Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.12.2024 MINUTES Museum Arts Culture Board Minutes of the June 12, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the June 12, 2024 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the July 10, 2024 Board Meeting) The June meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in the Galena Room of the Museum. Chair Vicky Redlin called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. The roll was taken by Administrative Assistant Theresa Books. Present at Roll: Board Chair Vicky Redlin, Vice-Chair Rebecca Doe Brown, Board Member/Council Member Matt Mugerauer, Alternate Erron Hundt, Alternate Carrie Olson Excused: Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske With Ms. Matzke out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt. With Mr. Mueske out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson. Also Present: Interim Director Anna Cannizzo, Curator of Education Neal Matherne, Marketing + Advancement Coordinator Kate Stel, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the Minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the May 8, 2024, Board Meeting MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Brown; second Hundt) CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Hundt, Mugerauer, Olson, Redlin Regarding education and programing Mr. Matherne and Ms. Stel recapped the Historic Osh Hop event held May 11th. Ms. Stel was pleased to report that 181 tickets sold, raising approximately $7,500. At each of the eight stops there were docents to welcome visitors and give them a brochure about the building. The owners were there as well to answer questions about their home/building. The stops included The Doe House, the Masonic Center, and more historic homes and properties around Oshkosh. Ms. Brown noted that this idea originated from community input drawing on other local events after the Museum introduced the Wisteria Circle in June 2023. The new awareness of the Museum and Sawyer Home generated increased excitement and support for OPM. Ms. Stel affirmed that OPM was glad to have the opportunity to respond to community input with this event. Minutes of the June 12, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 3 Ms. Stel gave special thanks to the folks at the Howard who sponsored and hosted a reception at the end of the event, especially to Ms. Carol Velasco who helped bring this idea to life. Mr. Matherne noted that the buildings were shared by everyday people who were persevering their homes or buildings. It was a celebration of active preservation – the buildings were in all stages of renovation. The preparation for the event was a lot of work, but with all the wonderful property owners and the great volunteers, the day of the event went very smoothly. Participant evaluations revealed the following: • Average overall satisfaction rating: 9.6 / 10 • 95% of respondents agreed strongly that this event increased their excitement and knowledge about local history. • 30% of respondents reported that this was their first event with OPM. Another 26% reported that they’ve been to our events, but it’s been a while. • An incredible 100% of respondents said they would recommend this event to a friend. • Many respondents mentioned the variety of Hop Stops as their favorite aspect of the event. • Respondents also voiced strong desire to see this event return next year! Ms. Hundt asked if the event will be done again. Ms. Stel said OPM plans to offer it again next year and feature different properties. There is potential for this to be an annual event. Ms. Redlin reported that the Landmarks Commission has talked of this and would like to be involved in future years. Mr. Matherne told of an older man, Mike, who came to one of the houses. Mike had lived in that house when he was four years old. He was fun and told nice stories of growing up in that house. He daughter said he’d been in hospice and he was living for that event. It was wonderful for all the people visiting the house to hear his stories. The next main OPM event happening in 2024 is Oshkosh Creates! It will be on Friday, June 21 with a rain date of June 28. It is a day for families to enjoy time at the Museum. Craft tents will be spread around the grounds and admission into the Museum will be free. The Oshkosh Fine Arts Association is hosting Plein Air events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The artists will be at OPM the afternoon of June 21. Events happening in 2025 include a collaboration with Parks and the Senior Center to offer a series of Native American contemporary artists workshops and talks in the first and second quarters of 2025. OPM supported and collaborated with them to seek Wisconsin Arts Board “Creative Communities” funding, and the project was funded. Funding for this initiative is also provided by the Friends of the Seniors Center group. Planning will begin later this summer. That concluded the education and programing update. Chair Redlin requested the Interim Director’s Report. Ms. Cannizzo began with a building update, reporting that masonry work on the exterior of the building should be completed by the end of June, weather permitting. The Waldwic Gallery construction is on schedule and is set for completion by the middle of July. Ms. Cannizzo reported Minutes of the June 12, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 3 that at the June 11 Council meeting Council approved additional needed funds for the security system. The security camera installation timeline is still pending. Regarding the budget schedule, Ms. Cannizzo met with City Manager Rohloff and Finance staff to review CIP requests for 2025. The CIP workshop with Council is planned for July 30th. Operations Budget materials will be released in July and submitted to Finance in August. The annual review of MAC Board governed funds and the budget is planned for review and approval at the September meeting. Ms. Cannizzo then reported regarding the potential acquisition of 1331 High Avenue. She noted that on May 13th T.R. Karrels and Associates presented a building assessment report for the potential acquisition and reuse of the property and structure to the City Facilities Department staff and herself. The building assessment was based on use for OPM collections storage and a flexible public event/programming space. Option 1, with full upgrades needed to make this space usable for stated OPM operations, is estimated at a cost of $4.8 million dollars. Not feasible for this cost vs. building a new purpose- built facility. Option 2 was to propose purchasing part of the property and building a brand new two story 4,800 square foot storage building adjacent to the property. This estimated project was approximately two million dollars. This facility would not be able to support the entire collection, which takes up approximately 17,000 square feet at this time. If acquired, the facility would require future additions. The Church rejected the proposal to acquire only part of the property. The property will be going up for public sale. Ms. Cannizzo reported that the silver lining is that the proposed draft of the long-range CIP now lists an OPM collections storage facility for the year 2030. Staffing updates was next on the agenda. Ms. Cannizzo reported that the following positions are currently posted and interviews will happen in the coming weeks. (1) Visitor Service Position, (1) Education Coordinator Position and (1) NAGPRA Collections Assistant Position. Visitor Services Associate Logan Lamers applied for the benefitted part time position that opened with Ginny Gross’ retirement. Ms. Cannizzo was happy to report that Logan has been offered and accepted that position. In conclusion, Ms. Cannizzo gave an update on the Hicks Washington Bust. A meeting is scheduled with the Library Director and other stakeholders to discuss the future home of the statue. It had been exhibited outside Washington Elementary School, which will be demolished. Therefore, it was removed and is safely stored. OPM will take temporary custody until a re-installation plan is developed. The Library overseas the Hicks Trust which is in place to cover costs of preservation. The bust will remain a City asset. The neighborhood association in the Washington School area have indicated a desire to have the statue remain in their area. That concluded the Interim Director’s report. With no additional agenda items Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Olson; second Hundt) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m.