Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC)
March 14, 2012 minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mandy Enfield, Kathy Porsch, Patrick Kelly, Richard Renner
STAFF PRESENT: Diane Stoddard
GUESTS PRESENT: Tony Krsnich and Paul Hotvedt
Kathy Porsch called the meeting to order. New Commissioners Patrick Kelly and Richard Renner were introduced.
Tony Krsnich spoke about his work to redevelop and restore the Poehler building and his plans for the adjacent cider building. He is currently developing the Poehler building into a building that will have affordable and market rate housing. He also stated that he wants to establish an office port on the second level of the cider building. He wants the cider building main level to be an art gallery and then have the building also available for catering. He also plans to have live music in an outdoor venue similar to the Crossroads in Kansas City. The basement of the adjacent t-shirt business will be donated for arts activities. The Poehler building is ow 60% complete. He asked for any assistance he could get with introductions. He also mentioned that he was incorporating solar into the projects. The Cultural Arts Commissioners expressed strong enthusiasm for the project.
The minutes from the January meeting were approved.
Commissioner Enfield reported that Paul Hotvedt requested that the Phoenix Awards be expanded to include an environmental award associated with the Imagination in Place program. She said that her concerns were if the environmental award were reflective of the mission of the Phoenix Awards and if it worked in the budget. She indicated that the Phoenix Award committee would be open to discussing the possibility of adding a sixth award. Commissioner Kelly asked whether this could just be a new category added to the existing category. Commissioner Renner asked about whether this environmental award had to have a connection to the arts. Commissioner Kelly thought that some other entity would be more appropriate if this were only environmental. Commissioner Kirkendall said he would prefer to see it be a more creative spaces award. He also asked whether this is where the group wanted to place its time and energy. Commissioner Enfield said that adding an additional award could add pressure as the number of nominations has been low for a few years. Commissioner Renner volunteered to be on the Phoenix Award committee. Commissioner Enfield said she would contact Mr. Hotvedt and asked him to rewrite the verbiage for the award and suggest it be added as a category, but maintain the number of awards at five.
Commissioner Kelly said he would be willing to serve on the Grants Committee. Commissioner Enfield confirmed that others may occasionally attend the arts roundtable group. Commissioner Porsch stated that the grants process was moving along with a deadline of March 26. Ms. Stoddard reported that there was no update yet regarding the library project. Commissioner Enfield reported on the roundtable discussion. She said that there was a request to establish a grants FAQ and a suggestion to bring the grant information to the roundtable next year. The library has some grant workshops and possibly the LCAC could participate.
The financial report was provided.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm.