[0:05] Well, we'll go ahead and uh start the meeting now then officially and the

[0:10] first thing here is on the can open meeting that confirmation have we met

[0:14] the can open? >> Yes.

[0:16] » And it is is confirmed and the other thing is have you taken attendance and

[0:22] that we do have a quorum here? >> Yes. So since we have taken tenants

[0:26] another quorum here uh we'll go ahead and begin the meeting and the first item

[0:32] on the agenda is the approval of the minutes which you do have uh enclosed or

[0:38] attached with information that you brought to the meeting. Is there any

[0:41] questions or concerns uh or comments of any sort with the

[0:46] minutes from the last meeting?

[0:51] Hearing none. Would somebody like to make a motion to approve the minutes of

[0:54] the last meeting? >> I'll make that motion to approve the

[0:57] minutes of the last meeting. >> It's been moved and seconded.

[0:59] » I'll second that. >> Any more discussion of any sort? Hearing

[1:04] none. Everybody in favor say I. Oppose. Same sign.

[1:10] Unanimous. Next would be the staff reports and

[1:13] closed staff reports. If you had a chance to brief over those. Um, I have

[1:19] one or a couple questions actually. I'm skimming it down.

[1:27] Uh, get to the right point.

[1:32] The museum numbers is changed greatly. >> What's

[1:38] » Well, summer uh summertime we just get a lot more visitors coming in. Um

[1:45] and our Facebook uh we've been uh >> we have a couple of um

[1:53] regular posts we do collections uh Wednesdays and then a new uh section in

[2:01] uh mixing up history where we uh take a history or a historic

[2:08] recipe and make it and then the staff tastes and evaluates and post that. So,

[2:14] we have those running. Um, also uh done some paid um as well.

[2:23] » Well, definitely working because it's it's

[2:25] » Yeah, >> it's working.

[2:28] » You know, it's very impressive. It's very impressive. So, there's been some

[2:31] hard effort. >> Yes,

[2:32] » I would think put into that. >> For sure.

[2:36] And then the next thing is at the YMCA uh just with the kids trying to keep

[2:43] them focused and all that. Can we hear more about that?

[2:46] » I'd love to. I'd love to show you some photos.

[2:49] » Yeah. >> Yeah. I've got some photos from that

[2:53] week. Let me

[3:10] So, it was a pretty wild week of clay. Um, we had anticipated the full week at

[3:18] the YMCA Monday through Friday. We had our K through 7th graders. About 75 kids

[3:26] were enrolled in that program. Um, Ann is, you know, she's the clay genius

[3:32] out of all of us adults that were in the room, but there were four of us. And so

[3:38] for the first three sessions, they were broke up into four sessions throughout

[3:41] the day, mixed age groups. Um, so we started with the kindergarten and first

[3:46] graders. And they started with 2 by two tiles. So the first three days of the

[3:53] camp, we're working on those big images. So, there's 16 of those in the whole

[3:59] composition. Um, and then on Wednesday, they finished out with single 4x4 tiles.

[4:05] So, kindergarteners and first graders, you can see in this photo, um, those

[4:09] blocks were put into a big wooden frame. That way, the kids weren't smooshing it

[4:13] out because, if you can imagine, that's exactly what they wanted to do was smash

[4:17] the clay. They wanted to take it out of there. Um, I think they really enjoyed

[4:21] the tactile sort of um, engagement with the clay. So those littles, they would

[4:26] cut out shapes that were already established, the designs, the drawings

[4:30] or compositions um Ann and Chip already had uh worked up. So the sort of insiz

[4:37] line, those were drawn on. So the littles could cut out simple shapes.

[4:40] Then the next older group would come in um and they would attach the clay. So

[4:45] sort of the technical uh task sort of increased sort of in difficulty

[4:50] throughout the day. So by the time we got till the older kids, they were doing

[4:53] that fine carving and sculpting of the pieces. So Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

[4:59] uh we had four of those 2 by two blocks and they built up those compositions

[5:04] through the day and that for the first three. And then in the Tuesday night,

[5:09] the family the family workshop um we had the fire station staff, some uh other

[5:15] city staff and and their families. Um and that energy was very different on

[5:20] that evening and they also worked on some of the big blocks but then in that

[5:23] same evening had a chance to all do um their 4x4 tiles. So the smaller tiles

[5:29] each individual kid had a chance to do those. We asked to do some design um

[5:34] that pertain to fire. I think by day four they were all a little burned out

[5:38] and just in that smooshing and uh just poking things with clay. But for the

[5:43] most part they got their names on them, their ages or the year. So, we kind of

[5:47] gave them an option, but that was their way to really like put their signature

[5:51] to the project. Um, so these are just some of the photos throughout the week.

[5:56] Uh, they did really great. Wednesday, we did bring in we came in with the camera

[6:00] to get some filming done and um doing some interviews. So, by the end of this

[6:04] project, we'll have a nice uh marketing piece and to share. I think once we get

[6:09] to the install, we can I think it'll be timely to put that video out to talk

[6:13] about the whole process. We've still got a lot of steps to go. AM and Chip have

[6:17] the clay tiles at their studio drying currently. So that may take four to six

[6:22] weeks for the drying time and extra tooling and preparing that stuff to make

[6:27] sure they survive that first firing um and then go on to to the glaze. So yeah,

[6:32] we had a great mix. I think you know some of the kids it was the end of

[6:36] summer uh the last week of that camp. So we definitely felt that energy building

[6:41] throughout the week. When the cameras came in on Wednesday, the energy

[6:44] definitely uh shifted a little bit. Um and they were all asking if they were

[6:49] going to be YouTube famous, which is probably about where it's gonna go. Um

[6:53] so, a lot more clay on their faces that day, but we just had a range of kids and

[6:58] I think, you know, sometimes you see it, they they kind of they lose their

[7:02] interest, but there's a few that really stick with it and focus. And um I'm

[7:06] really excited to see all the clay tiles together. So, we're probably looking at

[7:12] um really early spring for the final installation of this. Well, probably

[7:16] more like March or April. I think weather's going to be dependent. Um like

[7:21] I said, there'll be that first initial firing and then a glaze firing for all

[7:25] the tiles and then they're going to build the, you know, the pieces that

[7:30] have to actually like hold everything together. So, there's still quite a bit

[7:33] of production that has to happen. Um, but there are still some clay tiles to

[7:39] be decorated. So, um, I've put out the invitation for CAD and that is also

[7:45] going to be extended to all of you for next month. Um, we're going to try and

[7:49] wrap up this meeting. Um, I don't know what time we can finish up, but anybody

[7:54] on this commission who is interested, Ann and Chip will bring 4x4 inch tiles.

[8:00] So, you guys, you've been a part of the process along the way. Um, no worries if

[8:04] you have no clay experience. Ann and Chip are really good. If we can do it

[8:08] with kindergarteners through seventh graders, I think we can [laughter]

[8:11] handle this group. So, I don't know. >> I don't know. Am I

[8:15] » If you made it If you made it up here on time, you have all the requisite skills

[8:19] you need. >> Yeah.

