The August Art Matters meeting was held Thursday the 26th in the Dairy Statesmen practice room at Regency Mall in Racine. The space was perfect and wonderful snacks were put out – though unfortunately we were unable to hear the barbershop quartet as they needed to leave before we got to them. 
However, we were treated to a DVD of the Dairy Statesmen doing their new songs and choreography – rock music. What a hoot! That’s a show you don’t want to miss if you ever have the opportunity to go!
Raymond K. Roberts was the moderator at this meeting. He, Maureen Fritchen, Jessica Zalewski, Susan Larkin and John Bloner Jr had met in between meetings to settle on an agenda, a proposed mission statement, and to decide that each month would have a new moderator so that the meetings and group remain in the hands of the public rather than one person.
First thing on the agenda was the mission statement. Currently it reads as such:
“Our mission and purpose is to implement systems that support mutually productive relationships between artistic interest and existing communities in order to strengthen the entire economy.”
Roberts made it very clear that this is a “living, breathing document” and is meant to be “adaptable and evolve” over time. However, it gives the group something to define themselves by. It also clarifies that the group is working for the good of everyone and not just to support the arts.
Roberts brought up an interesting proposal that was quickly accepted by Racine residents and could go even further if others want to take it up as well. While moving a bank office, Roberts noticed their paintings were very unattractive, when he asked, he learned they get all their art work from a generic company in California. The bank manager was excited by the prospect of having local artists hang their work on display instead, and this is a project the group could take further.
Then the meeting moved on to determining the group’s areas of operation and influence. The smaller group that met in between meetings had determined that, although there is an active reach to include Milwaukee and Waukegan, resources lie strongest in Kenosha and Racine at this point so that’s where the immediate focus will be.
As the meeting entered the main part of the agenda, where five things were listed for discussion and decision, they came to a gridlock on the idea of creating a Master Calendar for the Arts. While one person wanted to create a new site to handle all arts related activities, others stated that the visitors’ bureaus in both Kenosha and Racine are already doing this, though Racine needs to improve their site a bit. The discussion then went to KRAN which a couple group members mentioned is being overhauled and they believe could be the gateway to bridging the resources between towns. Unfortunately, Chet Griffith, legal owner of KRAN website, was not available for comment.
Finally a decision was reached that at September’s meeting, which will hopefully be held at Art Works in Kenosha (date TBD) there will be a panel for questions and discussion. Art Matters is inviting representatives from both Racine and Kenosha visitors’ bureaus as well as Chet Griffith from KRAN in order to see how to best use the resources already available to get the information out to the public. If the wheel doesn’t have to be reinvented then why do it?
Group members agreed that one thing Art Matters can do is help with the collecting of information and its distribution – making it clear and available for the public.
So September’s meeting will include:
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1. A charter for the group to sign that basically allows the group to remain in possession of any domain or naming rights instead of one person owning it
2. A panel for discussion of web information
3. Further discussion on other areas that were not reached last night
Stay tuned for more information on dates and times as well as an email that will be sent to everyone who has attended past meetings, showing them the mission statement, allowing for comments, and bringing everyone up to date with detailed minutes from each previous meeting.
Open up a box of crayons and awaken your creative soul. From August 15 - October 9, 2010, adults, age 50 or
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