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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.11.2024 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the September 11, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the September 11, 2024 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the October 9, 2024 Board Meeting) The September meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held Wednesday, September 11, 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, Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske, Alternates Erron Hundt and Carrie Olson Excused: Vice-Chair Rebecca Doe Brown Absent: Board Member/Mayor Matt Mugerauer With Ms. Brown out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson. With Mr. Mugerauer out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt. Also Present: Museum Director Anna Cannizzo, 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 August 14, 2024, Board Meeting B. Receipt and Filing of 2nd Quarter Reports for Museum Funds Held at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation MOTIONS: Approve Consent Agenda Items. (Olson; second Mueske) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Director Cannizzo presented details regarding the Membership and Collections Budgets. She reported that she and Ms. Books met with the Finance department to review the Museum’s budgets prior to meeting with City Manager Rohloff on September 17th. The three budgets that the Museum prepares are the Operating, Collections Fund, and the Membership Fund. The MAC Board oversees and approves two of these budgets. The Collections Fund is a trust held by the City that can only be used for the care, interpretation, and improvement of the Museum's permanent collection. Additionally, the interest earned from the Museum Fund held at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation (OACF) can be used only for Minutes of the September 11, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 3 collections. There are very few changes to this budget from last year. Additional funds have been added for minor equipment to care for and maintain the collection: a specialized vacuum to aid in care of the collection and a new camera that will be used for the ongoing documentation of the collection. Funds were added for outside expert assessments for the collection which includes: conservation, tribal visits or assessments, and other experts such as Heritage Lighting, a Tiffany lighting expert that assisted with bulb replacement and maintenance for the Landscape Window on the landing of the main staircase. Director Cannizzo asked if there were any questions. Ms. Hundt asked about the software “Climate Notebook.” Director Cannizzo explained it is a program that lets staff monitor the environment in the individual galleries. An example: the Clans Figures must remain at a range of humidity so that the wood carvings don’t crack. This program provides details of how stable the temperature and relative humidity are in the room. Director Cannizzo then reviewed details of the Membership Budget. She noted that it is also a trust fund. It is used for a number of activities such as education and enrichment programming, outside exhibit rentals & internal temporary exhibit curation, publications, signage, mailings etc. Interest from trusts and bequests are often transferred into this fund. There are very few changes to this budget this year. The most significant funding request is to add another part-time LTE Visitor Services position. Staff anticipate a greater need for a front of house position due to operational needs associated with hosting significant exhibitions, events, and programming. Currently the Museum has two Visitor Services positions, with full-time staff assisting with coverage. Having a third position will allow greater flexibility among the Visitor Services staff, and would be more cost effective and efficient than having full-time staff dedicate working hours to this area of operations. Dr. Matherne noted that Visitor Services staff are well trained. Their expertise in the store and admissions area make them able to quickly adjust to the many changes of details that occur; such as group attendance and other large fluctuations of visitors as well as point of sale details. Also requested are: funds for a new Volunteer software program. Dr. Matherne noted that he has worked with the program “Better Impact.” It meets museum standards for quality and the people at this company are extremely helpful as new parts of the software need to be implemented. Director Cannizzo noted the budget line for final payments for the visiting exhibition “Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass,” as well as internal exhibition curation and programming. She noted that because Ms. Stel seeks sponsorship for larger exhibitions, some of the costs may be offset with sponsor commitments. When there were no further questions, President Redlin asked for a motion. MOTION: The Board approve the budgets as presented. (Matzke; second Olson) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Dr. Matherne began the Education and Programming Report noting that Día de los Muertos planning continues. Some things will be similar to the previous two years and some things will be new this year. Education Intern Emiliano Rodriguez, UW-Milwaukee Museum Studies, has been working at OPM through the summer months on a project that was determined from feedback at last year’s Día event. It was realized that visitors enjoy all of the festivities, but would like to know Minutes of the September 11, 2024 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 3 a little more about the details. Such as why marigolds, sugar skulls and other things are significant for this event. Emiliano does education outreach for the Milwaukee Public Museum, he did his undergraduate here in Oshkosh and did his museum assessment here at OPM. There will be additional interpretive panels. More training will be given to volunteers this year so they are more informed about Día and can answer more questions. Additionally, more Spanish interpretation will be available throughout that day. Dr. Matherne is specifically recruiting Spanish speaking volunteers. The Día de los Muertos event is planned for Saturday, November 2, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (Museum hours) it is a free event for the community. Dr. Matherne encouraged MAC Board members to let him know if they are available to volunteer. Shifts are 9:00-12:30 and 12:15 – 4:38. That concluded the Education and Programming Report. Chair Redlin requested the Director’s Report. Director Cannizzo began her report with facility updates. The Waldwic Gallery construction area is still closed to address outstanding punch list items. One item: a small leak in the roof was identified – some new ceiling tiles and sheet rock are needed to restore that area. She does not have a date that staff will be able to take occupancy. Just today she learned that the new security cameras will be installed October 16-18. These will be centralized at the police department so that if they need to respond to an alarm, camera read outs will help them know what they will be dealing with. Staff will wait to install the exhibit in the Waldwic Gallery until the cameras are in place. The exterior signage project is ongoing. City staff are in the process of working through the design proposal drafts and determining lighting and other details. For staffing updates, Director Cannizzo reported that the Assistant Director/Chief Curator position was posted for about three weeks and closed on September 8th. She is reviewing applications and is hopeful to schedule interviews in the next few weeks. The Archivist position has been updated and sent to HR for review. The process to recruit for this position will wait until the Assistant Director/Chief Curator is seated because the Assistant Director will serve as the Archivist’s supervisor. It is hoped to fill this position by the end of the year. That concluded the Director’s report. With no additional agenda items Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Hundt; second Mueske) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m.