North Cook News

City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission met Dec. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

A. Call to Order: 6:03pm

B. Roll Call:

a. Chairwoman Rehberg present. Councilwoman Powell present. Commissioners Einterz, Erlandson, Rende, and Syrris present. Staff Harris and Wilhelmi present.

C. Citizen’s Forum:

a. Rebecca Harrington, Individual Artist Grant Application:

i. Presenting an Individual Artist Grant Application from Ghostly Podcast for a podcast festival called “Dark Matters: Winter Tales”. This event will be a 2-day festival taking place in downtown Elgin including live performances, workshops and more. Radio Lucifer, a bi-lingual podcast is confirmed as a participant. Bob After Dark from Indiana will also be participating. This event will take place February 25 & 26, 2022.

ii. Commissions Rende asked about the workshops and their target audience. Rebecca answered that these are somewhat open at the moment, but will focus on how to do a podcast, being successful, and ask me anything events. Audience is expected to be those that are interested in podcasts both on the audience and production level. He noted that connecting with students at the local colleges would be a good connection.

b. Rise’ Jones of Hamilton Wings, 2021 Organizational Grant Final Report:

i. SCORE! was presented in 2021 thanks in part to the organizational grant from the ECAC. This was accomplished by meeting as a whole group 3 times a month as well as family workshops and individual groups. They distributed packets of supplies 3 times a year to encourage participation. The camp, normally a 2 week-long endeavor, became a hybrid model using zoom and in person participation at Wing Park. This all culminated in a drive-through red carpet and a showcase of the work the students did. John Edwards, now on Broadway in NYC, was able to come in (virtually) and create music with the students. The students were also able to go out on adventures and explore Elgin’s treasures such as Hawthorne Hills and public art while also using the art kits to create a final product.

ii. Chairwoman Rehberg asked what pivots due to covid will be kept. Rise’ responded that keeping access to both in person and virtual will be kept. The goal is to continue to keep access open to as many as possible. The take-home packets will also be kept.

c. Erin Rehberg of Side Street Studio Arts, 2020 Organizational Grant Final Report:

i. The funding from 2020, which was altered to Operations Support in light of Covid, was used to ensure the future of Side Street’s general operations. A record amount of money went to individual artists in 2020. Summer Youth Employee program was able to continue, and Brown Bag Art Kits were successful and grew due to this support.

D. Staff Report:

a. Financial Report:

i. Final charges for the year are expected soon.

b. Hemmens:

i. Holiday shows are wrapping up.

ii. Renovation to the dressing rooms and bathrooms begins Monday while the building is dark during the holidays.

iii. Staff will also be painting the stage and doing some minor projects.

iv. January brings in Brit Beat

v. Two long-time employees are retiring with the end of the year.

c. Elgin Art Showcase:

i. Motion to renew the existing location for 2022 was passed by the City Council.

ii. Motion to enter into a new 5-year lease at 18 Villa Court was also passed by City Council.

iii. Councilwoman Powell noted that council received many letters of support from the public about this new partnership.

d. Approval of November Minutes:

i. Motion to approve the November Minutes by Commissioner Einterz. Seconded by Commissioner Erlandson. Approved by a vote of 5-0-1 with Councilwoman Powell abstaining.

E. Old Business

a. 2021 ECAC Projects:

i. Making Space

1. The premiere of the documentary is currently set for February 18th at the Hemmens Cultural Center.

2. The first scholarship is set to be awarded by the Human Rights Commission as part of their MLK Breakfast event.

ii. Elgin Fringe Festival:

1. Winter Fringe will happen on the last Saturday of January at Pub 217 at Elgin Public House. The event brings back Your Silent Partner, Laura Scruggs and Kelly Bolton.

2. Fringe in 2022 will move from a first-come-first-served fringe to a lottery system. This will break the acceptance into three categories: self-identified underrepresented artists, local artists, and all artists.

3. Adrian Mesino is in to be the chairperson for the Diversity Committee. He will be in charge of the committee and paid for his time. He will begin thinking about others to be on the committee.

4. Jess Rocha also joined the EFF committee this year. She will help to run box office and visual art, among other things.

5. Final numbers from the 2021 festival are in. Almost $5,000 was paid out to artists in 2021 for the September festival. Additional grants and sponsorships including Herb’s Bakery, Palmer Foundation, Elgin Knit Works, and more were brought in in 2021.

b. 2022 ECAC Projects:

i. Talent Fest:

1. This program is planned to return in March of 2022 and requested funding again.

ii. Artist Workshops

1. These will be discussed as part of the 2022 budget.

F. Other Old Business:

a. Storm Drain Art update:

i. The final map is completed and will be posted on the website shortly. QR code stickers leading the public to the map of all of the drains have been installed.

b. 2022 Organizational Grant scoring final vote:

i. Councilwoman Powell noted that there are some groups that have previously applied but didn’t apply this year and would like to know why. She also noted an interest in looking at a different level of grant to increase interest and applications.

ii. Commissioners Erlandson noted that the organizations with scores of 12 or above are all so close and those continue to take advantage of the grant program.

iii. Motion to approve the 2022 Organizational Grants that scored about a 12 at the adjusted grant amount level by Councilwoman Powell. Seconded by Commissioner Syrris. Approved by a vote of 5-0-1 with Chairman Rehberg abstaining.

G. New Business:

a. Cherie Murphy, Individual Artist Grant Final Report

i. Commissioners noted that the show was well written, performed, and received.

b. John Smentowski, Individual Artist Grant Final Report

i. No comments

c. Rebecca Harrington, Individual Artist Grant Application:

i. Commissioners noted that it sounds like a fun project.

ii. Motion to approve the Individual Artist Grant in the amount of $1,000 by Commissioner Erlandson. Seconded by Commissioner Einterz. Approved by a vote of 5-0-1 with Chairwoman Rehberg abstaining.

d. Artwork Purchase:

i. The artwork purchase is set to be completed at the first meeting in January.

e. 2022 Budget:

i. Motion to approve the proposed 2022 budget as amended by Councilwoman Powell. Seconded by Commissioner Rende. Approved by a vote of 6-0.

H. Adjournment: 8:10pm

a. Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Rende. Seconded by Commissioner Einterz. Approved by a vote of 6-0.

https://www.cityofelgin.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7626