[8:20] » To make a clay top. >> Yeah. Um,

[8:23] » so, um, let me know if you can if you're interested in doing that. If you can

[8:28] commit today, let me know and I'll put everybody's name on a list. Um, Ann and

[8:31] Chip will prepare. tiles and and show up with all the tools and uh necessary

[8:36] teaching for you guys and that'll add to those those border pieces. So, there's

[8:42] about 200. So, our 75 to 100 kids and family members who already did that,

[8:48] there's still plenty of tiles. And then, um I think at the end they'll have some

[8:53] that are blank, but with all the texture and all the design work, it'll be nice

[8:56] to have a few sort of like rusting spots around that border. But um yeah, I'm

[9:02] really excited. It was really fun to see um this part of this project come to

[9:07] fruition in it. It felt like it was never going

[9:11] to end with all that little kid energy. Um but then it was pretty quickly over

[9:16] and the YMC staff was really fantastic to I mean I saw the look on the

[9:22] custodians faces when they walked in about midday. Um, but they cleaned up

[9:27] the room and really took care of things and um, yeah, I got to see one of the

[9:32] kiddos on Friday when I went in just just to go to the Y and his eyes got

[9:36] real big and he kind of lit up. So, um, these kind of projects and I've said

[9:40] this to so many people, we really can't calculate the impact that that's going

[9:45] to have on the end. And those of you who will, you know, if you carve a clay

[9:48] tile, you'll get to go back and see that tile forever and ever. Um, so it's fun

[9:54] to think about the impact that that will have and how many people will come see

[9:58] it, but um, we just don't know. So, I'm really hoping we can stay connected well

[10:02] to those families. That was a lot of kids for that camp um to be able to get

[10:07] those communications back and and really look forward to maybe a a dedication in

[10:13] the spring. So, yeah, I'll keep you guys posted. Um, I plan on getting to the

[10:17] studio to see sort of the next steps and just kind of keep you guys in the loop

[10:22] of like what that process looks like. So,

[10:25] » good. >> Yep.

[10:26] » Thank you. >> You're welcome.

[10:28] » It's obviously enjoyable and at times trying.

[10:32] » Oh, you know, I I I know why I didn't fully go into early uh education. Um,

[10:39] [laughter] so

[10:41] » I can take it in bouts. So, they were great. Other questions of staff with any

[10:46] of the staff reports or would any of the staff like to make a comment in this

[10:50] area? >> We we do have a couple of staff with um

[10:55] or items that are in your uh staff report that we're going to expand on. Uh

[11:00] Sarah, do you want to talk about music ecosystems?

[11:04] » So, um and you should have gotten the music

[11:11] do a little uh the Salena music census. So, we had

[11:16] brought this to you earlier in the spring um talking about this statewide

[11:21] project. Uh there are nine different sections of the state

[11:27] participating but 13 different communities. We've got Lawrence, Tika,

[11:31] Manhattan, Emporia, Witchaw, Hutchson, Garden City, Hayes, Russell, Belleville,

[11:36] Norton, and then they uh group together Johnson County, and then they group

[11:40] together Wand County. And what they're doing is um Sound Music Cities is

[11:47] collecting all of this data that is applying specifically to the music

[11:51] ecosystem or people that are participating or working in the music

[11:55] ecosystem. And if you look on the front of that on the bottom, um, you know,

[12:01] people may ask, I'm a music fan. Is this for me? Um, it's not necessarily for the

[12:06] fans. You, we're asking them to share it to people that are working in within the

[12:10] industry. So, we've got musicians, whether they're paid or non-paid. Uh,

[12:15] venue owners, venues could be like, uh, Red Fern Book Sellers on First Fridays,

[12:20] Ad Astra has some live music. Uh same with the Stifl Paramount, all those live

[12:25] venues. Um some studios, uh educators, music store vendors, which includes like

[12:32] Golden Griffin Records here in town or uh Hansen Music Store. Those are what we

[12:37] we mean by music vendors. uh sound engineers or techs um and any community

[12:43] me community members that are doing music related activities such as uh

[12:47] church choirs or community band uh people that are participating in that

[12:52] way. Um and what we want to hear is everything the good the bad where

[12:57] supports needed um what the current perception is. Um this is probably the

[13:02] first music specific study at least in a very long time

[13:06] » ever. ever. Okay. So, this is a pretty big deal

[13:09] » statewide. I mean, or with this many uh uh cities represented.

[13:14] » It's it's a big deal that this is going um as far across the state as it is, but

[13:19] especially for us um this information is going to become really crucial uh within

[13:25] the cultural plan as well. So, it's really good timing just to spur Salina's

[13:29] aspect. But, um, we are hoping to at least get hundred folks, but if you guys

[13:34] could just share as much as you possibly can. Um, our primary deadline is going

[13:39] to be at the end of August. Um, where we get the most success is if people make

[13:45] direct asks. Like, I know that you're in church choir. Could you please share

[13:49] this with with one or two people? It's really important that that they

[13:53] participate in that because we need a little bit of everybody. So, but yeah,

[13:58] that's the music census. >> Would would this be something that I

[14:01] should share with other production companies in Kansas? Okay.

[14:04] » Well, just so this one is just talking about

[14:08] our local community. Um I'm forgetting which counties we included. Selen County

[14:14] and >> um

[14:18] » Dickinson, >> Ottawa,

[14:22] » Ellsworth. >> There's um some selections that on the

[14:25] census of what counties were included in this kind of area. So um some of that I

[14:32] think gets close to Manhattan's regional area or Wah's regional area. So, um,

[14:38] just kind of within this general area is our responsibility.

[14:41] » But if it's someone that does business regularly in Salena or Selen County,

[14:45] then then yes, if they provide a service to the area. Um, Sarah mentioned the the

[14:51] goal of a hundred. I >> if each one of you uh, you know, made 10

[14:58] connections, we'd hit that. I I think I think we have three to 800 musicians in

[15:07] town who are eligible to answer those questions

[15:11] » and this number is everything like >> we anything more than 300 is going to

[15:15] put us above anybody else in the state including Witchah. So it it'd be great

[15:20] to get a lot of participation and I think we're capable of that. This will

[15:24] include anybody from like a symphony artist to maybe they're in a church

[15:30] choir or maybe they sing at Trudies on Saturdays. Um this includes all genres.

[15:37] Um all types of music work. So whether you're paid or unpaid, that's the the

[15:41] big thing to share is some people feel like they don't want to have the label

[15:45] of musician or artist, but they're participating in music related work. So

[15:50] thank you. And Katie, for your benefit, the reason that students uh aren't

[15:54] included or those under the age of 18 is as a music ecosystem, they're looking at

[16:00] the machine and the activity that people are doing to rely on it either for an

[16:05] income or to thrive as a creator, not someone who's just engaged in an

[16:10] activity. So I I think there's multiple reasons for doing that, but but that's

[16:15] we're following the same standards as as anyone across or all the other cities

[16:20] across the state. And then um you didn't mention well we'll have another meeting

[16:25] in September, but uh you want to >> already it's been um a very like

[16:32] welcoming and very needed process across the state. Um, for the past couple of

[16:36] months, we've been doing uh monthly meetings where we'll meet over Zoom and

[16:40] each community just kind of shares um some of the things they're

[16:44] [clears throat] working on or um who's really good at this. I want to have a

[16:48] conversation with you. Let's set up a meeting to do this another time. Um and

[16:52] you're just kind of getting to hear from different perspectives or different

[16:55] resources that are available that some of us didn't know about. So, um, we've

[17:00] already been having really great conversations as a part of the process

[17:03] and we haven't even finished the census yet. So, um, I'm very excited to see

[17:08] where this comes from us because like Brad said, we haven't had something like

[17:11] this specifically for music. >> And you have some kind of steering

[17:15] committee members locally. Yes, we're going to start getting the local co

[17:20] cohort, which we're just trying to get um some community leaders together at

[17:25] the table um to kind of break down some of the silos that currently exist in the

[17:31] music community, uh kind of come up with a group that can help share information,

[17:36] um get more ideas where we're we're bringing the music community together.

