All right, it is 4:30 and we have a quorum, so we are able to begin. >> Perfect. Good afternoon. I call the March 16th, 2026th Art and Culture Commission meeting to order. Ethan, roll call, please. >> Jonathan Ruer,
>> here. >> Allison Coer, >> present. Carrie Rogers, Chisuko Shastri >> here, >> Brandon Batty >> here, >> Paula Krogan >> here,
>> and Chuck Hendrickson. >> All right. Is there a motion to amend or approve the March 16th, 2026 agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I
>> Is there a motion to amend or approve the February 23, 2026 minutes? >> I move >> second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I All right. Are there any citizens to be
heard on items that are not on the agenda? Hello everyone. My name is M. My pronouns are they them and I'm a resident of Ward 3. I'd like to propose an opportunity for the Arts and Culture Commission to engage young community
members, inspire Morehead centered art, and celebrate written arts in our community. A poet laurate is an honor given to reward and amplify a poet's achievements while creating connection between artists and their community leadership. A poet laurate creates new works, including works inspired by where
they live. Before the end of their term, a poet laurate has an opportunity to share their work publicly. The United States has both a poet laurate and a youth poet laurate. So does Minnesota. Many cities across the nation have followed suit. As a community where the
arts thrive, I would love to see Morehead establish a youth poet laurate. I've sent along a report with sample logistical details for a youth poet laurate in Morehead. But in general, the plan looks like this. Step one, the Arts and Culture Commission puts out a call
to local schools and youth programs for writers who are Morehead residents aged 13 to 20 to submit up to three poems. Step two, commissioners and community volunteers read blind copies and score the poems based on their impact. The scores could be tallied by someone from the city.
Step three, based on the scores, the arts and culture commission recommends a youth poet laurate to the city council for their approval. And step four, winners could be announced in April, National Poetry Month, and the departing youth poet laurate could read their poems at a council meeting. The incoming
youth poet laurate writes new poems for a year, including at least one inspired by life in Morehead. Each year's winner will be part of the ceremony to induct the next youth poet laurate, creating a network of support among local artists. As Morehead grows, our demographics are
shifting and many students are moving away after finishing school, especially artists. Establishing a program like the youth poet laurate would allow young folks to see their government cares about them and wants them to be involved. Reaching out to inspiring artists now could encourage more
creatives to make their permanent home in this community, which is a long-term investment not only in the arts, but also in voting and voter retention. But the best part about this investment is that Morehead would reap the benefits while spending zero dollars. Community engagement and recommendations to
council are already established in the arts and culture commission charter as part of your mission and volunteers would help with scoring. By establishing a youth poet laurate, you would be keeping Morehead at the forefront of art support, creating opportunities for young artists while enriching your community. Thank you very much for
considering this proposal. I would be happy to field any questions you might have now or later by email. I think this is a brilliant idea. When M first approached me and said, "Hey, I've got this idea." I was like,
"Wow." You know, my I hearken back to um President Biden's inauguration with Amanda Gorman, who was the the US uh youth poet laurate, and just how
utterly amazing. She was is still very active. Um, and I think having some something even a tenth as as good in Morehead would be, you know, just incredible.
>> If there are no questions, I'll just go. Thank you very much for listening. I appreciate it. Thank you, M. >> Thank you. >> So, prior to moving on, I think city staff um would just like some input from the commission on how to potentially
proceed um with this proposal. Uh I have some thoughts. I think like it was already said here um I think it's a brilliant idea. So, I think like just a proposal on how if we can if and how we can move it forward uh and then give us
a chance to review that and then um you know if the steps are pretty clear and then we can maybe decide as a board if that's something we want to do. But I think like we need that next action step and we just need the city to kind of go through and see logistically what's required and then we can know all
everything that we need to know to to move it forward. >> Yeah, we can certainly explore that. Do we know what the state required when they picked theirs? >> Um, yeah, I'm not sure. That's something we would have to look into as we explore
this. Um, and then the other thing is I think just making sure it aligns with our public art policy. Um, so um, some of the details outlined in the proposal might have to be tweaked um, if it is something we proceed with. >> Great idea.
So, is this something that could come back on the agenda after the city looks into it? >> Yeah, we can definitely explore this and then bring it back at a future meeting and put it on the agenda for further discussion. >> Great. Thank you. All right.
