April 23 & May 5 Meeting Announcements

Steering Committee meeting
When: April 23, 2008, 7pm
Where: Acme Scenic Arts (Nance & John's place), 941 West Seventh. (Next door to the Mad Hatter.)

West End Arts meeting
When: May 5, 2008
Where: Fort Road Federation Office

April 7, 2008 Meeting Minutes

West End Arts Meeting Minutes
by Rachel

April 7, 2008
Fort Road Federation Office

Round-up of ideas for our inaugural event/show:

• Brewery as locale, if possible
• Non-juried, though if there are an extraordinary number of entries we can have a selection jury
• Satellite spaces for overflow entries
• Steering committee will meet to hammer out details such as:

~ call for artists within Ford Road Federation boundaries
~ combining show announcement & call for artists
~ venue
~ date
~ opening reception
~ where/how to distribute posters, postcards, & flyers
~ Community Reporter/Villager article/ad
~ KFAI promotion
~ public access/SPNN,
~ press release
~ West End Business Association partnership
~ "art crawl" with the art crawling down W. 7th via sandwich boards
~ rings of power for participating artists
~ ... and more

Steering committee members so far:

• Jason
• Lia
• Heather
• Marty
• Halle
• Nance
• Rachel
• John

Mission statement:
Marty suggests we solidify a mission statement, to define ourselves and give us some direction, aid in goal-setting, put at the top of a grant applications or budget, etc. So, what are we about?

• non-inclusiveness: for all ages, demographics, subcultures
• connecting artists with each other
  
• letting the greater area know we're here
• supporting arts and artists
• having shows
• being visible
• communicating
• sharing knowledge
• promoting and encouraging each other
  
• defining "art"
• defining "support"
  
• ... by any means necessary

Draft statement:
Neighbors and friends organized to promote and foster arts in the West End, by encouraging and connecting artists, and extending arts into the community through exhibitions, live performances, and educational outreach.

Inaugural Event/Show Budget ideas:
Heather offers to take the lead on drafting a budget for the St. Paul City Council. Rough ideas:
5000 postcards at $1,500
5000 flyers at $200
250 posters at $500
Postage $400
Designer $300

What's Next:
Steering Committee meeting
When: April 23, 2008
Where: Acme Scenic Arts (Nance & John's place), 941 West Seventh. (Next door to the Mad Hatter.)

West End Arts meeting
When: May 5, 2008
Where: Fort Road Federation Office

April 7, 2008 Meeting Announcement

When: 7 pm
Where: Fort Road Federation Offices, 974 West 7th/Fort Road

February 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes

West End Arts Meeting Minutes
Feb. 4, 2008
Chez David and Paulette

Ideas for our Inaugural Event
West End Arts ... a flushing out of artists in the community.
To this end, our first priority will be an open call, non-juried show.
Mary Esch presents sample calls for entries. She just curated a show at St. Kate's so has recent and direct experience with this kind of thing.


Approach:

• Mary suggests a simple approach for an inaugural event. David seconds.
• Rotate show. Put some stuff up at first, then other stuff.
• Mary, Ann, Becca promote idea of artist "mixer" in the space, whatever it is, separate from the show.
• Volunteers could watch over space/show during exhibit hours.
• TBD: Would call be open to non-West End artists?

Locale:

• Inquire at for rent/vacant spaces. Perhaps Dave Wick. can help us find these spaces.
• Pilney building is currently vacant.
• Remember that there would be a tax deduction for donations of space, food, beverages, etc. (Truly? Even if we're not offically a non-profit organization?)

Resources:

• Dave Thune said city may be able to provide ad budget.
• Marcus Young, current St. Paul Artist-in-Residence, is good liaison to city. He's currently looking for space in the West End. He loves it here.
• West End Business Association, which has recently reformed, may be interested in providing resources. Nance is joining.
• Becca suggests establishing West End Arts membership dues of $5-$10.

Other Business

• Nance would like to develop a structure for the West End Arts group: a leader, etc.
• Paulette suggests Kent Aldrich as potential graphic designer/logo developer.
• Community Reporter ran an article about the proposed artist live/work spaces at the Brewery. Paulette mentions that tax credit for such spaces is in jeopardy, and this may impact development.

Action Items

• Becca will get together with Dave Wick. to find out about potential space for West End Arts inaugural show.
• Nance will pursue ad budget possibilities (by talking to Dave Thune).