[17:40] Um and we're going to start meeting in September. There's a statewide meeting

[17:45] in September happening at uh oh is it Somewhere Fest? Okay, there's a few

[17:50] names that that happen, but uh Somewhere Fest, they have a conference that's

[17:54] going to be going on that we'll be meeting at too. So, um and this did not

[18:00] cost anything for us to participate in. Uh there is an opportunity at the end to

[18:06] get a $5,000 match for a pilot program or pilot project. Um so, we might be

[18:11] able to get other sources of funing. So, it's very nice that um that's very

[18:16] budget friendly. So, >> this is a project of the Kansas Arts

[18:19] Commission and so they've contracted with the gentleman who is overseeing

[18:24] each of the cities and helping us roll it out. So,

[18:34] » um also from a staff perspective, u Anna and I have been working with um Oh,

[18:40] these go around that way. This site's got them. Um I can't remember whether

[18:46] we've talked about collective our stories of cancer uh theater salina and

[18:52] uh arts and humanities uh and some citizens from Salena who've been our

[18:58] cancer survivors or advocates for uh uh arts and healing. um along with Salena

[19:05] Regional Health Foundation, the Tammy Walker Cancer Center, and Salena

[19:10] Regional Health Center are all collaborating on a two-day residency and

[19:15] performance uh in October. These are the palm cards. We've got extras if there

[19:21] are people that you'd like to share these with. um coming up in October. Uh

[19:27] this again is a project that uh that uh is entirely funded through uh grants and

[19:35] foundations and earned revenue. Uh it's not a project of saline arts and

[19:40] humanities but we are partnering with theater salina uh and the other

[19:44] entities. So um we're offering administrative support uh and and inind

[19:50] support as an organization as we should. Um but um one of the uh just for a

[19:59] clarification for your point at the bottom of the front it says Arts and

[20:02] Healing Collective. Um, one of the intents of this program is

[20:09] that it generates enough revenue to create some seed money to have for for

[20:15] us to administrate through the arts and humanities foundation. uh but for the

[20:20] benefit of the community that looks for intentional ways that the arts can aid

[20:26] in mental health uh emotional health uh physical health uh programs and events

[20:32] uh whether it's uh for a group that's exploring a hands-on activity for those

[20:37] with PTSD or someone in addictions recovery or someone who is suffering uh

[20:44] from depression because of an illness uh and and and finding comfort in being

[20:49] able to be creative in music or or visual arts or dance or poetry. Um,

[20:57] Salina has done that intermittently. This is a first step for what I think is

[21:02] going to become a a large and signature program down the road uh that we're

[21:09] going to ask ourselves why weren't we doing this sooner? you know, there's

[21:13] such a tremendous benefit from integrating arts in our overall health

[21:17] as a as a community. And so, um, and there's some other things that are in

[21:22] the works for additional private funding in support of this down the road. So, so

[21:28] this kind of puts it on the radar. Uh, please share this information, share the

[21:33] QR code, um, tickets. Um if if there is someone you're talking to that would

[21:40] like to see it and can't afford it, there are scholarship or underwriting

[21:44] opportunities uh to help those get there. With two nights at the theater

[21:50] salina stage, that's a total of about 500 people, but maybe a little more

[21:56] depending on the overflow seating. Um and half of the Friday night house is

[22:01] already purchased uh through Salena Regional. So there's not a lot of seats

[22:06] and so um let folks know this is the weigh in. The last thing that I tell you

[22:13] is on the back it says a 90minute performance. That's a typo. It's 60

[22:17] minutes. And uh if any of you are curious about this, if you go to YouTube

[22:24] and type in Owen Cox, our shared stories of cancer, they filmed the inaugural

[22:31] production last year uh when they presented it in Kansas City. Um and it's

[22:37] a beautiful film. Uh it it's it's a it's powerful work. Uh we're going to be

[22:44] working with Salena Regional and um and other resources. The American Cancer

[22:50] Society has expressed interest in in helping how they can uh sending uh the

[22:56] cancer action network. Uh uh there's a couple of women from Kansas City and

[23:02] Lawrence that are very interested in supporting as we can. So, we're looking

[23:05] for resource materials for people to take home, links and and uh connections

[23:12] to be able to say, "Hey, if you had a good time here, if you'd like to try

[23:15] creative creative expression, here are places in town you can do that and and

[23:20] where those resources are and how to access them. So, um it's not it's not

[23:26] just a program. It's it's a it's larger than that. So

[23:33] » that sounds really neat. I mean, seriously.

[23:35] » Yeah. >> I I'm very very neat. Yeah. Yeah.

[23:41] Anyone else?

[23:46] And then we go to our infusion.

[23:52] » Yeah. If you uh are unfamiliar with what artusion is, you got

[23:57] to change it.

[24:03] Um, if you are unfamiliar with what Arts Infusion is, um, it is a preK through 12

[24:11] program that involves arts integration. Um, it runs throughout the school year

[24:16] and, um, we serve both public and private schools in Selen County. Um,

[24:21] what we are hoping is to have the digital version out by the end of the

[24:25] week. Um what happens is teachers go through a form and they request and then

[24:30] we have uh local and regional artists as well as some uh artists sometimes from

[24:35] around the country that come in that we help schedule and that way um we hope

[24:40] it's very convenient because the artists will come in directly to their classroom

[24:44] during their class times uh to do something that um is involved within

[24:49] their curriculum. So uh an example is a lot of science classes will study the

[24:55] life cycle. So that beach has a whole presentation on the life cycle and uses

[25:00] uh arts education as the vehicle in which to do that. Um so we have a lot of

[25:06] those different programs going on. Again it goes out both digitally and a

[25:10] physical copy to all teachers in the community uh that we can possibly get

[25:14] to. In the past, we had been focusing um just last year on building our prek and

[25:21] kindergarten specific options and saw a really great result from that. Um and

[25:25] this year we are looking at increasing our middle school options. We're very

[25:30] excited to see how many requests that we've had for career development or just

[25:35] talking about different types of careers, different options. Um, a lot of

[25:39] the talks are also a mix between like basic here's your basic life skills that

[25:44] happen in arts uh arts careers that can be applied to so many different uh

[25:51] avenues. So, we've had some really great responses to that at both the middle and

[25:55] high school level. Um, so those are some of the things that we're looking forward

[26:00] to there, including some steam projects. Um, let's see.