Business items. Um, Ethan, could you please provide an overview for the future project planning? >> Yes. Um, so with the approved public art funding of $12,500, the art and culture commission has discussed an interest in utilizing a
call for art to solicit proposals for a movable and interactive art piece. Um, so staff has drafted a call for art, which would allow for artists to submit their proposals and allow for a process uh for the artist review team to review and recommend uh artists and their
proposals to the city council. So staff is recommending feedback from the commission on the draft call for art which is included in your packet. Any feedback may be incorporated into the final call for art along with comments from uh city staff that are included on
the artist review team as well. It looks pretty much uh identical to previous calls for public art. Um, so I have no no issues or nothing to add >> and I appreciate you integrating the the
feedback from the the board about the, you know, potentially inviting youth and making sure that it's interactive. So that looks really good. Thank you. Any other questions, discussion? >> Just just one. Uh with the process and
timeline, I I realize this is the anticipated timeline and as stated is subject to change. uh it's got a implementation, you know, loosely identified as fall 2026. Have we ever needed to put like a
firm deadline on projects as well for completion? >> Um I think it'll just depend on like how quickly this timeline we meet with this timeline. I think right now just leaving that end more open just because it's hard to nail down what the date is. Um
but certainly we'd like to see something potentially done by before the end of the year just to work with the budget but um just like with the indigenous sculpture um things happened and we had to lead into the next year. So um just kind of leaving that open for now as we
can't really foresee until things move along. >> Perfect sense. Thanks. >> Is there any reason for the June 1st to uh issue the call? Could it be a little bit earlier? >> Yeah, we could certainly aim for an
earlier time period. Um we're just waiting on once um we have the final feedback from you guys and then um feedback from city staff, we'll be able to finalize everything and then put it out there. So yeah, we could certainly aim for an earlier time period. Um just
kind of the rough timeline we put together as we were drafting the call. So, great. Um, the next agenda item, Ethan, could you please provide an overview for the street light banner project discussion? >> Yeah, so just some updates for you all.
Um, to celebrate the United States $250 anniversary, the city has approved uh $3,750 in funding within the 2026 budget for streetlight banners. Previous discussions by the commission have relayed an interest in having both veterans create designs and using a
request for art to solit solicit designs to have on these streetlight banners. So staff has been coordinating with a local veteran to um to design approximately eight banners and then to solicit additional designs for banners. Staff
has drafted a request call for art um with criteria that's outlined in your packet. Once it's finalized, it's anticipated that the request for art will be released sometime later this month. Uh and then the proposals that are received will be reviewed and selected by the artist review team which
consists of city staff and then two members of this commission. Uh please let me know if you do have any further comments or questions on this item. discussion, questions or concerns. We have none. I just want to say thanks
to to Ethan and staff for doing the leg work and and getting the because I realize the timeline is kind of short. Great. Uh, next agenda item, 2026 election of officers.
>> Yes. So today, the Art and Culture Commission is holding the 2026 annual meeting for the elections of officers to designate representatives for various groups, including a new chair, vice chair, uh, two representatives for the artist review team, a representative for
the Moore review group, uh, and a representative for the Morehead Sculpture Walk working group. I want to thank the 2025 offers officers and representatives. Please do let me know if you have any questions. The one thing I did want to highlight is that a member cannot serve as chair uh specifically as
chair and vice chair for two consecutive terms. Uh so Commissioner Carrie Rogers would not be able to serve as vice chair. Um still could be chair. Um totally up to you guys, but um and there are suggested motions in
your packet as well. So >> Okay. Is there a motion to recommend members as a chair and vice chair of the art and culture commission? What's the order that I should be doing this in? Are is there discussion first
or we do this motion? >> I however you guys want to proceed. Uh discussion is certainly >> Well, we don't have to have a motion to discuss. >> All right. motion for a nomination for president or chair.
>> Word's hard. >> I think so. Unless anyone else wants to be chair. These are always hard conversations, aren't they? >> I would like to nominate uh make a
motion to recommend um Brandon as chair. >> Second. All in favor? >> I I >> I vote for vice. Carrie, would you accepted? She Oh,
that's right. Oh, dang it. I would like to nominate Paula as vice chair. You only have to run a meeting if if Brandon's not present. >> I'm present usually. I second that.
