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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.08.2025 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the January 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the January 8, 2025 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the February12, 2025 Board Meeting) The January meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in the Galena Room of the Museum. Board President 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, Board Member Drew Mueske, Alternates Erron Hundt and Carrie Olson Excused: Board Member Becky Matzke Absent: Mayor Matt Mugerauer With Ms. Matzke out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson. With Mr. Mugerauer out Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt. Also Present: Museum Director Anna Cannizzo, Assistant Director/Chief Curator Emily Rock, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the Minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the December 11, 2024, Board Meeting MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Brown; second Hundt) CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Hundt, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Chair Redlin requested the Director’s Report. Director Cannizzo began with a report that the exterior signage project bid was awarded to Cardinal Construction and was approved by the Common Council on Tuesday December 11. A timeline for physical construction is pending but staff anticipate work to begin in spring 2025. The design was done by Saiki Architects. The City will do excavation, electrical, and a few other things to keep the project within budget. Director Cannizzo showed images to the Board of the signs that will be put up and described the location of each sign. Minutes of the January 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 3 As background, in 2020 a sign designed was large, expensive, and had a “no” vote by Council. This time a distinct budget was given and a deadline to get it designed and approved by Council. It was determined that a large lighted interchangeable banner-style sign will be installed near the fence line near the Museum parking entrance on Algoma. The benefits of this style signage is that it will not impede the view of the Historic Sawyer Home and will take up less green space. At the corner of High Street and Congress will be a larger lighted monumental style sign. The inspiration was the archway entrance on the corner of Algoma and Congress. That arch was designed to incorporate the brickwork and ironwork of the Sawyer Home. This design was approved by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO.) This sign will also be lit. The letters and the background will be metal. The imagery on this sign will not change out. Only the words “Oshkosh Public Museum” are on this sign. Plans are to have large interchangeable banners installed on the exterior of the Steiger Wing that will advertise exhibitions. Discussion continued about signage details. Director Cannizzo then was pleased to announce the appointment of Avis Seizert as OPM’s Archivist. Avis’s first day on staff will be Monday, January 13th. Avis last worked as the Local History Librarian at the Fond du Lac Library. She studied at UW-Oshkosh and then UW- Milwaukee. Next, Director Cannizzo reported that the Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator position was posted in late December. There has been a good response so far. She anticipates being able to conduct interviews in the coming weeks. Director Cannizzo’s goal remains to have this position filled within the first quarter of 2025. The LTE Visitor Services Associate position was posted today, January 8th. It will be posted for a minimum of two weeks. Director Cannizzo’s goal is to have the position filled in the first quarter of 2025. Regarding professional development plans for staff, Director Cannizzo reported that Registrar Emma Eisner will be attending the second Textile Conservation course at the Collections Care Center at Beloit College July 8 -11, 2025. For the second time, Emma received a $600.00 scholarship to attend. Emma attended the first course during the summer of 2023 and presented a public textile preservation workshop in 2024. Emma will plan to do a second class/presentation to share her knowledge, perhaps in 2026. Director Cannizzo will be submitting an application to attend the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) History Leadership Institute (HLI) located at the Minnesota Historical Society. This is a highly regarded professional development opportunity for mid- and advanced- career professionals at history organizations. A group of about 20 Fellows meet May through September—with a two-week, intensive, on-site experience in late June. In this program the participating leaders explore a broad range of current and future national issues facing the history and museum field to help them lead with purpose, relevance, and impact. Through workshops, discussions, activities, and site visits facilitated by dozens of nationally-recognized experts, HLI Fellows tackle the most pressing challenges confronting history institutions and develop strategies for addressing them. The in-person dates will be June 16–27, 2025, with shorter, mandatory virtual sessions held June, July, August, and September. Director Cannizzo will Minutes of the January 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 3 submit her application this coming week. She is getting a letter of recommendation from the Interim City Manager. In the miscellaneous topics Director Cannizzo reported that the five paintings that were recently put up for public auction at Massart Auctioneers sold on December 23rd, 2024. Once commission was subtracted, the Museum received $4,285.00. It was deposited into the Collections Fund which supports collections acquisition and preservation activities. This is done per national standards and best practices. Regarding MAC Board By-laws, Director Cannizzo is currently working on updating them for review at the February or March 2025 meeting. She will send out a Doodle poll in the next week or two to find a good date to hold a first Public Art Policy workshop. She anticipates several workshops will be needed and will have various departments within the City be a part of the planning at one of the workshops. Anna will have a packet of materials and a framework for the group at the workshops. Mr. Mueske recommended asking Public Arts Consultant, Greg Wright, hired by Discover Oshkosh. He is their Creative Place Making consultant. It could be good to have him in on the planning of the public arts policy. Director Cannizzo will reach out to him and see if it would be in the scope of his work to be a part of the OPM planning. Mr. Mueske also recommended Jessica Middle with the BID. Vice Chair Brown recommended Amy Albright with Discover Oshkosh also be invited to a workshop, as they have experience and a sense of art projects that can be done around the city. Chair Redlin recommended the first meeting be only with the MAC Board and then at future workshops invite additional City departments and outside representatives. Director Cannizzo anticipates there will be at least three workshops, allowing for time to invite much input. She would like the Board to build a policy that can be a benchmark for other museums and cities. Much more discussion continued. Director Cannizzo then reported that OPM received the final installment of $385.80 for the Juzwiak Bequest. She noted that money is always held back by the bank until taxes and all details are complete. In conclusion, Director Cannizzo gave an update on work being done for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) regulations. Staff are on target to send the updated inventory report by the deadline of January 13, 2025. Director Cannizzo will keep the board updated as work continues. That concluded the Director’s report. With no additional agenda items Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Mueske; second Brown) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m.