[26:07] Oh, the pri priority requests are going to be happening at the end of August,

[26:11] but uh we take requests throughout the year. Some people thinks that it stops

[26:15] at the end of August. We'll take them. It's just usually we get more requests

[26:19] than we can fulfill. So, if we get them in by the priority time, usually we can

[26:23] fulfill all of those. But yeah, and that should be up on our website.

[26:29] Any questions?

[26:34] Street Fair. >> Street Fair coming up very soon. Uh the

[26:40] three things I really want to talk about today are

[26:44] chili cookoff parade volunteers. We need all three of those to make the event

[26:49] happen uh and to help make this a community event. Uh the chili cookoff uh

[26:55] entries are due by August 28th, so next Friday. Same with the parade entries,

[27:01] and we take volunteers up to the day of. Uh we'd love to have them much sooner,

[27:06] though, uh so we can plug them in where we need them. Uh the day uh street fair

[27:13] will be on September 26th [clears throat]

[27:17] this year. Um always starts with our parade.

[27:22] [cough] >> [clears throat]

[27:22] » Sorry. And we have a great uh schedule put out

[27:27] this year. Our theme is America's 250th old west style. So uh especially for the

[27:35] parade. Um so how you would think America would be celebrated

[27:42] old west. So following that um of course is our chili

[27:48] cookoff. Uh if you do want to enter or have

[27:53] information about that, it's on our website. But we do provide meat, onions,

[27:58] and tomatoes. You get to supply the scrumptious goodness that goes in to

[28:03] make it different from everyone else's. Uh there are two prize packages, uh

[28:07] people's choice awards, um and a judge's choice.

[28:13] The people's uh choice is by people who actually purchase a ticket to taste the

[28:18] chili. It's only 250. Um and there's a lot of people that uh partake in that.

[28:26] Um and so we'd love to get their vote on who they think is the best uh for that

[28:31] day. Um

[28:35] then also happening at that time um after the parade, our music starts up on

[28:42] the main stage. This year we have Jake Gil. Um

[28:48] who is grew up here in Kansas. Um his father was a music teacher and his

[28:55] grandfather exposed him to country music and so that's what he brings uh some raw

[28:59] energy and great charisma to some country music. Uh we're very excited to

[29:04] have Jake back. He was here a couple years ago. Um Jiren Bell, another local

[29:08] favorite, um will be on the stage at noon. Um and then new this year we

[29:16] are bringing in the Witchah War dancer. So, he is out of, of course, Witchah.

[29:22] Um, he will be doing the fancy dance of the Panka um at 3 at 1:00 and then he

[29:30] after his performance, he's going to stay around and roam the crowd because

[29:34] part of what he really loves to do is let people know more about his culture

[29:40] and answer questions uh that people may have about um his costume, his culture,

[29:46] uh whatever. So we are really excited to have him. Um he uh

[29:52] has won the national no world's fancy war dance championship

[30:00] title. So he is um going to be great this year.

[30:06] » I and I know Tanner has spoke very highly of that. That should be a good

[30:11] » Yeah. >> Tanner has worked with him before.

[30:13] » Yeah. Feedley has uh done a blog with him or uh

[30:17] » Ask a Cans and there's an episode that shows him in his full costume and does

[30:22] about an hourong interview that is really

[30:26] » cool. He's a he's a great guy. >> Yeah, he'll be he'll be really great. He

[30:30] was fun to talk to when I booked him. Um Don Wagner and Friends will be back at

[30:36] 2:10. Uh they'll follow the announcement of the chili cookoff winners and then

[30:40] Jake Gilligan rounds out the crowd at 3. Uh during that time people can enjoy

[30:48] make and take crafts, historic demonstrators. We will have the German

[30:52] farmer [clears throat] back again this year. He usually brings some tools that

[30:56] a German [clears throat] immigrant farmer would have had in the late 1800s.

[31:02] Um and his wife usually comes along and does some sewing and hand work. uh items

[31:07] as well. Uh we have a cook off or a chuck wagon to go along. Uh and they

[31:18] it's we've had them a couple years ago. Fully outfitted cook wagon except for

[31:23] the actual food which we can't do uh we can't have a fire on the street. The

[31:29] city would frown on that. Um, but uh they can talk about what all goes into

[31:35] uh the truck wagon and cattle drives. We are working on possibly having a

[31:40] blacksmith. Uh we're seeing if we have room for them. Um and then we also have

[31:44] a slate of activities for kids and adults to do rope roping uh horseshoe

[31:52] throwing I think a cup toss and something else. I don't remember

[31:57] exactly. Uh but some Old West style activities as well. Uh of course we have

[32:03] great food vendors. We actually have six uh five vendors with six uh trucks or

[32:09] trailers how however they set out. We have Pops Kettle Cornback. He is always

[32:14] a big uh seller. Tacos Elora will be here. Ducet

[32:23] Concessions. Uh they are usually at festivals so we're um but they're also

[32:27] always here. Uh Bear Creek Snow Biz cuz it will probably be hot that day. And La

[32:33] Nana, I never say their name right. Uh Lana Nana Ice Cream Shop and Snacks will

[32:38] also be here. So we'll have a couple of cool options uh for this year. Um

[32:47] we do have caricaturists again this year. So, if you've gotten caricatures

[32:53] previous years and want another one, uh just got to stand in line. They're free.

[32:58] Everything except for food vendors and tasting at the chili cookoff are free.

[33:02] So, we make this a very nice uh accessible event. And we of course we

[33:07] are open. Um the end this will be the end of our 250th anniversary exhibit. uh

[33:14] will close October 10th. So, this is a prime time to get a last chance to see

[33:19] it. Oh, and we will have a demonstrator in by the dugout uh this year as well.

[33:24] So, fun-filled day packed. Um like I say, we do encourage volunteers need

[33:32] parade and chili cookoff entries. And I do have extra of the volunteer

[33:38] slips if you know of anyone you want to take one to. Uh they're back here on the

[33:43] uh drink table. >> Impressive report. There's a lot of

[33:48] stuff going on. >> A lot of stuff going on.

[33:50] » Exactly. [laughter] >> For everybody.

[33:53] » For everyone. Yes. >> Yeah.

[33:54] » I I think both Susan and um Sarah maybe mentioned it, but I want to reiterate

[34:00] how important it is for you to be our ambassadors and helping secure

[34:05] volunteers. Not just feeling like you have to sign up, but we can ask all day.

[34:10] We can put social media posts up all day. That's what we're paid for. But

[34:14] when you look a friend or a peer in the eye and say, "Boy, they could really use

[34:17] your help and you'd be great." That makes all the difference. So, please be

[34:22] our arms and legs and voice to try to encourage others to both participate,

[34:28] but also to come and support. And if you get questions about what kind of things

[34:34] there are to do to volunteer, we have you can do three-hour shifts. Uh usually

[34:39] like about 10:30 to 1:30 and 1:30 to 4. Um for the activities, make and take

[34:46] crafts. We also need volunteers to help line up the parade, which only takes

[34:50] about an hour or so. The same with some uh a couple I think we need like six

[34:55] volunteers to help pull barricades for the parade. Uh, so you get to stand and

[35:00] watch a wonderful parade, then pull the barricades off. Uh,

[35:04] and um, if you got muscles and like to get up early, we always can use help

[35:11] with setup. And if you don't like to get up early, you can come help

[35:14] [clears throat] uh, take Dale. >> Okay.

