Arts and Culture Commission Meeting Date: March 13th, 2024
To: Commission Members
From: Natalie Draper, Library Director
Title
Approve consulting budget for Bridge Square Public Art.
Body
Action Requested:
The ACC considers a budget for consulting related to Bridge Square public art.
Summary Report:
The Land Acknowledgement statement for the City of Northfield, adopted by Council in 2020, reads "We stand on the homelands of the Wahpekute and other Bands of the Dakota Nation. We honor with gratitude the people who have stewarded the land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to this region. We acknowledge the ongoing injustices that we have committed against the Dakota Nation, and we wish to interrupt this legacy, beginning with acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place." Based on recommendations in the Interpretive Framework draft document included in this packet, community input regarding honoring the land acknowledgement in Bridge Square, the support of the Arts and Culture Commission, and the commitment within the land acknowledgement to "[engage in] acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place", staff reached out to Minneapolis-based Dakota artist, Marlena Myles about working on the project in Bridge Square. After discussing the project with Ms. Myles, we agreed that an initial consulting budget of $2500 will be sufficient to work with the project team to develop a public art project that is fully integrated into the redesign of Bridge Square. Approving a consulting budget allows us to compensate the artist for her time, labor, and input into the project so that we can develop a vision for public art that integrates into the project in the ways outlined in the interpretive framework, and brings an indigenous perspective to historic interpretation.
For more information about the artist and her work, visit: https://marlenamyl.es/public-art/
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Time...
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