2026-02 Arts MinutesRichfield Arts Commission (RAC) Minutes
February 5th, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Richfield Community Center | 7000 Nicollet, Richfield, MN
In attendance: Ann Bieganek, Aric Bieganek, John Blackshear, Paul Chillman, Crystina
Clauson, Stephanie Eaton, Stephanie Jacobson, Karmen Melnichuk, Luke Smith, Jill
Murphy (City Liason)
Absent: Sharon Christiansen (City Council Liason)
Administrative Duties
- Call to Order at 7:02 pm
- Introduction of New Members:
o Welcome to RAC, Paul + Karmen!
- Approval of Agenda: Stephanie J. moved, Crystina seconded. All in favor.
- Approval of Minutes: Ann B. moved, Luke seconded. All in favor.
- Open Forum: <No communication received for Open Forum>
- Reports/ Recommendations
o Budget Update:
▪ New budget allocation for 2026 is $1500
- Regular Business
o 2026 Officer Positions
▪ Aric expressed interest in continuing Chair this year. John expressed
interest in being Vice Chair this year. Stephanie Eaton informed the
committee that she would not continue being Secretary this year.
Crystina expressed interest in being Secretary this year. Since only
one person vied for each position, all were in favor.
o Previous Activities Review
▪ Aric shared the deck that was presented to the City Council in
October illustrating what we accomplished last year.
o Future Activities
▪ Art in Our Schools RDLS:
• Friendship dance on Feb 6th was cancelled, and Friendship Art
Kits will be created instead. Need volunteers to help assemble
kits. Motion to purchase plastic 400 zippered baggies and 400
sheets of origami to contribute to Friendship Art Kits.
o Volunteers: Ann, Aric, and John
▪ Action Item:
• Aric to send time + location info to Ann +
John on Friday.
o Aric motioned to spend $100 on baggies and paper for
kits. Another commissioner seconded. All in favor.
▪ Action Items:
• Jill to provide Tax Exempt document for
Aric.
• Aric to purchase supplies on Friday ahead
of event and return receipt to Jill.
▪ Parks + Rec Art + Activity Kits
• With many members of the community sheltering at home,
Parks + Rec will be including Art + Activity Kits with food
deliveries from the Hight School. There will be a call for Art +
Activity supplies that can be included. Timeline not finalized.
• Making coloring sheets to include with the kits was brought up.
The idea was introduced to place an open call for artists in the
community to create and submit coloring sheets.
• Parks + Rec request help in communicating kits + coloring
sheets to the community. Aric asked for volunteer to post on
Facebook communities. Crystina volunteered.
• Aric moved to contribute $200 to the purchase of art supplies
and general sundries to help Parks + Rec put together kits.
Another commissioner seconded. All in favor.
o Action Items:
▪ Jill to provide kit details to Aric, John, and
Crystina.
▪ Crystina to post two separate posts on Facebook
groups for kits and coloring sheets.
▪ Photography Contest
• Jill updated the team that the photography contest was
published in the winter catalog and would be included in the
spring catalog. We’ve received one submission so far.
Submissions are due on June 1st. There were conversations
about getting the word out closer to the deadline.
▪ Art in Schools/ Art in the Community
• There was discussion regarding the climate in Minnesota,
currently, and it was noted that how we may need to pivot our
efforts to ensure that art is available to everyone in our
community this year. There were conversations about creating
space for creating signs for the community or to put in parks.
There were also ideas about painting rocks and placing in
parks. Nothing was decided and Aric encouraged everyone to
think of ideas and a theme for this year’s initiative. Accessible
art was brough up. No action taken.
o Action Items: Jill to search for a greater understanding
of what we can do as part of the city.
- Other Business
o Little Free Library
▪ Aric presented the sign that was purchased for the little library. Aric
asked if Public Works could install sign. Jill will coordinate. The light is
still broken. Jill will ask Public Works about it.
• Action Item: Jill to coordinate sign installation with Public
Works and have them provide some input on broken light.
o Art Displays
▪ Jill advised that the new website is almost done so the interactive map
should be available soon. Eric brought up the idea of having some
type of ceremony about the new murals at Loma Bonita Market. There
was discussion about filming the ceremony and putting it online so
everyone could see it. There was also a conversation about filming all
city art displays and putting them online for accessibility.
• Action Items:
o Aric to reach out to contacts about the murals to see if
there’s an appetite for a ceremony.
o Crystina volunteered to film the art installations that are
currently in the city.
o Utility Boxes
▪ Jill confirmed that the utility box on the NE corner of Penn + 66th Street
has been installed. It looks great!
- Community Reports
o Community Services Commission Update
▪ BJ Skoog will no longer be our community liaison. While we’ll miss
him, we wish him luck in his endeavors! Their commission hasn’t met
yet, at the time of this meeting so it’s unclear if we’ll get a new liaison
and who they will be.
o Branding + Placemaking Advisory Committee Update
▪ John and Jill advised that their last meeting was in December, where
the committee updated the placemaking team of 5-6
recommendations. Their next meeting hasn’t been scheduled yet.
o Staff Update
▪ Jill advised of several opportunities where RAC can get involved this
year, so we have many things to consider:
• March + April: Community Center. Fireside Poetry Group will be
posting poems with the theme of HOPE.
• April 25, 1-4pm: Earth Day Celebration. Location TBD
• May. Bike To Market. (no additional info given). Aric shared idea
of creating bike decorations.
• June 19th 4-8pm. Juneteenth will be celebrated in conjunction
with Edina at Centennial Lakes.
• August 8. National Farmers Market Day.
• Tuesdays Music in the Park will continue. Bands TBA.
- Next Meeting/ Announcement
o Our next meeting will be on March 5th at 7pm CST at the Richfield Community
Center.
- Adjournment 8:07 pm