[35:19] Any questions or comments? In addition,

[35:24] none, we major strategic plan. >> All right. Uh the museum was due for a

[35:31] new strategic plan. We had uh come to the end of the last one. So la uh

[35:37] throughout last year we worked with the community engagement institute out of

[35:41] Witchaw State University uh to develop a plan. Um it included focus groups. Um we

[35:48] had community uh friends board members. I can't

[35:52] remember. I Yeah, I think we did have a A&H commissioner here that day. City

[35:58] management even came um to help identify areas uh that we should pursue and

[36:06] that's where we ended up with five focus areas. Um of course we want to increase

[36:12] visibility and community awareness. That's always a big one for the museum.

[36:15] Um and of course our expansion and renovation plans. uh we want to work

[36:22] through those and make sure that comes to fruition.

[36:27] Um another really big area and one that we've started kind of hit the ground

[36:33] trying to run and get going is develop accessible high impact and and effective

[36:39] stories, programming and event. We want to be as accessible as we can uh with

[36:45] the renovation. We want we don't want to tell the same story we've always told.

[36:50] We want to tell everybody's story. We want everyone who comes in to at least

[36:54] be able to see a little bit of themselves somehow um in the museum uh

[37:00] and how they've helped build Salina and make Salina. So, um we're working hard

[37:06] on doing that and seeing what other programming ideas we can do to help

[37:11] reach groups that whose story doesn't always get told. So, uh, we are working

[37:17] hard on that aspect. If you know anyone that would like to help us make inroads

[37:24] because we sometimes we don't tell stories because we don't know who to go

[37:27] and ask uh for their story. So, uh we we're always needing help with that. Um,

[37:36] and then just living our values and mission and vision of the museum, making

[37:42] sure we're visitor centered. um cultivating

[37:47] uh a robust donor base uh and just basically evaluating every through

[37:54] through everything we do through a mission lens to make sure we're not

[38:00] wasting our time on things that don't help move the m museum forward. Uh

[38:05] that's what we really want to have our impact on. So um I'll stop there. if

[38:11] there are any questions on what you read. Um, we are putting, you'll notice

[38:16] section three or focus area three does have notes already in it. Those are

[38:20] things that we've started working on. Um, we're

[38:24] trying to do a much better job of keeping note of what we do. Um, as

[38:29] opposed to just doing it and then forgetting.

[38:35] » And you need their approval, correct? >> Oh, yes. uh your approval uh for

[38:40] accreditation. Uh they do uh require approval of a governing

[38:47] of the governing body or representative thereof and being the arts and

[38:51] humanities commission uh they have approved that as being a a legitimate um

[38:57] approval mechanism. So >> would someone like to make a motion to

[39:02] approve this presentation as she's spoke?

[39:06] I will make that motion to approve the motion as spoken strategic plan

[39:14] » as accepted. >> Yep.

[39:17] » Hear a second. >> Second move and seconded. Any

[39:21] discussion? He none. Everybody in favor say I. I.

[39:25] » Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. >> Thank you. Like I said, it's quite the

[39:32] deal there. It's pretty cool. I I think we may want to talk to, you know, this

[39:36] body and and uh um whoever's chair in the future, but um I I think making a

[39:44] regular part of the meetings at least on a quarterly basis to have updates of

[39:50] progress on the plan. Uh I think it'll be important for us to do that for the

[39:54] cultural plan as well. And so maybe um at least either I mean there'll be

[39:59] things in staff reports as well, but um we may want to visit that in the fall

[40:04] and and I can talk to Susan about a >> you know the best times to do that

[40:10] whether we stagger them or just have focus meetings once a quarter

[40:14] » approximately once a quarter as it would fit in.

[40:16] » I think there'll be enough happening on [clears throat] a regular basis that

[40:20] » be good to keep the commission up to speed.

[40:23] » Okay. Next was nomination of officers. I'm going to turn it over to to Brad for

[40:29] this one. >> Yeah, I'll take uh Bob's heavy hand and

[40:34] authority off the table here for a minute. Um I think this was discussed

[40:39] last month and and so uh this would be an opportunity for you to either

[40:44] volunteer or to uh nominate uh someone to serve uh as an officer uh for next

[40:53] year. Um I think we have uh three three positions. Do we still do a secretary

[41:00] too? Correct. Yeah, we have um we have a a chair, a vice chair, and the vice

[41:06] chair handles the meetings when the chair is absent and uh secretary. U

[41:13] Amanda serves that duty, but the secretary is the person who kind of

[41:17] reviews the minutes when they go out in the post and kind of keeps an eye and

[41:20] ear on making sure that those are accurately done. So, um maybe um

[41:28] um one I can take your nominations uh for

[41:35] someone. You can also self-nominate. Um

[41:39] I believe uh Tanner is the vice chair right now and he has said that's as high

[41:46] as he wants to go. and so he

[41:49] » happy to uh >> willing to serve again but he does not

[41:54] want to be elevated to um having an irregular responsibility of chair in the

[41:58] meeting. So um that's the only person I think that we've heard from. So um are

[42:05] there >> means myself I'm very willing to do it

[42:09] again and be chair. I enjoy doing it, yet there's qualified people here that

[42:15] might have an interest to do that. And I will not feel offended if somebody else

[42:20] thinks this would be a neat position to sit up here and bring a new face in the

[42:25] front. So, I'm just saying that. >> So, Tanner is willing to take the vice

[42:31] chair again next year. >> Yes, he said he would. Okay. But he like

[42:35] Bob, he said he's open if someone else expresses interest as well. So does I

[42:40] guess does anyone have interest in those two positions?

[42:48] Then I will nam nominate Tanner for vice chair again.

[42:54] Okay. Do you want to do a slate or do you want

[42:59] to do those one at a time? >> I was thinking one at a time.

[43:02] » Okay. >> Does that fine then? That needs a

[43:07] second. Tanner's been nominated as are there any other nominations for a vice

[43:12] chair?

[43:17] » Okay. Hearing none, then uh we'll have the nominations closed and uh uh is

[43:23] there a second to the motion? >> A second.

[43:26] » Okay. Thank you, Doug. Um all those any other discussion?

[43:33] I I will hope he doesn't see the broadcast of this first and you can tell

[43:38] him that he was elected since he's gone. Uh chair, vice chair, and secretary. So

[43:45] [laughter] that's that's what you see say first if if we [clears throat] don't

[43:49] talk to him. All those in favor of Tanner continuing in his current

[43:53] capacity say I. >> I.

[43:56] » Are there any opposed? Okay, motion carries. Um, how about um

[44:02] nominations for uh chair?

[44:09] » I will go ahead and nominate Bob for chair again.

[44:13] » Okay. Uh let's see. I'm trying to think how uh are there any other nominations?

[44:23] Okay. Is there a second for Dean's nomination of Bob?

[44:27] » Second. >> Okay. Thank you, Pat. Um, is there any

[44:31] other discussion? Okay. Uh, all those in favor of Bob

[44:38] serving as chair for next year say I. >> Any opposed?

