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Parks Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
Cultural Arts Committee

Minutes

Tuesday, August 8, 2006
7:00 PM

Jordan Hall Arts Center

908 North Harrison Avenue, Cary, NC 27513

Web Site: www.townofcary.org

Attendance:

Committee Members: Dennis Hoadley, Chair; Mamta Bisarya; Gyan Gupta; Deanna Kerrigan; David Lindquist; Phillip Shephard; Kay Struffolino; Paul Wasylkevych; Andrew Shears, Teen Council Representative

Absent: Gary Lew; Michael McDade; Ginny Trautman

Staff: Lyman Collins; Rachel Green; Joy Cox; Vicki Hayes

A. Call to Order – Denny Hoadley, Chair

Report from the chair

· There will be a new procedure on how the Boards, Commission and Committees agenda items are structured.

B. Minutes of June 13, 2006

ACTION: Kay Struffolino made a motion to approve the June 13, 2006 minutes; the motion was seconded by David Lindquist. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

C. Staff Report

Joy Cox, Festival Coordinator

· 30^th Annual Lazy Daze Festival scheduled for August 26, 2006 from 9am – 5pm.

· Working with the Cary Clay Cooperative to provide demonstrations and sell items like coffee mugs, magnets and trivets.

· Denise Dickens, Public Art Coordinator has completed the Lazy Daze exhibit in Town Hall, which will be part of the Cary Art Loop on Friday, August 25, 2006.

· Pepsi has agreed to have the Lazy Daze artwork on the Diet Pepsi cans and will distribute 2 million across North Carolina.

· We have booked a band that performed at the first Lazy Daze.

· Will need volunteers through out the day to help with the Festival.

Rachel Green, Youth Coordinator

· Lyman Collins explained this position had been part-time, but in the new budget was approved full time.

· Summer Camps had 173 participants.

· All the World's a Stage and Techies Production Wizards' collaborative production of The Arabian Nights, Thursday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Old Cary Elementary School. The actors from the All the World's a Stage camp will work with a director to rehearse the play, while all the play's technical elements - costumes, sets, lighting, etc - are designed and run by the Techies Production Wizards! Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and admission is FREE!

· Applause! will perform their first-ever musical, a Caribbean-flavored, multicultural piece.

· Fall Class will begin in September with new classes like “Fright School”.

· Rachel Green and Joy Cox will work together on the entertainment for the traditional Holiday Tree Lighting.

D. Updates and Discussions

Festival Committee Report – Kay Struffolino

· The Festival Committee report will cover the months of June, July and August.

· In June the final design of the poster was adopted; over-view of the work teams and the 12 month plan for each; a report on the Cary Clay Cooperative; and the vintage t-shirt giveaway was discussed.

· In July the poster unveiling will take place on July 28^th; Lazy Daze exhibit in Town Hall; WRAL is Lazy Daze partner and has a project called “Day in the Life Of”; Staff has began signing up volunteers; work teams gave reports.

· At the first August meeting discussions of the poster unveiling; posters are being distributed throughout the community; work team responsibilities have been completed; scheduled Committee Members for assignments on Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26.

Amphitheatre Advisory Committee Report – Gyan Gupta

· The season has been going well, but the temperatures have been extremely hot.

· Planning for Tinsel Town 2006, new this year will be an outdoor ice skating rink.

· Go to the website: www.boothamphitheatre.com and sign up for the newsletter for the latest information.

Update on Town Center Civic and Cultural Arts District/Streetscapes Plan

· Council formally adopted the Town Center Civic and Cultural Arts Study.

· Cary Town Council approved over $3.7 million to significantly improve the look of the downtown streets and sidewalks with a top-to-bottom overhaul including street trees and plantings, lighting, street furniture, crosswalks, roundabouts, gateways, public art, and the creation of a new Town Square.

· The money will be used to design a six-phase construction project as well as pay for the first construction phase, which could begin as early as late 2007.

· Funding was also included to hire an artist to integrate a public art component into the streetscape design.

· Consultants currently estimate total project construction costs to be around $20 million.

· Council directed staff to create an RFP to hire a consulting team to develop the final cultural arts program and renovation plan for old Cary Elementary School for which $1.1 million funding was appropriated in this year’s budget.

· To begin implementation of the cultural arts district, Council directed staff to begin acquiring land for the Town Center Park, a future new downtown arts facility, and supporting arts facilities.

Reports from Committee Work Groups

Festivals Work Group – David Lindquist, chair; Deanna Kerrigan, Michael McDade, Kay Struffolino

· Worked with Festivals Coordinator, Joy Cox on Lazy Daze related tasks.

· Worked on arrangements of booths on civic row.

· Contacted 11 groups to follow-up on space availability or volunteer opportunities.

· Prepared “Exhibitor Hints for Success” guide.

· Finalizing “How to Learn More About the Cultural and Performing Arts in Cary”.

· Exhibitors in the Civic Display Zone at Lazy Daze will be:

1. Cary Players

2. Cary Visual Art Inc. (new in ’06)

3. Concert Singers of Cary

4. Cultural Arts Committee

5. Fine Arts League of Cary (new in ’06)

6. Friends of the Page-Walker

7. MLK Task Force of Cary

8. NC Museum of Art (new in ’06)

9. NC Symphony (new in ’06)

10. Public Art Advisory Board

11. Scottish Cultural Organization of the Triangle (new in ’06)

12. Triangle Jazz Society (new in ’06)

13. V Foundation

Priority Setting Work Group – Paul Wasylkevych, chair; Denny Hoadley, Phil Shepard

· Application process

· Survey Members

· Program Brochure

· Budget

· Facilities

Public Input Work Group – Kay Struffolino, chair; Ginny Trautman; Gyan Gupta

· Provide input on programs, suggestions for new performers and program ideas.

· Provide representation to Festival Committee and Koko Booth Amphitheater Advisory Committee.

· Look for ways to solicit direct public input at events, develop a brief survey.

Public Awareness Work Group – Mamta Bisarya, chair;

· CaryNow website can be used as a model/link at Town of Cary website.

· Cultural Events calendar in Cary News needs new look.

· Include PRCR brochure in welcome package to newcomers.

· Kiosk in Cary Town Center with Town of Cary activities.

· Visit other comparable cities (like Naperville) website to get ideas.

· Information kiosk in downtown Cary.

· Mechanism to reach apartment dwellers.

· HOA newsletters – list Town of Cary activities.

Participation Work Group – Deanna Kerrigan, chair; David Lindquist, Andrew Shears

· A printed or online guide to Cary cultural resources for the public.

· Can someone find funds for a PR campaign to increase visibility of these events and programs?

· We need data on people who attend, as well as those who do not to determine the reasons.

· Use existing community networks to increase awareness of and build excitement for other cultural events.

· In promoting performing arts opportunities, how can we also increase awareness of audition opportunities for these organizations as well?

There was a consensus with the Committee to prepare a survey for this year’s Lazy Daze. Paul Wasylkevych asked the Committee to email him their top five questions they would like to ask the public. He will compile a list and send to everyone. Once the questions have been agreed upon, staff will make copies to have Lazy Daze.

E. New Business

· Program Update

F. Adjourn