Re: [Mpls] Arts Action Needed Now
While I was out delivering a major metropolitan daily to parts of the Lynnhurst neighborhood this morning, I heard a story that included a discussion of mortgage rates – I think. The reporter used something he called the Anderson Report, which was a survey of mortgage rates. I often hear reports on gas prices quoting the Lundberg Report that surveys gas prices nationwide. I decided right there, in front of 4936 & 4940 Newton to start the Riese Report, a survey of public art across the nation. I'm thinking of starting with questioning builders and developers about their expenditures on art for their projects. I'm also considering using public art resources like Forecast here in the Twin Cities to gather information. What is public art? I make and circulate porcelain money – coins with values incised on each side. A coin may have "work" on one side "play" on the other. ( You can view these coins and my functional pottery at: http://www.mnartists.org/Erik_Riese) I think of this attempt to redirect our value system as public art. Over 28,000 pieces of coin are now in circulation. My coins have reached every corner of the earth, below the ocean surface and into low earth orbit. I don't solicit funding for my project although my customers have paid me for coin. The coins have become a new value that stimulate trades, inspire conversation and debate & even changed the course of peoples' lives. Are they public art? Does public art have to be for everyone. Can a piece in a public place become a private monument? What about architecture? Is good design public art? When the City Council's Ways & Means Committee votes to remove $200,000 from one line "Public Art" and put it into another "Public Works" does this reduce the arts in Minneapolis? Does the city have a role to play in developing and supporting art or arts organizations? While I've been a supporter of the Mayor, I haven't been so impressed with the his arts work. It seems to me to be a cronies' game. If you are "in" you are asked to participate, if you are "out" your involvement is not only unwanted, it's actively thwarted. What does the Mayor's budget do for arts in the city? Why should we contact our CouncilMembers on this issue? -Erik On Dec 6, 2005, at 8:21 AM, Connie Beckers wrote: Talking Points: Support the Mayor’s proposed 2% for public art, as this is consistent with the strategies outlined in the approved cultural plan. The proposed strategy of moving half of the public art budget into Public Works, would be contrary to the Cultural Plan and current public art policy and would be an inefficient way to develop and maintain public art projects. In cooperation, Erik Riese Seward US@: A great place to live, work, learn, create and play. Santa Erik available for holiday parties, events and happenings. (612) 724-3217 ~~~ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] arts action needed now
Have been a big supporter of the arts--particularly visual arts---since '56...even a "sunday"painter...fortunate to have participated with Joan Mondale's LRT station art (citizen groups) The funding discussion for this expenditure goes back several years...CLIC recommendations questioned expenditure (part of list response to inquiry several months ago). Basically, should capital dollars be used for salaries/admin..although not generally accepted accounting procedure, creative financing has been developed to get around this. Lack of project outcomes was also a CLIC concern. While CLIC and several council people had a problem with this practice (Cp. Zerby gave the most articulate reasons), the Mayor's Finance dept is comfortable... although I'd guess probably not comfortable with the library or park board use of this means of financing. I know administrative costs are sometimes charged to individual projects but why can some entities do this and not others? The original recommendation was for $200K. It was bumped up to $400K in mayor's budget. As much as I'd like to see city public art support increased (the independent libraries have added some very fine work, particularly the mosaics at franklin and the stained glass window at Hosmer), I am very uncomfortable with this funding mechanism. I think the decision was a reasonable compromisesince the mayor recommended the extra $200 K, dedicating it to ward projects might not be the worst idea (at least it's a little more bottom-up decision making). If the mayor had not recommended that extra money, would have liked to have seen it go to community libraries and other local projects...perhaps the ward system is the best way of distributing that money to the communities (versus DIVERSION TO AN UNDEDICATED GENERAL FUND CATEGORY0. So I plan on contacting city council member and urging them to support arts projects on the local level...even if it is througH Public Works. Just no more "snowmen" ideas...Snoopy was different! Best wishes, Cheryl Luger _ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Arts Action Needed Now
Connie Beckers wrote: Dear Arts Supporter, ... Details: Last week the Ways & Means Committee in a process called budget “mark-down” reduced the Mayor’s proposed budget of 2% for public art to 1%, and moved the remaining $200,000 to Public Works “to do environmental improvements, public art, pedestrian improvements, or to leverage funds for projects conducted collaboratively with other jurisdictions.” They want to use the money toward "enhancements" on Lake St., Central Ave. and Broadway as well, is my guess. They're a little short of what they want in their wards' projects and this is the way to get it. WizardMarks, Central Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Arts Action Needed Now
ARTS ACTION NEEDED NOW!--UPDATE Dear Arts Supporter, Please contact City Council member as soon as possible and request he or she support Mayor Rybaks proposed public art budget. Last week the Ways & Means Committee of the City Council reduced the Mayors proposed budget for public art by 50%. You can locate your City Council Member at this web site: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/. Please forward this email to other arts supporters you know. Details: Last week the Ways & Means Committee in a process called budget mark-down reduced the Mayors proposed budget of 2% for public art to 1%, and moved the remaining $200,000 to Public Works to do environmental improvements, public art, pedestrian improvements, or to leverage funds for projects conducted collaboratively with other jurisdictions. The members of the Ways & Means Committee who voted to reduce the Art in Public Places Program were Barbara Johnson, Sandy Colvin Roy, Natalie Johnson Lee, Dan Niziolek, and Barrett Lane. Paul Zerby voted no. Paul Ostrow and Gary Schiff were present and spoke against the motion, but they are not members of the committee, and therefore did not vote. CM Benson spoke in favor of reducing the budget. (Note that CM Lane left office on Friday and was replaced by Betsy Hodges.) Talking Points: Support the Mayors proposed 2% for public art, as this is consistent with the strategies outlined in the approved cultural plan. The proposed strategy of moving half of the public art budget into Public Works, would be contrary to the Cultural Plan and current public art policy and would be an inefficient way to develop and maintain public art projects. The Full Council will be voting on this Committees recommendation this month, so please contact your Council Member as soon as possible. Thank you. Katie Nyberg Chair, Minneapolis Arts Commission Advocacy Committee Posted by Connie Beckers, Folwell Neighborhood REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