[44:45] Okay. Congratulations. The uh I'll let you do the second.

[44:52] » Yeah. >> Because there are there's nobody running

[44:56] against the person. Will we not do because we're supposed to be nominating

[44:59] state and voting next month? But if there's nobody running against,

[45:04] are we just doing it all right now? >> I think the assumption is it's

[45:07] unapposted and >> Okay. I just want

[45:10] » Yeah. >> Just

[45:12] Okay. >> And who was the official secretary?

[45:15] » I think Amy is. And >> I am currently the secretary and I am of

[45:19] the same mentality. I am fine to continue. But if somebody else wants to

[45:23] take on this role, I am also >> there's a trend to step aside.

[45:27] » I think [laughter]

[45:30] I think the trend is set.

[45:37] » Here we go. >> Okay. Pat's nominated and Dean is

[45:42] seconded. Um are there any other nominations?

[45:48] All those in uh keeping uh Amy on as secretary. Thank you Amy. Say I.

[45:55] » I. >> Any opposed?

[45:59] » Don't don't oppose or you'll be secretary. [laughter]

[46:02] » All right Bob, I'll uh turn it back to you. Thanks everybody.

[46:09] » In all seriousness, we have a very good commission here. People are involved.

[46:13] People show up and give opinions. And that's a great group to be with. So,

[46:19] » I appreciate it. Makes my job a lot easier up here. Let's put it that way.

[46:24] So, next cultural planning update. >> Um, I was trying to get uh Oh, and it

[46:32] did open. Here we go. Um, we'll follow this up with an email, but

[46:37] just to let you know, uh, Keen uh is continuing to do their work. their

[46:43] research phase, their survey phases have all been completed now. They finished in

[46:48] July and early August with a group of HR professionals uh from around the

[46:54] community to weigh in on both the challenges and opportunities that happen

[46:58] through recruiting workforce uh for Salena uh and how the arts might be able

[47:04] to be a a help for that uh both engaging and attracting and retaining uh

[47:10] potential workforce as business and industry continues to grow. Um they also

[47:17] met with representatives uh from USD305 and had a a small group session with

[47:23] them, a focus session, and then they also did a followup with the HR

[47:27] professionals who couldn't attend a meeting, uh giving them a chance to

[47:31] answer three open-ended questions. So, they're taking all of that data, uh,

[47:35] putting it together to start to shape, um, recommendations,

[47:41] um, and preliminary recommendations for what that plan might look like. They'll

[47:46] go through some review processes in September and October

[47:52] um, with um, the community. And uh some of those that you may want to put down

[48:00] on your um uh because some of them involve you directly. Um

[48:09] they're um

[48:14] in October they're key findings. I just lost the

[48:21] file. Their key findings um will be presented to the Salina City Commission

[48:28] in a state-of-the-arts study session which will begin at most likely at 2:30

[48:34] p.m. on October the um 26th. That hour and 15 minute presentation

[48:42] will include um um some of the things that you've already seen or that that

[48:48] we've seen as a cultural as as as one of the players and that they've presented

[48:54] to the cultural round table at those informal meetings each month. Um they've

[48:58] presented some of the just preliminary highlevel things. This is going

[49:02] [clears throat] to drill down a little tighter and show some of those um

[49:07] results. um and to share some of the major directions that the plan is likely

[49:15] to go when it's fully articulated over the subsequent two months. So, um uh

[49:22] that would be it would be great to have arts commission representation on that

[49:27] Monday at 2:30 if you're available. Um then um on

[49:37] January 5th um they're going to do uh we we haven't

[49:42] scheduled the time but there's going to be a public uh presentation

[49:49] um via Zoom for anyone for the general public for the cultural sector for our

[49:56] arts commission for our CAD committee for any city commissioners that want to

[50:00] sit and listen in on those preliminary kinds of of findings. And this would be

[50:05] like the final draft of the report and just giving people an opportunity to say

[50:11] poke holes in it. What did we miss? What are some major things? Hopefully, there

[50:16] aren't a lot. Uh but but um we we want it to be an open and transparent

[50:22] process. So doing this via Zoom and then having one week to submit questions,

[50:29] concerns or clarifications in writing to their website um uh is is it closes on

[50:37] January uh the 12th. Um then uh the next time that you'll see this and we'll be

[50:45] asking you to uh adopt or make a recommendation for acceptance of this

[50:50] plan is at your January 20th meeting. Um the report uh in its final form will be

[51:00] presented at that time to you first. Uh it will be large. um it will be out in

[51:08] your packet on the week before. So, we're trying to hit that u as much there

[51:15] may be some fine-tuning, some some formatting of a cover sheet or

[51:19] something, but in terms of content, you're going to get to see that at your

[51:24] meeting in January. Hopefully recommend its adoption and then it goes

[51:31] in the commission packet the next day. And then on the um 20th

[51:39] uh sorry on the 25th of um of uh uh January it would be presented to the

[51:47] city commission for adoption.

[51:53] Uh, Alex and Heather, I think, are both going to be here in person on that day

[51:59] and um and and do a present a live presentation to the city commission on

[52:05] the 25th, whether permitting and so on. But uh if if not, they would zoom in,

[52:10] but we would hold it. And then um that evening, again, the details of where and

[52:17] how we do this, we'd like to have a community launch [clears throat] and

[52:21] celebration that takes place that evening. So, we'll have copies of the

[52:26] report. We'll have, you know, some brief remarks and and just kind of a

[52:30] celebration of what this means for both the community and for the the cultural

[52:35] uh partners who all are going to benefit from this. So um uh it uh it it's coming

[52:44] together. So >> how did the survey turn out? I never

[52:48] heard with responses. >> Everything at this point is in a draft

[52:53] form. So I >> you don't know how many people actually

[52:56] » Oh, we uh yes uh they've reported that uh we haven't seen the raw data because

[53:02] it's a it's in their possession, not ours. Um but there were about 780

[53:09] I want to say and then there was another another 75 or so who were in small

[53:17] groups uh and the community gathering at the temple the day to provide

[53:23] preliminary feedback that did like the posters and and the other things and

[53:27] gave their opinions. So altogether right around 800 folks uh uh participated or

[53:34] fed that and they were pleased with those numbers. Uh there were um there

[53:41] 60% of the respondents roughly are not directly engaged in arts

[53:49] activity. you know, so 40% either identified as an artist or a musician or

[53:56] or or in the music or in a in an arts industry or role of some kind. Uh having

[54:03] 60% of those respondents reflect the broader community as patron spectators,

[54:08] enjoyers or and some people by their answers didn't like anything. But

[54:14] overall the uh general responses were very positive and and and

[54:20] uh they as they refine some of the other analysis just in terms of some of the

[54:26] general responses they um they utilized I think it's out

[54:34] of a university in Texas and now I can't remember what it's called but they uh

[54:40] utilized an uh arts health index for communities and comparing us to

[54:48] Midwestern communities of small to medium size. That is our category based

[54:53] on population. Um we're in the top 25% or something like that nationwide.

