Kane County Reporter

City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission met Sept. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

A. Call to Order: 6:02pm

B. Roll Call: Commissioners Brown, Rende, Kearney, Syrris, Ado-Brako present. Councilwoman Powell present. Chairwoman Rehberg present. Staff Harris and Wilhelmi present.

C. Citizen’s Forum:

a. Children’s Theatre of Elgin 2022 Organizational Grant Final Report. Larissa and Dave presenting.

i. Presenting on “Driver’s License, a Showstopper Production” which took place in June at ECC’s Blizzard Theatre. The show was an original musical review, the 10th of this showstopper-type format. This production included ASL and sensory-sensitive performances and included all of the 61 children in the company. For the first time, the production also included LGBTQ+ characters for the first time. Kennedy Center regulations were the ones followed for the sensory-sensitive performances. For those performances, altered lighting, lobby welcoming, and audience freedom were the main parts of this. These performances were very well received.

b. Independent Players, 2021 Organizational Grant Final Report, Don Haefliger presenting.

i. “Waiting for Godot” at the Elgin Art Showcase. The show was very well received and successful in the presentation method, especially with consideration of the pandemic in 2021.

c. Elgin Theatre Company, 2022 Organizational Grant Final Report. Richard Grieger presenting.

i. Presenting on “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” which was presented at the Elgin Art Showcase in October of 2021. This production experienced several issues including director illness, costume difficulties and more. The production was well done, but not very well attended in part due to these issues and the timing of the pandemic.

D. Staff Report:

a. Financial Report:

i. Inspired Elgin charges are coming through now.

ii. Marketing charges are coming though as well.

iii. The String Fox charges are coming through now.

b. Hemmens:

i. Most upgrades that could be finished have been done.

ii. Inspired Elgin this weekend is the first show proper since the upgrades.

iii. Elgin Short Film Festival takes place the following weekend.

c. Elgin Art Showcase:

i. New lease will be going to city council for approval later this month.

d. Approval of July 2022 Minutes:

i. Motion to approve the July 2022 Minutes by Commissioner Rende. Seconded by Commissioner Powell. Approved by a vote of 4-0-3 with Commissioners Ado-Brako, Brown, Kearney abstaining.

E. Old Business

a. 2022 ECAC Projects:

i. Making Space:

1. The documentary is being finished now.

2. Additional content is being created by former Elgin Poet Laureate, Chasity Gunn with the help of Dr. Rise’ Jones and Michael Novelli.

ii. Shakespeare in the Park:

1. “The Tempest” at Festival Park had about 50 people attend despite the weather. The performance took place on the concrete pad. The mics had issues picking up the train signals. The second performance at Wing Park took place the following weekend, had nice weather by the performance, and about 75 people in attendance.

2. Maybe we do this in the Pit at the Hemmens next year rather than Festival Park.

iii. Elgin Fringe Festival:

1. The festival was just completed this past weekend. It was very well attended. Final reporting is still being completed.

2. Family Fringe took place at the Elgin History Museum again this year and was extremely successful.

iv. Inspired Elgin:

1. Taking place September 18th from 1pm-5pm at the Civic Center Plaza. Many local performing and visual art groups will be present along with a new sculpture, temporary mural, food trucks, and more.

v. Elgin Short Film Festival:

1. September 24th at the Hemmens Cultural Center.

vi. Artist Workshops: Moved to next month.

1. NFP management: what you can do to be more efficient

2. Grant writing:

3. Marketing and Engagement:

F. Other Old Business:

a. Utility Box Wrap Selections

i. Highland and Spring

ii. Slade and Augustus- not to be installed this year.

iii. Big Timber and McLean

iv. St. Charles and May

v. National and Grove

b. Juneteenth Funding:

i. Motion to approve a one-time funding increase of $1,000 to the AACKC for the Juneteenth Celebration based on support from the Human Relations Commission by Commissioner Syrris. Seconded by Commissioner Rende. Approved by a vote of 9-0.

c. Hemmens Cultural Center North Side Renovation and Addition:

i. This project is moving forward.

d. ‘The String Fox’ sculpture:

i. To be unveiled at the Inspired Elgin event on September 18th. This work received a sponsorship of $10,000 from the Palmer Foundation. It will be taken down in October and reinstalled in other parks for years to come.

G. New Business:

a. None brought

H. Other New Business:

a. None brought

I. Adjournment:

a. Motion to adjourn by Councilwoman Powell. Seconded by Commissioner Brown. Approved by a vote of 9-0.

https://il-elgin4.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8120