All right. It is our meeting time and we have quorum. So, let's begin. >> Hey, I call the January 26, 2026. A lot Art and Culture Commission meeting to order. Ethan, roll call, please. Jonathan Rudder,
Allison Coer >> here, >> Carrie Rogers, Britta Triggstead >> here, >> Brandon Batty >> here, >> Paula Krogan, and Chuck Hendrickson >> here. >> Is there a motion to amend or approve
the January 26, 2026 agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. All [clears throat] >> in favor? I >> approval of minutes. Is there a motion to amend or approve the November 17th,
2025 minutes? >> A motion to approve. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Are there any citizens to be heard on items not on the agenda? Doesn't appear so.
Um well, little business items. Um the 2025 arts and culture annual report. Ethan, could you please provide an overview? >> Uh, thank you, Chair Triggstead and commission for your time, support, and dedication for the arts, culture, and placemaking efforts uh in Morehead. Um,
we saw a lot of successes in 2025, which included a continuation of the expansion of River Arts uh with Morhead Parks and Recreation uh to continue enticing community interest. Um, we saw support and guidance for the installation of 27 new sidewalk stamps
along 1st Avenue North, Main Avenue, and 11th Street. As a part of the construction of the 11th Street underpass project, we saw support for expanding the Morhead sculpture walk through the 2024 Call for Art Indigenous Sculpture where indigenous artist Dwayne Goodwin was selected to install a bronze
casted sculpture that represents an Anisha Nab hunter trapper. And we saw support for activating the downtown area through the 2022 call for activation where the commission recommended approval for the ROR Art Museum to create the Morhead Sculpture Walk which officially launched in May. So, thank
you all for a very successful year and let me know if you have any questions uh about the report. >> Is there any questions? >> No. Um next up is the project updates, the indigenous sculpture historical video series and the sidewalk stamps.
Ethan, can you please provide an overview? >> Yes. So, just some brief updates. Um, after working to translate the artist project statement into his native language, city staff is now working to add signage uh to the site and then exploring adding some native plantings
around the sculpture. I did just want to give a big thank you to Brandon on the commission and his friend Arlland Littlewolf on assisting with getting that translation. Um, and then moving on to the video series. Um, coordination has been just ongoing here, but staff has been working
with MCAM and the Historical and Cultural Society of Klay County regarding details of this sort of debut event. Um, there has been discussion about coordinating with some local business partners. Um, but the timing is kind of falling on the historical society's availability. So, and we'll
just continue working with them so we and provide more details when we get to that point. Uh and then lastly for the sidewalk stamps, um staff is just continuing coordination with Sign Badger to convert the artwork that was selected through the 2025 request for sidewalk art into
new sidewalk stamps. And then as the construction season begins this year, staff will continue coordinating with OP construction regarding stamp installations in 2027 for the underpass project. So please let me know if you have any qu comments or questions about
the current projects that are ongoing. I have a question. Um, with the historical video series, how many videos were done? >> Uh, right now one is fully complete and the other two are in the process of
being made. Um, just kind of based on the availability of both ENCAM and the historical society because it's kind of just a side project they're assisting on. So, >> do you know the length of them by any chance? Uh the first video is
I believe a little over 20 minutes run time >> and then you talked about um a debut debut for the videos. Do you know I mean is there and I might be out of the loop here but is there a like a spot for it
or is it going to be here or is it you know where it's going to be at? >> I know Marcus has been coordinating with some of the local breweries. Um, so I'm unsure about the details as he kind of figures that out. Um, so once he kind of finalizes that, we'll have more details. And then MCAM did also send it to
Prairie Public uh to review, but it's a pretty long review time. So I anticipate it'll be a while before we hear back from them. >> I I can't wait. What What is the with this first video? What is What's the topic on it? Is it >> uh It's just on the general founding of
Morehead. >> Okay. Hopefully they include a lot of snow because that's what we're getting hit with right now. So [laughter] >> that's all I have. Thank you. >> Or the other any other questions or comments? >> Uh next is the project discussion
regarding the future project planning. >> Yes. Um so we'll start with the proposed 2026 projects. Um, so with the anticipated art and culture funding of $12,500 in 2026, city staff is seeking continuing input from the commission
regarding potential projects and ideas that can be further explored uh for implementation this year. Previous discussions by the commission have included several primary focuses such as an interactive art piece, uh a piece that's engaging amongst the youth, and a
location that's potentially accessible for all. Um so to further define some parameters for a proposed project, city staff is looking uh for ideas to listenit to solicit said art. Uh so for example um city staff could issue a
request for art um or look at directly commissioning an artist to design and create a piece. Um so if the commission has any ideas or recommendations for solicit solicit solicitation efforts um those would be explored by staff.
Personally, [clears throat] I like the idea of opening it up because you ne, you know, to everyone because you never know what you might get. And I I think if if we could have it along, I know that there was a um
never mind. >> [laughter] >> I had a thought. But so the next part >> and I like, you know, depending on what the piece is, you know, if the artist has a specific location that, you know, kind of enhances or speaks to that that
piece, that's great. Um otherwise, you know, some place may be kind of between here and the river and the new library
city hallish plaza, you know, something like that where, you know, a lot of people will be at some point for some festival or festive occasion. Um, but
you know, I just I just want to see what what ideas are thrown out. Um, so just to add, if the commission is interested in a request for art, is there anything specific you guys would like to see in the request for art?
