Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/09/2025

Home

The executive director of the community art center stated that she works with the city manager to secure funding, and makes an annual report to the city council along with the city manager. The arts center partners with various groups in the community including the historical society, the school district, the library, the women's shelter, and the food bank. City funds go primarily toward the general operating expenses of the art center. The art center focus is mainly on performance and programmatic art, with the city arts commission being responsible for most of the public sculpture art. This respondent is a member of the arts commission and is unaware of the role of the city manager in the city's public art. Their primary contacts with the city are through the parks and recreation department. They help with the planning and installation of projects. City staff have helped select materials and mount sculptures. This respondent is a member of the arts commission and also a local artist and business person. She views the role of the city manager as representing an important partner in local public art projects. She stated that the process goes smoother when the city manager is involved with public art meetings. The city manager attended community leadership planning sessions and she believes he sees great value in art and culture, and defining the community story. She recognizes the role the city manager overseeing parks and recreation, and hiring of a new parks director in the coming year. The director of planning and the city engineer will also attend the arts commission meetings. She herself attends council and planning commission meetings, and advocates for public art on a local and regional level. She would like to see more involvement at local art events by the city manager and other city staff. 131