North Cook News

City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission met Jan. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the Commission:

A. Call to Order: 6:00pm

B. Roll Call:

a. Commissioners Rende, Novelli, Ado-Brako, Einterz, Syrris, Thayer present. Chairwoman Rehberg present. Staff Harris and Wilhelmi present. Councilwoman Powell present.

C. Citizen’s Forum:

i. Sean Hargadon, Janus Theatre Company- 2022 Organizational Grant Final Report:

1. Presenting on Beowulf with an all-female cast. The version was based on an adaptation by Maria Dahvana Headley. The actors drove the performances, which took place at the Bowes Creek Pavilion in a thrust-style. A live percussionist was on site to accompany the performance, which ran about 80 minutes and had a lot of audience interaction.

ii. Jamie Ewing, Individual Artist Grant Application:

1. Elsinore Players will be performing “Frankie and Johnny in The Clair De Lune” by Terrance McNally at Side Street Studio Arts in March. The work is about basic human connection and how people are affected by said connections.

iii. Tish Calhamer, Community Engagement Manager, Gail Borden Public Library, Violins of Hope:

1. The Jewish Community Center of Chicago is partnering to bring the Violins of Hope to Elgin. This collection is of about 70 violins that survived the Holocaust; this exhibit will include approximately 30 of these violins. This partnership is the Elgin Collaborative to raise funding and help to promote the exhibit. The Elgin Collaborative is requesting the building and equipment rental fees associated with renting the Hemmens Cultural Center be waived for May 18th for area students and May 20th for a public concert. The goal is to make the concerts free to the public, but the exhibit at the library is free; if a fee is necessary it would be minimal. The estimated cost for this is $3,353. The labor would be covered by the Elgin Collaborative. The exhibit will debut at the Gail Borden Public Library April 24th at 7:00pm with special guest Avashalom Wienstein, one of the originators of the project, will be coming from Tel Aviv, Israel. The exhibit will be at the library for about 3 month. Many of these instruments were played in concentrations camps and are accompanied by bios of the owners. The cost of this project is typically near $50,000, but due to the partnership of the Jewish Community Center of Chicago removes the vast majority of that cost. Events of this type typically do sell out and bring several hundred people.

iv. Shirley Bassett, African American Coalition of Kane County

1. Not present.

D. Staff Report:

a. Financial Report:

i. Final charges from 2022 have been completed.

b. Hemmens:

i. The tiles are still being replaced but the east side has been completed. This project should be wrapped by the end of the month, pending weather.

ii. December brought FABA as a co-pro with only about 350 people attending; it was well received. The group wants to return

iii. Latin Fire with the ESO was at the end of December; attendance was approximately 500 and was well received. About half of the attendees were new to the Hemmens and ESO

iv. Elgin Summer Theater RFQ was posted today. Please share this to ensure a robust response.

v. Hemmens Renovation is moving forward.

c. Elgin Art Showcase:

i. No report.

d. Approval of December 2022 Minutes:

i. Motion to approve the December 2022 Minutes by Councilwoman Powell. Seconded by Commissioner Syrris. Approved by a vote of 8-0.

E. Old Business

a. 2022 ECAC Projects:

i. Making Space:

1. Documentary is being finalized with the goal of a premiere next month.

2. Complimentary work on stories about the individuals in the mural is being written by Chasity Gunn and voice recorded for the public. This will accompany the mural and be posted to the webpage.

ii. Artist Workshops:

1. Springboard for the Arts will provide 5 workshops and 1 panel. Additional collaborations closer to home are being planned as well.

b. Juneteenth Funding

i. No action taken.

F. Other Old Business:

a. Juneteenth Funding:

i. No action taken. No additional funding will be allocated for 2022.

b. 2023 Organizational Grant Applications

i. Motion to approve awarding the 2023 Organizational Grants that scored an average of 10 or higher by Commissioner Novelli. Seconded by Commissioner Syrris. Approved by a vote of with 5-0-3 Commissioners Rehberg, Rende, and Thayer abstaining.

G. New Business:

a. Jamie Ewing, Individual Artist Grant Application

i. Commissioners noted that the admission income may be a bit high, but that the ticket price is lower. Commissioners noted that it was nice to see a new group producing work. Commissioners noted that they are not based in Elgin, but the event is taking place in Elgin.

ii. Motion to approve the Individual Artist Grant in the amount of $1,000 by Commissioner Einterz. Seconded by Commissioner Syrris. Approved by a vote of 7-0-1 with Chairwoman Rehberg abstaining.

b. Tish Calhamer, Community Engagement Manager, Gail Borden Public Library, Violins of Hope:

i. General information provided.

c. Arts and Events Community Survey:

i. Survey is still open for responses.

d. Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study Update:

i. Still open through May. More submissions are necessary for validation.

e. 2023 Budget

i. Motion to approve all organizations that scored a 10 or above at 90% of the adjusted grant amount which is $57,982 for 2023 Organizational Grants by Commissioner Einterz. Seconded by Commissioner Syrris. Approved by a vote of 5-0-3 with Commissioners Rehberg, Rende, and Thayer abstaining.

ii. Motion to approve the proposed 2023 budget by Councilwoman Powell. Seconded by Commissioner Novelli. Approved by a vote of 8-0.

H. Other New Business:

a. Shakespeare in the Park:

i. Performing “Love’s Labor Lost” in Elgin twice in 2023. Auditions open to the public.

I. Adjournment: 8:05pm

a. Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Syrris. Seconded by Commissioner Einterz. Approved by a vote of 8-0.

https://www.cityofelgin.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8250