’s
market visits
■ Art projects: Bookmark design and Richfield-themed Mad Libs
■ Magnetic Poetry as a community display during the event (take photos after)
■ Suggested: Aug. 9 date for this fun event
○ Other dates: June 21 and July 19 - Art TBD
● Art in our Community: December - Winter Planter Decorations updates
○ Feedback: Planters were enjoyed by the community during Winter Market events
○ Luke will help Aric box up the leftover reusable supplies and clean out planters
2025 Upcoming Activities
● First meeting of year - see prioritized activities list for details
2025 Additional Activities/Ideas
● Commissioners, organizations, and Community members: open call for ideas/collaborations
○ RAC idea: Is there a way to be involved with more public art initiatives, such as:
■ Nicollet redesign
■ Wood Lake construction
● Could feature Indigenous Artists
Ongoing Activities
● Little Free Library
o Has remained stocked over the winter, access has been clear
o Commissioners will visit and restock, could consider another book drive at the
community center and other locations
● Photo Contest/Electrical Box Wraps - no updates
● Art Displays- community center, city hall
o Call for new artists as they are needed in the near future
Community Services Commission Update
Staff Update
● Wood Lake Celebration was busy. The building will remain open until new construction begins,
and trails will remain open. Wood Lake staff are now in the Community Center.
● Entertainment in the Park
○ Bandshell at Veterans Park, series is run by Parks and Rec starting in 2025
○ Kids Concerts on Tuesdays and/or evening concerts - could be an opportunity for RAC to
collaborate and bring art experiences to residents at the events (ex: musical art like
maracas, tambourines, etc. - could use up old seed art supplies)
○ Kids Concerts - June 17 - Aug. 5 at 11:00 am
○ Evening shows: June 10 - Aug. 12, 6:30 pm
● Earth Day Event: Wood Lake collaboration opportunity
○ April 26, 1-4 pm
○ Park cleanup activities
○ RAC idea: Call to the community for plastic Easter eggs and paper towel tubes to create
recycled instruments at the event or at Entertainment in the Park, etc.
○ RAC members should bring Earth Day art activity ideas to the next meeting
○ Targeting as the first opportunity to hand out new Art Walk brochure
● Parks and Rec is planning summer activities
○ New Program Guide will be available soon
○ Summer Programs will still be available at Wood Lake
● Warming House season has been a big success with lots of great ice this year and lots of usage
by the community
Announcements - none
● Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm