HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.13.2024 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board
Minutes of the March 13, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting
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Minutes of the March 13, 2024 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting
(Approved at the April 3, 2024 Board Meeting)
The March 13, 2024 meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum, Arts and Culture
(MAC) Board was held Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in the Galena Room of the Museum.
Chair Vicky Redlin called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
The roll was taken by Administrative Assistant Theresa Books.
Present at Roll: Board Chair Vicky Redlin, Vice-Chair Rebecca Doe Brown, Alternates Erron
Hundt, Carrie Olson
Excused: Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske, Board Member/Council Member Joseph
Stephenson
Also Present: Associated Bank Sr. Vice President, Personal Trust Manager Daniel Evensen, and
Sr. Vice President, Director of Fixed Income Patrick Fry, Museum Director Sarah Phillips, Assistant
Director/Chief Curator Anna Cannizzo, Curator of Education Neal Matherne, Marketing and
Advancement Coordinator Kate Stel, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the
Minutes.
With Board Member Mueske excused Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson.
With Board Member Stephenson excused Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt.
The annual review of the Durow Trust Fund was then given by representatives from Associated
Bank, Sr. VP, Personal Trust Manager Daniel Evensen, and Sr. VP, Director of Fixed Income
Patrick Fry. Mr. Fry reviewed many details of how the Durow Fund is invested and managed. He
provided time for Board Members to ask questions.
There were no citizen statements to the Board.
Consent Agenda items included:
A. Minutes of the February 14, 2024, Board Meeting
MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Olson; second Hundt)
CARRIED: Yes (4) Brown, Hundt, Olson, Redlin
Ms. Stel then reviewed for the Board the programs and events that are scheduled for 2024.
Minutes of the March 13, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting
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Chair Redlin then requested the Director’s Report.
Director Phillips began with an update regarding construction on the second floor. Bids were
recently opened to determine a contractor. The March 26 Council Agenda will include the request
to approve Cardinal Construction to manage the Museum project. It is anticipated that work will
begin April 1st and wrap up in October 2024.
Regarding the Strategic Plan, Director Phillips had hoped to have notes from the Department
Head/Council Workshop. Those are not available just yet. Discussion among various groups
indicated interest in having things in the Museum that are fun for children and families. Museum
staff will continue to work to include fun things in exhibits, such as the many hands-on things in
People of the Waters and the bowling machine in This is Winnebagoland.
Director Phillips then asked Ms. Cannizzo to present regarding communicating sensitive
information and stories relating to Museum Collections.
Ms. Cannizzo began by noting that since its establishment, OPM has stewarded sensitive
collections and stories. Since the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and especially in the last decade, museums and their management of
cultural heritage have come under greater scrutiny. OPM interviewed a number of times since the
ProPublica article last year. It is important that the Museum continues to embrace evolving laws,
practices, and views that go along with stewarding sensitive cultural heritage.
Staff at OPM have been engaging more intensively and proactively in examining certain areas
of the OPM collection, increasing the resources dedicated to this ongoing crucial work, and
making sure staff and the Board are communicating this information in an ethically responsible
way.
Ms. Cannizzo continued, noting that as sentiments about Native American collections, especially
human remains, change over time, staff and the Board must take a proactive stance in not
perpetuating an outdated and insensitive view of early museum displays of sensitive materials,
such as the female Native American ancestor often referred to as the “Indian Princess” or
“Mummy” who was displayed at OPM for many years. We don’t want to negate or diminish
people’s memories of OPM or questions about the collection. However, when we are met with
those moments, we need to communicate responsibly. In our response or conversation, it is
important that we make efforts to humanize the individual by referring to her as the ancestor and
emphasizing that she has been returned home to the Menominee to rest peacefully.
Museums have been places of trauma for Native American communities and it is our responsibility
to be mindful of that. We have been doing great work and this is another opportunity to do
better as we continue to grow our relationships with Native communities. That concluded the
Director’s Report.
With no other agenda items, Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn.
MOTION: Adjourn (Brown; second Hundt)
CARRIED: Voice Vote
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m