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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.14.2024 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the August 14, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the August 14, 2024 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the September 11, 2024 Board Meeting) The August meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held Wednesday, August 14, 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 Drew Mueske, Alternates Erron Hundt and Carrie Olson Excused: Board Members Becky Matzke, Matt Mugerauer With Ms. Matzke out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt. With Mr. Mugerauer out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson. Also Present: Museum Director Anna Cannizzo, Marketing + Advancement Coordinator Kate Stel, Education Coordinator Delaney Olsen, Curator of Education Neal Matherne, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the Minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the July 10, 2024, Board Meeting MOTIONS: Approve July 10, 2024, Minutes of the MAC Board (Brown; second Hundt) CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Hundt, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Education Coordinator Delaney Olsen was introduced to the Board by Dr. Matherne. Delaney is a graduate of Lawrence College. She worked as a music teacher for the Oshkosh Area School District, and she was a team member at the Wade House Historic Site. In addition, her personality and work ethic make her an asset and pleasure to have on staff. There was then discussion regarding the possibility of moving the September or October Board meeting so that Ms. Brown could make one of those meetings. It was discovered that changing either one would make it impossible for other Board members to attend. Therefore, the decision was made that the September and October MAC Board meetings will remain the second Wednesday of those months. Minutes of the August 14, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 3 To begin the Strategic Plan Discussion Ms. Cannizzo reported that the Oshkosh Common Council adopted the 2025-26 Strategic Plan at their June 25, 2024 meeting. The Museum is listed under the “Enhance Our Quality-of-Life Services and Assets” alongside the Library and Parks departments. This review is intended to help with preparation for the 2025 budget. The MAC Board was provided the Strategic Plan and here is an outline of things specific to the Museum: Objective B (What): Provide Broadly Appealing Museum Programs and Exhibitions Strategies (How): • Enhance representation of and appeal to local and regional community through education and public programming • Evaluate, address, and adjust public offerings for families and adults to better serve the community • Develop “Art in Public Spaces” program • Promote permanent and some consolidated collections storage Future State: Natural, cultural, and recreational assets of the City are recognized as a source of pride for the community. Objective D “Establish Quality-of-Life Fund Development Activities” will be collaborated on and worked through with the Parks Department and the Library. • Create a working group to explore options related to giving, partnership, and alternative funding sources for quality-of-life projects and initiatives • Explore the possibility of a tiered recognition program for volunteers • Develop a City-wide sponsorship policy Ms. Cannizzo noted that the City Strategic Plan is considered a guide for projects and budgeting. As are the City’s Guiding Principles. She noted that the Museum will need a Strategic Plan specific to the Museum to apply for reaccreditation. Budget Update and Discussion began with Ms. Cannizzo reporting that the CIP budget workshop with Council took place on July 30, 2024, and the Museum had no CIP requests outside Facilities. The MAC Board was provided with a hand-out showing projected 10-year CIP plans for Museum projects. She noted that Operations, Collections, and Membership budget materials will be submitted this week to Finance for upcoming review. The MAC Board oversees and approves two of these budgets and this is what will be presented at September’s meeting. The Board was provided with a hand-out of descriptions of Budget categories/funds. Ms. Books provided some insight of how each of the three budgets are worked through and reviewed by Director Cannizzo and herself, and then together with City Finance Staff. After thorough vetting the Collections Fund and Membership Funds are presented to the MAC Board for their approval. Earnings from the Museum’s various Trust Funds are budgeted as a Revenue source within the budgets that the Board reviews and approves. Ms. Cannizzo gave time for questions and asked that the Board review the handouts and strategic plan because budget requests are intended to align with the plan. She noted that providing this background is intended to help inform approval decisions come September’s meeting where budget takes center stage on the agenda. Minutes of the August 14, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 3 Dr. Matherne began the Education and Programming report noting that in this soon-to-start school year, Museum fieldtrips will be spread out through the year, rather than having them all done in the first six months. He and Delaney have drafted the next year’s Family Discovery Days (FDD) programming. Dr. Matherne noted that FDDs are bringing families to the Museum. There are several families who attend each month. Being a monthly program makes it appealing for people to become Members to take advantage of fee admission. Ms. Stel noted Día de los Muertos is deep in the planning stage and will be held Saturday November 2. Día de los Muertos is a free event for the public. Toast To A Century will be held Friday evening, November 8; this is a ticketed event. All Board members are encouraged to attend both events. That concluded the Education and Programming Report. Chair Redlin requested the Director’s Report. Ms. Cannizzo began her report with a Facility Update. The exterior construction on the museum’s masonry has been completed and scaffolding removed. The next exterior projects, on the Museum’s windows and some limestone replacement, will begin in November following the Museum’s annual Día de los Muertos event. The Waldwic Gallery construction is nearing completion. Staff have been preparing for the award-winning Helen Farnsworth Mears exhibition to go in shortly thereafter, once the security cameras have been installed. Staff anticipate releasing an opening date once final details in the gallery are finished. The exterior signage project continues; staff are waiting on a design proposal from the landscape architect firm Saiki Design-who the Museum has worked with before on the landscape master plan. For a staffing update, Ms. Cannizzo reported that the Museum was excited to hire Grace Pelisek as the 2024-25 NAGPRA Collections Assistant LTE. Grace’s first day will be August 23. Grace currently fills a position like this at the Milwaukee Public Museum. She will be at OPM about one day each week. The Assistant Director/Chief Curator position description has been updated and HR is currently reviewing it before posting. Ms. Cannizzo hopes the position will be posted this month and she will hold interviews in September. However, the timeline remains fluid pending position description approval. Ms. Cannizzo noted that Curator of Exhibitions Emily Rock has her last day August 23 before starting her maternity leave. She has been working with staff to be ready to install the Mears exhibit as soon as the Waldwic Gallery is ready. And finally, Archivist Amy Fels submitted her resignation this week. Her last day on staff will be September 27. Ms. Cannizzo will provide an update about hiring her successor at an upcoming meeting. That concluded the Director’s report. Ms. Redlin encouraged staff to let Board members know anything they can do to help. With no additional agenda items Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Brown; second Olson) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m.