[clears throat] >> Excuse me. I'd like to see um you know with um colleges in town maybe college same because they're the integral and huge part of the communities like MSUM and uh Minnesota State and Concordia. I
I think it' do us well just to highlight and I'm sure they'd like it too. So >> yeah, I agree. Um, and also I think the the points of discussion for the interactive art and the youth engagement and location that's equitable. Um, I think those should be prominent in the
in the request as well because I think they're um if we highlight that it's kind of what we're looking for. Um, then we might get some that are are pretty creative. >> And the idea that we can this can be a movable piece of art. I still think it
would be wonderful to be able to have art in our own communities even if it's can't be just there forever if it's just a a movable thing because you know sure people go to some of these bigger parks but I can tell you that people spend a lot of time in these small little parks in their neighborhood and I think it'd
be very awesome to have like a piece of art in those parks so people can engage further in their own communities. I have a question. Might be off topic, but what's our budget this year? What do we get from the city? >> Uh 12,500. >> Okay.
>> There um and to go off that, are there any ways to kind of leverage that into more funding? Like does the city ever write grants specifically for projects once we get them or is that just kind of it? We could certainly explore looking for grant funding. There's definitely
some regional agencies um that have funding available. Um so if more is would be of assistance for a project um we could definitely explore applying for grants. It's just not always certain. So um you know with the I'm sorry with the
250th anniversary I know we're talking about banners and that is there anything else in the works from this commission or >> not that I know of at this time. So, >> you know, I was thinking um and I'm just throwing it out here like a music type
event, arts um maybe looking at that just have a celebration because city of Morhead, they're known for um it's known for its music because we have really good music programs with MSUM and Concordia. So, um maybe just maybe look
into that a little bit further. just have local artists, you know, perform a concert because 250 years is a big deal. >> And also having it not in the summer, having it in the fall or spring so the college students can enjoy it as well because they are a big part of our community.
>> It's a great idea. Yeah. >> Yeah. I had a similar idea over the weekend wondering if there was a big, you know, going any plans for a big shindig. And you know, you could get local businesses to to um sponsor it, too. And you know, I
don't want it to um interfere with any of the summer activities they have right now, but yeah, like just get the community involved in like a musical event. I think it'd be a good thing. And it doesn't necessarily [clears throat] have to be funded through us fully. I mean, we could maybe
work with other departments like the parks department and that. So, I'm guessing that fall is probably perhaps a little more feasible because, you know, Concordia finishes uh around the 1 of May and there's probably still going to be snow on the ground then.
[laughter] So, >> or even August. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. August. Yeah, we can definitely explore what opportunities might be available for something like that. So, comments on this portion of the project discussion?
No. Okay. >> And then moving on to the streetlight banners. Um, so for 2026, there is an additional $3,750 that was allocated specifically for downtown streetlight banners in in celebration of America's 250th
anniversary. Um, so any ideas for the solicitation of multiple designs for thematic street banners to hang on our street light poles in the downtown area may be further explored. Um, so if there's any ideas from the commission, staff will explore that. For example, another request for art could be issued
or staff could check in with local veteran services to see if there are any creative veterans that could come up with some designs as well. Um, or if there's any other ideas, we can certainly explore them. >> Is there any way to kind of tie in history with the banners? I know we have
the, you know, we have the the video series coming out. Um, instead of just having colors and landmarks, it'd be kind of cool to have the history aspects of Morehead represented in the banners. >> Yeah. Kind of, excuse [clears throat] me, kind of merge the 150th with the the
250th. Yeah. Far as um requests for art or veterans, I mean, I think either sounds Great. I think there's a fun aspect of having a bunch of submissions. Would it be just
one or would it be >> I think there's room to have multiple designs and that's kind of what we'd look for. So, um yeah, definitely some different ideas for soliciting designs. Yeah, I again I like the idea of opening
it up to everyone and you know and for sure you know reaching out to veterans organizations but you know it's always a surprise what you get >> in addition to the distribution of like making sure everyone gets it gets it. I
think it would be a good idea to um go with the schools and the colleges as well. Um there's a lot of creative people there and might come up with some interesting things as well. There any comments on the street light banners? >> No.
>> I have a question like how many street lights are we talking with that? >> Um off the top of my head I don't have a definite number. I think it would potentially be anywhere from 30 to 40 based on the funding we have.
one have anything else to add? No. Anyone have reports or information to share? I think I just have one thing that I found. Um, is the frostal is happening on January 31st. So, it looks like
there' be lots of fun stuff, music and yoga and skating and a sauna and all sorts of things. So, brave the cold. Hopefully it'll be a little warmer. [laughter] >> I believe indigenous uh drink vendor is going to be there as well. Um I think she's going under Brew Hollow. Um and it
was a name that she made when she was out of state, but she when she came up here. Um but she she does she's at the global market all the time, too. Her name's Eileen. It's going to be wonderful. So um be sure to grab a nice hot cup of cocoa or some coffee.
There's the farewell to the library. Uh it's happening February 5th. Uh like a good chunk of the of the day from kind of noonish until 7ish with different things. Go go go to the library website and and find
the the schedule. Um and then it's a little bit far on the horizon, but um Theater B's next show is perfect a perfect arrangement. uh starts February 20th, runs through March 8th, but get
your tickets now. >> Anyone else have anything to share? I know it's kind of a slow time of year with lots of activities. All right. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> Second.