2000-11-29 - Arts Commission - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑Arts Commission
Document Type: ❑A e
g nda 0 Minutes
Meeting ate: 11/29/2000
Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting
—ARTS COMMISSION —
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, 29 November 2000
6:00 p.m.,Village Hall, Lower Level Conference Room
Present:
Linda Rosen, Chair
Sandy Greenberg
Robyn Kove
Susan Moore
Elizabeth Radtke
Ilene Strauss
Fred Weissman
Lynne Schneider, Chmbr.
Absent:
Rebecca Goldberg (excused)
Trustee Liaisons
Trustee Jeff Braiman - present
Trustee Jeff Berman
Welcome Guests— Ms. Kim Cashmore & Ms. Robin Racusen, Buffalo Grove Park District
Ms. Stacey Kelly,Administrative Intern,Village of Buffalo Grove
Welcome &Announcements
Linda welcomed the commission members and guests.
Approval of Minutes
Approved by Ilene Strauss, second by Elizabeth Radtke
Overview of Park District Art Program &Services
• Auditions are being held for the Children's Theatre, 1 program/year- Fiddler on the Roof. The
Park expects 125 kids to audition; 6 shows will be held.
• Instrumental recital: 6-18 year old participants. February audition.
• "Step up to the Mic"—Children's talent show, includes dance, bands, vocalists, and others. April,
2001.
• "Annie Get Your Gun"—9 shows are planned. Auditions will be held in April. Performances in
July/August.
• BG Singers—9th year— programming has been expanded. 59 members. March 4-5
performances at Stevenson High School.
• BG Singers Encore, approximately 18 members. The group travels trough the northwest suburbs
and the Chicagoland area.
0 Starmakers, children's traveling group; 2 years in operation. The group rehearses Sept. through
February then travels to perform.
Programs
Benefit programs for people with special needs and senior assistance homes.
• Theatre program—acting classes, 3-5 offered for all age groups.
• Technical class will be offered in the fall.
• Broadway Tunes
Vocal instruction — hiring their 4th instructor.
• Children's chorus, K-2nd grade and 3rd through 7th grade.
• Performing Arts Scholarship opportunity.
Performances/practices are held at Ivy Hall Middle School and Stevenson High School.
Membership includes four newsletters per year, a discount on tickets for performances. The cost is
$5/child, $7/adult, and $10/family.
What can the Arts Commission do? The Park District is also interested in bringing the arts to Buffalo
Grove. An Art Guild was discussed, as well as an art fair/festival.
Instrumental needs/services? A jazz program was held in the past, but it was not successful. It is also
difficult to find locations to practice/perform. The same was experienced with a wind ensemble.
Grants? Two years ago, the Park District applied and received a grant for Children's Theatre through
the Illinois Arts Council.
Other. What's missing in Buffalo Grove related to arts is instrumentalist/wind ensemble programs, art
showings, and ceramics. It's important to note that the Park District often surveys other municipal
programs and their programs and services are comparable. The greatest challenge to the Park District is
limited space. The schools support the park district as much as possible, but there is limited space for
services.
Art Centers and Facilities
Commission members contacted the respective agencies and provided a report about the center's
programs, service, facility size & budget, and other information:
W Arlington Heights Metropolis. — Susan
For profit organization. Heavy dance program.
W Waukegan —Jack Benny Center for the Arts. — Susan. Information distributed at the meeting.
Expanded in 1989 and constructed the Jack Benny Center. Operates Bowen Park Theatre and Opera;
Bowen Heritage Circle. A plethora of information is featured in the Park District Guide.
W Libertyville Adler Center for the Performing Arts. — Ilene. Information distributed at the meeting.
The Center maintains and interprets the historic home of architect David Adler. The Center promotes the
cultural arts through year-round activities. Non-for-profit organization; mostly musical program.
W Skokie Centre East. — Fred
(1) Village Commission — established in 1964; consists of 23 appointed members. Monthly meetings —
the BG Commission is welcome to attend Works with the Illinois Arts Council; supports the Skokie
Sculpture Park; offers grant program(s).
(2) The Skokie Art Guild is a private organization. Further information will be provided at the next
meeting.
Village Report
On 11/13/2000, Robyn Kove sent Ghida an article regarding promotion of Arts in Buffalo Grove. The
article was featured in the 11/9/2000 edition of Pioneer Press, Diversions Section, B4. Ghida contacted
the author and reporter Robert Loerzel and gave him an overview of the BG Arts Commission. Mr.
Loerzel welcomes any information relating to arts programs/services; he will write articles on this subject,
as appropriate.
At the last meeting, Ilene provided an 8/24/2000 article that was featured in Pioneer Press, Diversion
Section, B6 listing all art schools and instructors. A letter was sent to all appropriate organizations
requesting the information about their organizations and calendar of events be sent to Village Hall.
Information received to date was distributed at the meeting.
Business—Schools join together to encourage arts in the community.
Further discussion from the last meeting took place about this proposed program. Ilene made a motion to
draft a letter to the school describing the Commission's program; second by Elizabeth.
Briefly, the program would work as follows: Each school or grade would create artwork that would be
displayed in the windows of local businesses. There are 22 shopping centers in Buffalo Grove. The
business owners would be asked if they would be willing to post artwork, size such as 11"x17", in their
window. A time line was not determined. The school could create the theme of the artwork, or have
"open art"throughout the shopping center. The program would provide children the opportunity to display
their art, the businesses would benefit by the walking traffic of people viewing the art and shopping in the
center.
✓ Ilene will contact all Buffalo Grove schools, and schools serving the Buffalo Grove area, such as
District 103 in Lincolnshire, and inquire about their interest in the program.
Arts Festival. Sandy agreed to research companies and organizations that coordinate art festivals and
fairs. Lynne will check on the status of the Chamber working with Howard Alan to coordinate an art
festival in the community.
Selection of a Vice Chair. Motion was made by Ilene to appoint Fred Weissman as the Arts
Commission Vice Chair; second by Sandy. Motion carried.
Next Steps
Chicago cows — Arlington Ponies — Buffalo Grove Buffaloes??? Linda will research the cost of such an
endeavor.
Big Bands — an invitation will be made to attend the next meeting to two Stevenson High School band
directors regarding their big band programs and services (Linda).
How did other communities fund their arts facility? Susan will research Waukegan. Elizabeth will contact
Allstate and inquire about grant and funding opportunities from their Foundation.
Motion to Adjourn—motion made by Sandy, second by Ilene. Motion carried.
Meeting Schedule
No meeting in December— happy holidays!
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2001. All meetings will be held on the
second Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise noted) -Village Hall, lower level conference room,
starting at 6:00 p.m.
The meeting concluded at 8:00 p.m. Linda thanked the members for their attendance and input.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ghida Sahyouni
Assistant Village Manager
cc: Jeff Berman, Trustee Liaison
Jeff Braiman, Trustee Liaison
Elliott Hartstein, Village President
William R. Balling, Village Manager