2001 Annual Report
TO:
SALINA CITY COMMISSIqN
ANNUALREPORT, ARTS AND HUMANITIESDEPARTMENT
.RE:
. ,FROM:
MARTHA. RHEA
DATE:
(L "
FEBRUARY 7; 2001
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The year 2000 proved to'bean excitingi;on~ for the Arts' and Humanities Department. Although
there were a number of highlights, as evidenced by the i1.ttached sheets, the ones that have risen
. to the top that we were quite proud of: ; .' ' .
· . a new Community Art and Design policy was developed and. approved by the City
Corrimission in July, " '.' '. '. .
· the Smoky Hill River Festival began the .countdown to its 25th birthday in 2'001,
. both the Horizons Grants program and the Arts Infusion Program eX!1enenced extensive
evaluations that refocused and deepened program emphases,
· the Smoky Hill Museum began serious steps toward"mo~ing into the community" through'
plans fora gallery renovation, expanded educational programs, arid consistent use oHively,
inviting marketing:
These accomplishments were grounded' in the mission of the department, which is the cultivation.
of this place through the power oftpearts anc1 humanities to change lives and build community.
In 2000 several overarching goals helped. to define and guide the work of the department: , .
· Reflect the qualities of the Festival in a manner that crosscuts Salina, including both public
and private sectors, through the development of a public art program/policy, ,
· Position the Smoky Hill River Festival solidly and positively for the next twenty-five years,
including passing it on to the next generations,' through focused research and preparation for
the 2001 Festival, its 25th birthday. ' ..;.. " .,'.... . ." .
· Build on what is working with 10ng~timeprograms(H;orizo'ns and Arts Infusion) and discard
what isn't, within an enlightened context of what is "state o(theart" today, through in-depth,
extensive evaluation processes that involve bro~dlyusers 'and po~entjal users, as well as
. administrators and boards. .'. " . '. . ,.' . .. ,
'. Position the Smoky Hill Museum as; a keycultuial resource throllgh a gallery renovation anc~
a strong educational program that causes the community arid .visitors t6 experience the.
Museum as active participants and learners.. . . '.' .... .. '. .',. .
· Restructure internal duties and responsibilities in a manner that bririgs to reality the foregoing.
gbals.' \ .. . '.
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Steve Thompson, Chair / Bill Medina, Vice Chair / Sydney Soderberg, Secretary /jeffrey Ingles, Treasurer
'. Patrick Bihlmaier, Tom Clanian, De,boraCox, Norma Dominguez, Lou Ann Dunn, Tom Gates,' .
, Murray GonnaIl,]ames Hall N,,'larry;{I'Iathews; Eleanor Seaton /AlanhaRhea,Exec;lltiveDirecror
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I particuhirlywanftoacknowledgethe:4ard, determined, dedicated work of the staffoftheArts ..
and Humanities Deparbl1ent.. They are' a group of very professional people who push, boundaries, .
working collaborativeliwith broadly diverse sectors of the community. I also want to. .
. acknowledge the individuals who serve as Arts. and Humanities.Commissioners.. They.
. continuously set an unusually fine example of citizen involvement that is caring and informed,
giving many, many hours to do their jobs well. And finally I want to' acknowledge the city staff
in genl;:ral, who teach this department over and over again the blessiIlgs. of working With such a
variety of competent, cominitted, inventive people who solidly care about what they do~
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Sigpiflcant Achievements, January - December, 2000
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Salina Arts and Humanities 'Commission:
· Horizons Grants Progranl
--In-depth evaluation'and refocusing-of the grants program happened,.based on among 9ther
things the 2000 Listening Sessions'and work with Christy Farnbauch, director of ~ommunity
programs with the Ohio State Arts' ~ouncil.
--Fourteen grantswerefunded~both individual and organizations, with $93,120 requested
and $60,960 funded: Horizons dollars were matched with other income of$143,350. Over
60,000 people were involved in the variou~ programs. '
, --Eleven new members were added to the list of private donors to Horizons.
· Community Art and Design:" ' , .
--A Steering COl1lll1.ittee of thirty-six citizens formed to learn about coinmunity art and
design and to help spread the wordlo others, and to develop a policy resolution for the City.
--The Community Art and Design Resolution was unanimously passed by the City
, Conilllission, with the full support of the Camber of Commerce board of directors.,
-'-This office spearheaded and coordinated the public artwork at the Animal Shelter, the first
as part of the new initiative. , '.' '
--Development of the 25th Initiative project ~ the South 9th Street Corridor - including the
formation of a nominating panel of:art experts, on-site visits by five nationally known
finalists, and submission of a transportation erihanceIhent application to KDOT cooperatively
with the Engineering Department.' ;,
. Arts Education: , " ' "
--TheAfts Infusion Program, in cooperation with USD 305, achieved over 22,000 student
contacts, a 9% increase over the pr~vious ,year. This included a total of 329 sessions by over
twenty local and area artists who reached 7,848 individual stqdents. , ,
--Overall, in-depth Arts Infusion Program evaluation J:>y Charlotte Talbert, well-known arts'
ed'..!~ator and director of the Alliance Project in Denver, working with involved teachers,
artists, and arts organizations to make recommendations for future developnient.
--Collabpratively participated with USD 305's Community Leaming Centers Program by
'successfully integrating arts-based learning into the Sunset Elementary Summer Institute,
involving children ,with low reading and math ability. '
. Smoky Hill River Festival: ' ."
--Record sales for visual artists (10% increase in Fine Arts and 5% in 4-Rivers), coupled with
a 14% increase in Art Patron purchases. , . ,
-~Community Art and Design presence, including information and discussion with members
of the Steering Committee and carVing a birdbath, on the grounds, by Animal Shelter artist,
Connie Nutsch; , ' " II . ' ,
--Focused attention and planning toward the 25th Festival and b~yond, including several
community focus groups, on positioning the Festival for the next 25 years and a significant
internal reorganization. . . ' " ,
· Expanded online presence by integrating links to local and regional cultural organizations
and improving the virtu~l version of the Cultural Calendar. A focused evaluation of the
web site occurred in November, with recommendations for improvements that will happen in
2001.
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Smoky Hill Museum:
· Developed new avellUes:tobring people int~ the museum, resulting in a 9% increase in
annual attendance figures (1 0,065 for 2.000). The Dream. Factory exhibit in particular,
appealed to large numbers of famiUe's with elementary school-aged children.
· 77% increase in number of education programs from 1999, offering two public outreach'
programs per mollth. . , . .
· Established a niission-centered 3-year exhibit plan, which included seven major and
temporary exhibits during 2000.
· Utilized Omniform tocomputerize,. Deed of Gift forms, eliminating a. 6-month backlog of
collections processing paperwork. .. .,
· Increased quality andquahtity of public relations material, including radio and print media,
exterior signage, and exhibition graphics.
· Developed and implemented a ne\y Kindergarten through second grade education program,
including resource packet and curriculum guide. .
· Worked together with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Ad Hoc Committee to develop the exhibit
Voices of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and accompanying programs,'
Worked with the Dunbar School Reunion Committee to again display the Voices'of Freedom
exhibit at the Holiday Irmduring their annual reunion in June.. . .
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