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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.09.2025 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the April 9, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the April 9, 2025 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the May 14, 2025 Board Meeting) The April meeting of the Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held at the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM). Board Chair Vicky Redlin called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and the Roll was taken. Present at Roll: Board Chair Vicky Redlin, Vice-Chair Rebecca Doe Brown, Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske, Alternates Carrie Olson and Erron Hundt Absent: Mayor Matt Mugerauer With Mr. Mugerauer out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt. OPM Staff Present: Museum Director Anna Cannizzo, Assistant Director/Chief Curator Emily Rock, Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator Anne Schaefer, 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 March 12, 2025, Board Meeting B. Minutes of the March 18, 2025, Board Workshop MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Matzke; second Hundt) CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Redlin An update regarding the Bridging Past and Present program series was given by Ms. Schaefer. She shared detailed information with the Board regarding the upcoming events in the series. In reviewing the first presentation in the series she noted that 550 people had registered for the program and around 300 attended. Attendees provided feedback via a survey. Ms. Schaefer noted that the public interest has been amazing. The story stick workshop at the Lakeshore 4 Seasons Pavilion had 33 people attend with a great deal of positive feedback. Ms. Schaefer shared a spreadsheet showing the events, number of attendees possible, number of actual attendance where known, cost and locations of the programs, etc. Ms. Matzke asked whether all of the funds for the 2025 grant have been drawn down, in case the government closes down on these grants. Ms. Schaefer noted that the funds were already received for this Minutes of the April 9, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 4 year, so there would be no impact. She noted that matching funds came from the Friends of the Senior Center. Ms. Schaefer was pleased to report that it was decided to apply for this grant for 2026. The grant would be $5,000. The Senior Center would participate again. Programming would explore additional cultural arts, such as culinary arts, music, and children’s programs. Ms. Redlin suggested the Tribal Trail near the Butte de Morts bridge could be a fun walk or bike ride opportunity for kids. Discover Oshkosh suggested a tour of sites such as Chief Oshkosh and other locations. The author of Braiding Sweetgrass has several programs available, which will be considered. For 2026 Dennis Zack, member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation has agreed to be part of the planning committee. Mr. Mueske noted he was at a regional art show of Native art about a year ago. He said it was the best example of modern Native American art he’s ever seen, and that perhaps he could reach out to some of those folks. There was then some discussion about the ease for signing up for the event to be held April 10th. Mr. Mueske noted he was able to sign up using the QR code on a poster. Ms. Redlin noted that on the Senior Center website it is difficult to locate the registration for the events. Ms. Redlin reported that all the people she’s talked with about the programs have been very pleased. Next, regarding a visiting exhibition opportunity, Director Cannizzo reported that for 2026, she and Ms. Rock have located an exhibition called Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective. Ms. Rock reported that it is a collection of over 200 pieces of rare and significant jewelry and decorative objects, from the 17th century to the present. It is an exhibition that the Driehaus has made available as a traveling exhibit. The total cost for a six-month run is only $20,000. Down payment is $10,000. Dates anticipated would be Sept. 19, 2026 - March 2027. The Driehaus team will design a layout for the exhibit to fit within the spaces OPM has designated for this exhibition. Director Cannizzo reminded the Board that each year in the budget money is earmarked for a down payment for an exhibit for the next year. Director Cannizzo requested approval by the Board for use of funds from the Membership Fund. Director Cannizzo noted that this is an appealing exhibition that will be attractive to sponsors and will draw increased visitation. Mr. Mueske asked if there are opportunities to cross-promote with the Paine. Ms. Schaefer noted that she has been working with Amy Albright to coordinate/ leverage each other’s marketing. Mr. Mueske suggested the potential of a Makers Market in relation to the jewelry exhibit. Other suggestions were to reach out to collaborate with jewelry-related businesses. Ms. Brown suggested that a date night could be a fun event while the jewelry exhibit is at OPM, for a general evening or for a Valentine’s evening event. Director Cannizzo said staff are talking about these as possibilities. Ms. Rock will present the exhibition schedule at the next meeting. MOTION: Approve use of $10,000 from the Membership Fund for the down payment of the exhibition for 2026, Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective. (Matzke; second Brown) Minutes of the April 9, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 4 CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Redlin Chair Redlin then requested the Director’s Report. Director Cannizzo began by reporting that the expanded Visitor Services Team is now fully staffing Saturdays and operating most of the opening and closing tasks and duties. The increased engagement has had a noticeable difference with positive visitor feedback and increased store sales. The store’s revenue has improved from this time last year at nearly double the amount. Last week the Museum hosted Independent Indigenous Consultant Heather Bruegl to provide some assessment and advisement on OPM’s Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) project efforts. Heather also presented a program about NAGPRA and Museums. Heather is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a first-line descendant of Stockbridge Munsee. She graduated from Madonna University in Michigan and holds a Master of Arts in U.S. History. She is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in First Nations Education. OPM plans to host her for another assessment visit in Fall of 2025. Director Cannizzo noted that Berglund Construction was recently on site for several weeks to complete their repair work on the Historic Sawyer Home’s masonry and limestone. They completed their work on April 4th. The Museum recently participated in the City’s Facility Condition Assessment. The last report was completed in 2021. This updated report should be available for the upcoming budget cycle and will help prioritize and guide decisions regarding facility projects. Director Cannizzo was pleased to report that the Museum purchased several Ho-Chunk black ash baskets made by Kimberly Crowley and some of her family members. The purchase totaled $690.00 and will add to OPM’s contemporary Native American collections. In conclusion, Director Cannizzo gave an update on the Public Art Policy. She is working on a draft and expects to be ready for a second workshop sometime in June. City Manager Rebecca Grill has directed her to include public interpretation as a category within the policy. There has been growing interest in erecting public cultural heritage interpretation plaques and types of exhibits on City property and with City resources. Currently there is no process to develop this type of project. This policy has been identified as being best suited to provide a pathway and guidance on these types of projects. Director Cannizzo recently proposed to City department heads that the Museum manage and centralize information of the Municipal Art Collection (this would include legacy collections as well as new works). All agreed that the Museum is best suited for this role. That concluded the Director’s report. Ms. Matzke reported that her Public History class from Ripon College had a great time during their fieldtrip at OPM last week. She noted that Mr. Matherne presented very interesting information. Mr. Mueske shared that the Oshkosh Art Collective has a show at the Gibson Club Saturday, April 12, 6-9:00 PM. Several Native American elders will have their art at this show. Minutes of the April 9, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 4 of 4 Ms. Redlin announced that the Oshkosh Fine Arts Association is hosting an art show Saturday, April 12, 9 AM – 12:30 PM. It is for regional artists and there will be a demonstration. It was noted that a new public calendar is at the upper right of the City’s website. This will make it easier for finding meetings and the agendas and minutes. 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 5:37 p.m.