Arts and Culture Commission - May 17, 2023 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 4:00 p.m., May, 17, 2023.
The Arts and Culture Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Deb Williams, Tracy Jordre, Jon Offutt, Joe Williams, Monika Browne-Ecker, Ann Arbor Miller, Brad Bachmeier, Anna Johnson
Absent: Tracy Walvatne
Item 1: Welcome and Introductions
Chair Jordre called the meeting to order and welcomed Members to the meeting.
Item 2: Welcome New Member Anna Johnson
Chair Jordre welcomed new member Anna Johnson to the Board.
Item 3: Approve Agenda & Minutes
Member Brown-Ecker moved to approve the Order of Agenda. Second by Member Offutt. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Miller moved the Minutes of the February 15, 2023 Arts and Culture Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Browne-Ecker. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4: Public Art Project Highlights
a. Sean Coffman – Presentation of the 2022 Human Rights Film & Arts Festival
Sean Coffman presented on the 2022 Human Rights Film & Arts Festival.
Discussion was held regarding the presentation and when the next Human Rights Film & Arts Festival would be.
Member Johnson noted the next North Dakota Human Rights Film & Art Festival will be the first week of November. She also shared the Fargo-Moorhead LGBTQ Film Festival will be around September 15 to the 17 but is unsure of the exact dates.
Item 5: Summary of Quarter 1 February Work Session
Chair Jordre presented the Summary of the Quarter 1 February Work Session.
Item 6: Staff Report
Planning Coordinator Maegin Elshaug shared that the Believe in Us project is currently being installed at Madison elementary, there will be a community event May 18, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Madison elementary. She also provided an update on other projects being installed in the community and the maintenance that needs to be done on others.
Planning and Development Director Nicole Crutchfield spoke on the budget process, the Downtown InFocus plan refresh, and the new outreach to be done with the Core
Neighborhoods. She also announced that she has asked Chair Jordre to serve on the Growth Plan Advisory Committee.
Item 7: Announcements
Member J. Williams announced the Plains Art Museum had 40 vendors and over 700 people in attendance at the Indigenous Art Fair. He also noted the Plains Art Museum will host the Northern Plains Summer Art Institute which will have a public reception June 30 at 11:30 a.m.
Member Bachmeier shared that the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People panel discussion held at Minnesota State University Moorhead on May 5 was attended by 70 people, and noted they are looking into making this an annual event.
Member Miller stated there are classes and camps for youth, families, and adults at the Plains Art Museum that are still open. She highlighted the free family based program, Summer Quest, is open and to able to register online at plainsart.org.
Member D. Williams announced the utility boxes done with the Fargo Public Schools are being installed at different locations around Fargo.
Member Offutt shared Member Bachmeier was recently the speaker at the FMVA Visual Talk on May 11.
Member Browne-Ecker announced Theatre B was performing “Small Mouth Sounds”, and more information can be found at theatreb.org.
Item 8: Adjourn – Next Meeting: August 16, 2023
The time at adjournment was 4:37 p.m.
Item 9: Move to Meadowlark Room for work session
a. Discussion Work Session: Strategic Planning