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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.12.2025 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the March 12, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the March 12, 2025 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the April 9, 2025 Board Meeting) The March meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in the Galena Room of the Museum. Board 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, Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske, Alternate Carrie Olson Excused: Board Member, Alternate Erron Hundt Absent: Mayor Matt Mugerauer With Mr. Mugerauer out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson. Also Present: Museum Director Anna Cannizzo, Assistant Director/Chief Curator Emily Rock, City Attorney Lynn Lorenson, Finance Director Julie Calmes, Amy Albright and Greg Wright working with Discover Oshkosh, Molly Carlson and Scott Jennings of Associated Bank Wealth Management and OPM Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the February 12, 2025, Board Meeting MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Matzke; second Olson) CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin The Annual Review of the Durow Trust was presented by Molly Carlson, CWS, CTMC – Senior Vice President, Personal & Corporate Trust Manager and Scott Jennings, CIMA – Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager of Associated Bank Private Wealth. Ms. Carlson began by reporting that a long-time associate with Associated Bank is retiring the end of March. Ms. Carlson and Mr. Jennings will be handling the Durow Trust investments going forward. Mr. Pat Fry remains the director of the division. Mr. Jennings then gave a very thorough review of how the Durow Trust is invested and reviewed the details of the growth for this Fund. About a week before the meeting the MAC Board had received packets of the information to review. The bond market has stayed Minutes of the March 12, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 3 consistent and mainly bonds rated AA are purchased. These are the least volatile. The money market is now about 4%, so as bonds mature, some funds are held in the money market. Mr. Jennings noted it is good for them to know the needed amount for the next year by quarter 3 so they can be sure to have funds in the money market to cover those. At this time the Durow Fund mainly pays for one staff member – the Durow Registrar in 2024. Mr. Jennings gave opportunity for Board members and staff to ask questions. Chair Redlin then introduced Amy Albright, Executive Director of Discover Oshkosh and consultant Greg Wright. They described the many projects they are working on and the vision they are developing. They are seeking impactful projects that would increase visitation such as public art. Mr. Wright commented on visiting OPM and being inspired by the Helen Farnsworth Mears exhibition. Mr. Wright noted that it is important to define the culture shift that is wanted. They gave a presentation to the UWO leaders to give a sense of possibilities. To have place and purpose come together. Ms. Albright gave project examples. Additionally, they spoke of the need for wayfinding and signage that can also be creative. Chair Redlin asked for examples of how other cities as public entities and private business work together. Mr. Wright noted that approvals can be tricky and it would be a good idea for the City to create a policy to help guide planning and decisions. Ms. Albright noted that at first it was challenging to implement the murals but after going through the process it is now much easier. Ms. Albright looks through a lens for tourism, to bring people to Oshkosh from other cities. Director Cannizzo noted that the Museum can inform Discover Oshkosh regarding what the Museum is doing for exhibits and projects that may align with those goals. Ms. Albright’s goal is to have visitors have so much to see in Oshkosh that they extend their stay, patronize businesses, and hopefully stay overnight. Chair Redlin requested the Director’s Report. Director Cannizzo began with staffing updates. She was delighted to announce that Mai Xiong was hired as OPM’s new Visitor Services Associate. Mai began on March 4th and is currently training in her position. Staff are excited to increase this area of operations and grow the Museum’s ability to provide more dedicated customer service to visitors. At the same time this makes for more efficient use of other dedicated staff time that was previously used in this area of operations. Director Cannizzo then introduced Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator, Anne Schaefer. Anne has been working with the Parks Department in the exact position she is now filling at OPM. She comes to the Museum with a great deal of experience and an excellent track record for development, programming, promotion, working with a Friends group, and will add membership coordination to her repertoire. For facility updates Director Cannizzo was pleased to report that the security camera update project has been completed. The Museum has more comprehensive coverage and at a higher Minutes of the March 12, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 3 quality. The Museum can now be directly monitored by the Oshkosh Police Department. Next, she reported that Berglund Construction will be on site to resume their repair work on the Historic Sawyer Home’s chimneys and roof in the coming weeks. This work will complete the facility repair project that started in 2024. For miscellaneous updates Ms. Cannizzo gave an update on the Bridging Past to Present: Exploring Native American Cultural Heritage program series. The kick off panel presentation event on February 23rd, 2025, at the Oshkosh Convention Center, was a great success with over 300 attendees. Staff is currently collecting survey data. As part of the series, the Oshkosh Public Library is currently hosting a Book Club for the book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Potawatomi professor Robin Wall Kimmerer. The next program in the series will be a black ash basket making workshop with Ho-Chunk artist Kimberly Crowley at OPM on Saturday, March 15th. Crowley is the current Contemporary Native American Artist featured in the People of the Waters exhibition. Additional program announcements and registration can be found at the Oshkosh Senior Center’s website. In conclusion, Ms. Cannizzo reviewed what her goals are for the first Public Art Policy Workshop Scheduled for March 18. Ms. Books sent a link to the MAC Board that provides many materials to look over to bring forward as ideas at the March 18 meeting. That concluded the Director’s report. 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 5:50 p.m.