[55:03] Regionally, we're we're and and when you narrow it down to more specific

[55:09] communities our size and not as wide of a range, we're in the top we're just

[55:16] below the top 10%. Um we're or arts vibrancy index is what it was called. Um

[55:24] and this is nationally normed comparisons of cities all across the

[55:29] country. And so we're we're in a good place. Um but there's plenty that we can

[55:35] do to continue to improve. So I'm anxious to see what their

[55:41] recommendations are and and uh how this moves forward. So

[55:45] » any other questions? >> I have a question. I'm not really sure

[55:48] thinking how to phrase this. So in our community right now there's a lot of

[55:52] discourse about what taxpayer funds should be going towards, wants versus

[55:58] needs, etc. And my assumption, and it may not be

[56:02] correct, is that the people involved in that discourse did not take this survey.

[56:08] And so, is there any way to like include some of

[56:14] that feedback and data in the conversation as they're developing this

[56:19] report? Because in the long run, I think it is relevant that we have a community

[56:25] of people here that are not supportive of taxpayer funds going towards the

[56:31] arts. the the numbers that were reported in

[56:35] the survey for both local and uh public funding of arts

[56:41] by the people who took it um were in the um were in the uh I think the mid 80%

[56:50] range in support of public funding to answer your question in terms of the

[56:57] kind of toxic environment that we're in uh And it's not unique to Salina and any

[57:05] community across the country. The arts or public art are lightning

[57:13] rods for people either not valuing or not thinking it's important. And all all

[57:22] I can tell you in terms of what we do with this data [clears throat] is that

[57:31] if we opened this survey up for two and a

[57:36] half months and we advertised it on social on all

[57:41] the same places that the people who currently have an opinion

[57:46] either didn't have three months ago or chose not to take that opportunity to

[57:51] express their displeasure. So, for whatever reason,

[57:56] um I I personally I'm going to encourage you all as commissioners and and our

[58:05] city commissioners, I'll stand firm on let's go with the opinions and the

[58:11] recommendations that the most engaged and active participants in our community

[58:17] have said is important to them. And and [clears throat]

[58:21] can we close a gap of those who are dissatisfied with some? Yes. I think

[58:27] some of what's led to that toxicity are

[58:32] are lies are are mischaracterizations of the work we do or how we're funded or

[58:40] what the cost of the programs is that we do. So, we will continue to take the

[58:45] high road and and to try to share that information. uh it's it's a little

[58:52] early, but there are also some things some of the folks who

[58:57] who have those opinions may be those that haven't had the opportunity either

[59:04] financially or time to engage with some of the programs or services that are

[59:09] offered through not just us but all of the arts agencies in town. I think

[59:15] that's an area that we're going to see as a need for improvement. How do we

[59:20] build bridges and close those gaps? But um I'm going to wait for the for the

[59:25] final data to come, but we will not do any more surveying at this point.

[59:30] » Right. And I think that building bridges piece is the part that I'm curious

[59:34] about. Uh and and again, not to reveal too much uh because I' I'd rather that

[59:40] Keane did it, but one of the areas in the preliminary survey results that they

[59:45] showed us, and again, we haven't gotten any of the data to really drill down on

[59:50] it, but it did show that um financial accessibility to programs and services

[59:57] offered through the arts is limited. And we don't know if that means

[1:00:01] transportation getting to and from an event, whether that's a cost of

[1:00:05] admission, whether that's um not knowing, you know, not having it easily

[1:00:11] accessible in their neighborhood. And and you know, those kinds of things.

[1:00:15] Well, those are things we will do additional once we once we see the

[1:00:20] report and the recommendations, we'll be coming back to you all. How do we how do

[1:00:25] we close this gap? How do we make this better? you know, and and both us and

[1:00:32] the other nonprofits who provide cultural services. So, um it'll be a

[1:00:36] community effort, but but that is um the underserved um uh and those who who

[1:00:45] economically struggle to get to the events or programs is going to be an

[1:00:51] area that will show up. >> Yeah.

[1:00:54] One of the things I did when I was because we were challenged to get people

[1:00:58] to take the survey was some of those that I saw that were very angry on the

[1:01:03] internet and posting and I reached out to them and said, "Hey, here's a survey.

[1:01:08] It seems like it doesn't matter, but this is where you guys can give that

[1:01:12] input." Like, we want to hear from everybody. And I can't tell you that

[1:01:16] they all took me up on it. I hope they did, but I know that that was one of the

[1:01:20] things when I was out trying to get people to help take the survey. That was

[1:01:24] one of the things I really was like, you're very angry about public art and

[1:01:29] those things. Please take this. Give us your input. Let's make bridge the gap

[1:01:33] and try to be better. So, did they end up taking the survey? Who knows,

[1:01:38] » right? >> I hope they did. I hope they took their

[1:01:40] opportunity to have their voice heard. Yeah, we we put it in media sources that

[1:01:45] are both um pro and and uh regularly against most anything we do. Um and so

[1:01:53] there there was ample opportunity to weigh in and and we we will follow the

[1:02:00] recommendations of those who participated.

[1:02:05] » Other questions? I think one of the things I'm hoping comes out of this when

[1:02:10] the survey and the plan is out there is I'll call it education.

[1:02:15] Um I just this morning I had a friend who once again I'm off on her personal

[1:02:21] tangent but the problem with public guard and salina is all that money comes

[1:02:26] directly from first responders. It all comes straight from the firemen and the

[1:02:30] police. And I I've tried to >> That's very generous of them. Yeah, I

[1:02:35] know that they we miss writing them a thank you.

[1:02:38] » Well, maybe we need to edit the list. You know, [laughter]

[1:02:41] » you you just you try, but having accurate information come from reliable

[1:02:49] sources is going to be so critical to keeping things moving forward.

[1:02:55] » Yeah, it's it's a difficult time for staff to function, for city employees

[1:03:01] especially. Um and and uh it's it's um become a fairly toxic environment. But

[1:03:10] um but I also u uh I I don't spend a lot of time reading the negative. But I have

[1:03:19] heard regularly as I go through town or or participate in a civic club or or am

[1:03:26] at church or or somewhere else. I I'll um have people regularly say, "Thank you

[1:03:33] for what you're doing. Keep up the good work. We value the work you're doing."

[1:03:38] uh you know they're sharing opinions and others to encourage us to continue and

[1:03:44] and I uh um I I uh

[1:03:51] I don't think Salina would have had the success it has in its economic and

[1:03:57] programming development over the last decade if we were doing things really

[1:04:02] poorly. you know this we are the envy of many

[1:04:08] other cities in Kansas wanting to know how do you do what you do and and um and

[1:04:17] every community our size it doesn't matter what size are there problems

[1:04:21] certainly they are but are there people addressing them and working on them in a

[1:04:26] responsible and transparent competent way yes and And I'm I continue to be

[1:04:36] happy to be a part of that and in a community that that is striving to get

[1:04:41] better every day. And uh and I think we'll get there. Um, I some of you have

[1:04:50] been around long enough to remember, but I told our staff and I I talked to some

[1:04:54] of the executive staff because two only two of the members of the executive

[1:04:59] staff that I when I started 16 years ago,

[1:05:04] there's only two of the 12 that were there. And so they don't remember the

[1:05:11] early 2000s when we launched our public art program and the ugliness through

[1:05:17] media then and it wasn't social media, it was print and radio and and public

[1:05:22] opinion and anger and I mean it it went on for like three years. And when I told

[1:05:29] him this will pass, you know, there's things that we did in in public

[1:05:33] awareness. I quit using the word education because people felt like we

[1:05:37] were calling them dumb. That's not what we were doing. But we were raising

[1:05:40] awareness about how we make decisions, how money is spent, where it comes from,

[1:05:45] and and we were able to lower that toxic level in less than three years to to

[1:05:55] when we went intentional about it. Well, I think if we can do the same thing as a

[1:06:01] community and and start addressing some of these issues one by one and and and

[1:06:07] holding our ground and being transparent on what's happening and why and what

[1:06:13] it's going to cost, I think u uh we'll move that needle and and uh and then

[1:06:22] there there will always be a group of people no matter what we do that are not

[1:06:26] to be convinced. and that we'll choose to be unhappy.