>> All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I. Um, all those against, seeing that there are none, is there, is there a motion to recommen recommend two members to serve in the artist review team for 2026? Ethan,
could you give a little clarification how this the what the artist review team does, how that functions? >> Yeah, so the artist review team was created as a part of our public art policy. So essentially um when we receive public art proposals um they
will be the first group to review and provide feedback um and then select or recommend proposals to city council which will first go to you guys and then council. Um, so the artist review team consists of two members of the commission, the council representative
as well, Chuck, and then several city staff members of various departments that may be impacted, um, like our parks director, public works director, city planner, etc. >> And can you remind us who served in this capacity last year? >> I believe last year was Jonathan Ruer
and Britta Triggstead. >> Jonathan, do you want to continue? C I mean, can you repeat this? Yep. >> So, this isn't like chair or vice chair? >> No. >> If you'd have me, I'd be happy to continue serving on the art art review
team. >> Excellent. >> I was previously on it and I would love to get back on it. I I haven't been on it for a couple of years now and I miss it. >> All those in favor of Jonathan and Allison serving on the artist review team,
>> can we first get a first and a second? >> Oh. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Is there a motion to recommend Allison Coer and Jonathan Rudder as the artist review team for 2026, please? >> I'll second that.
>> All those in favor? >> I >> I uh is there a motion to rec recommend a member to represent the Art and Culture Commission on the Moore review group who served in this capacity last year? >> I did.
>> Brandon, you did. Okay. And can the chair do that? >> Yep. It's open to any member on the commission. So >> Oh, >> yeah. Let's >> All right. I'll nominate Paula.
>> I'll second that. >> All right. All those in favor of >> I. >> Great. Oh, we have another one. Is there a motion to recommend a member to represent the Art and Culture Commission on the Morehead Sculpture Walk working
group? Can you remind me who's on this? >> I believe previous representative was Brida and I think Jonathan also you serve in some capacity as well. Um but not as a representative of the commission.
>> Who are the other members of this group? I mean just title like what is it comprised of? You don't have to give names. various artists or like college representatives um that have been involved with the creation of the sculpture walk and then they were involved with um some initial discussion
with the indigenous sculpture. I don't anticipate um much need to meet here but um if there ever is sculpture planning they're that kind of they're the group that would create that initial discussion. So, I >> think that makes perfect sense for
Carrie >> to serve in that capacity. >> Sure. >> Is there a second? >> Oh, you or a second, Paula? >> No. >> I motion to recommend Carrie Rogers to represent the Art and Culture Commission on the Morehead Sculpture Walk working
group. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I Great. Uh does anyone have any reports or information to share? >> Uh Concordia theater uh Concordia College theater department will be
producing our town April 16th through the 19th. Uh the Concordia art department in the running gallery has the annual jured student art exhibition that runs March 17th through April 2nd. Public reception on the afternoon of March 17th.
And then over on the MSUMM side, the Dedric Art Gallery has their spring uh 2026 BFA exhibition. Uh there's two parts. Exhibition one runs March 18th through April 9th with a reception on March 26th. And exhibition 2, the second
half, runs April 15th through May 8th with a reception on April 23rd. I did just want to highlight um staff didn't create a report regarding project updates for this. Um we'll have some additional details later, but there are um some details being coordinated for a
release of the video series. Um it's being planned for I believe Thursday, April 30th at the new library. Um so once everything is planned out, we'll have additional details sent out to you all. >> Thank you.
We're at the RORO. Uh we've got Eric A. Johnson's new exhibit, Periphery, that features his reduction relief prints and paintings. Uh he'll be giving a gallery talk at 2:00 uh this Sunday, the 22nd of
March. Uh day before that uh FMVA uh Fargo Morehead Visual Artists will be uh collaboratively hosting a drawin at the museum uh where there will be a pair of still lives set up for folks to come in just bring your drawing supplies and
draw in community with other artists. Then next week uh again at at the ROR we've got uh film scholar and communications professor Greg Carlson and philosophy professor Richard Gilmore
delivering a uh lecture on Alfred Hitchcock. That'll be uh at the museum Thursday the 26th. Uh doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and they'll start uh talking Hitchcock at 6:30
else. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Right. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> All right.