[1:06:30] But but we we can't fix that. But we can continue to do our best work

[1:06:40] and try to keep moving forward in a positive way. So

[1:06:45] » I think also it helps um and you do this pretty regularly um Brad and that is to

[1:06:51] talk about the economic impact >> Yeah.

[1:06:53] » of the arts in the community. The how that has a positive economic impact and

[1:07:01] often times I think the anger that that we hear um is is broadly about money and

[1:07:11] you're spending money on things that don't help me

[1:07:14] » kind of attitude and um you know just to talk about the fact

[1:07:20] that well this this uh we we see this money coming into Salina we see this

[1:07:25] money benefiting the community as a whole from the impact of the arts I

[1:07:30] think is an important thing to to just keep saying

[1:07:36] » well there's there's some generational shifts that have happened and and uh at

[1:07:40] the as a tail end of the baby boomers you you always picked a career either

[1:07:46] based on your vocational preparation or how much it paid

[1:07:50] » that's that's when where when you went to a new town or to did something it was

[1:07:54] all about the work you know the work was first

[1:07:57] » and a generation of workers [clears throat]

[1:08:00] is saying no it's about the quality of my life the the environment that I have

[1:08:06] the amenities that I have for my own social and personal enjoyment first then

[1:08:12] how much am I getting paid and what is the nature of the job is second and

[1:08:19] that's for for guys

[1:08:23] » old white guys like me and older trying to get your head around that

[1:08:28] being a value that yes, having murals, having sculpture, having activity,

[1:08:33] having cool places to shop, a beautiful environment to work, nice parks and

[1:08:39] trails and and ball fields and all of this. Those are the decision makers of

[1:08:45] the 2 to 3,000 jobs Selena is trying to attract in the next few years. Those are

[1:08:51] going to be critical to be able to build that workforce. to keep people from

[1:08:56] moving away >> and to keep the ones here,

[1:08:58] » keep people from moving away. >> Yeah. There's there's national data that

[1:09:02] shows through Americans for the Arts that if

[1:09:06] if if we didn't have a steifans

[1:09:19] who live here and attend an occasional show would go somewhere else to get it.

[1:09:26] » You know, that's money lost in the community. So, not only is it what it

[1:09:31] attracts and brings, it also keeps money here that otherwise

[1:09:37] wouldn't wouldn't be here. Yeah. So, um I I I think I think it'll be

[1:09:45] important to move to a time of of both the economic development but also um how

[1:09:51] we talk about the social, environmental, and community building benefit because a

[1:09:57] lot of good things happen >> when you get people together at a stage

[1:10:01] downtown, you know, um and you get to celebrate music or or have live music at

[1:10:08] a farmers market or or you know participate in a creative act. Um it

[1:10:15] makes us better and so I I think we have to do both.

[1:10:19] » Very well said Brad. Seriously. Thanks. >> Very well said. Yeah.

[1:10:23] » Other comments or questions of Brad.

[1:10:30] All right. Next is clarifying questions or other items.

[1:10:36] I forgot to mention that I have a lot of extra copies of the census flyer. If you

[1:10:41] know somebody that is a director of like a church group or prescer

[1:10:56] I I'd like for everybody to report next month on uh how many people you got to

[1:11:03] take the census. We can have a uh contest. I'll I'll uh I'll bring a

[1:11:08] prize, Bob. [laughter] If you want to uh if you I'll I'll have

[1:11:13] a mystery surprise. >> You have a free bottle of water.

[1:11:18] [laughter] >> It'll be better than that. Um I I should

[1:11:21] I do I've talked a lot today. Sorry. But um I I do want to mention for those of

[1:11:27] you that haven't seen, there hasn't been an obituary, a formal notice, but we

[1:11:32] lost a really instrumental artist to the community last week. U Harley Elliott uh

[1:11:39] was a professor at MRy Mount. He was an education director at at uh the Selena

[1:11:45] Art Center. He was a poet, a novelist, a visual artist. um and uh um and did

[1:11:54] some important work for us over the years uh through the river festival and

[1:11:59] other things. But he was uh um personal friend of mine and and uh my first

[1:12:06] college professor that really touched me and in my creative work.

[1:12:10] There will be a memorial service, not a memorial, but a time for people who

[1:12:15] either knew Harley or want to share memories sometime in the next four to

[1:12:20] six weeks. Uh, but they haven't selected the location or the or the time yet. So,

[1:12:27] we watch for an announcement or if you have an interest in being notified when

[1:12:31] that is, um, let me know. >> Good. Thanks for sharing. uh had a

[1:12:37] friend come back from out of state who left shortly after graduation 25 years

[1:12:43] ago and she was wandering Oakdale Park and found her trash can

[1:12:48] » from high school and she was just >> photos and was so excited and like oh my

[1:12:53] god it's still here. So [laughter] when when we do the like the tiles and

[1:12:58] the lasting projects, like it's it's interesting because I was thinking about

[1:13:01] her being all excited and she'd been gone for 20ome years and I was like,

[1:13:06] "Wow, it's still here." >> Oh, pretty cool.

[1:13:11] » Anything else for anyone? Um, just to put on your calendar, if you haven't

[1:13:15] followed Four Days in June on the website, um, I just heard today they um

[1:13:21] are going to be in uh, one of the first festivals they've been invited to. Um,

[1:13:26] and it'll be close. It'll be in Witchah. It's the Salt City Film Festival or from

[1:13:33] Hutch, but they're doing it in Witchah. and so uh late September, but check out

[1:13:40] the 4 days in June website and if you're interested in and going or car

[1:13:44] poolooling or going down to see that um they uh that that's the first of what

[1:13:50] they hope are many. So cool and close, you found the remaining uh

[1:13:57] 2026 meeting dates and guess

[1:14:03] public forum. Nobody's here. No. Yeah, we don't.

[1:14:06] » So, we're not going to go through that. Uh, so hearing no other comments,

[1:14:11] someone want to make a motion to adjurnn.

[1:14:14] » I move we adjourn. >> A second.

[1:14:18] » Second. >> Move and second. Any discussion on that?

[1:14:23] Hearing none. Everybody in favor say I. >> I. Both same sign. Let's

[1:14:26] » talk for 15 minutes on whether or not to adjourn. [laughter]

[1:14:30] Yeah, exactly.

Arts and Humanities Commission - August 19, 2026

Transcript