Human Rights Commission Meeting Date: October 8, 2020
To: Human Rights Commission
From: Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Sculpture Grant Application
Body
Action Requested:
The HRC considers applying for a SEMAC grant for a sculpture by an Indigenous artist.
Summary Report:
The Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) is working on facilitating a commission for a sculpture of Native American imagery (symbolic of an eagle) by Lakota artist John Sterner. Our hope is that this would be partly funded through a grant from SEMAC. John Sterner (who lives near Marshall) has a proven track record of creating public art in Southern MN. Here is a recent video of his work: https://www.pbs.org/video/artist-john-sterner-g8d83z/
This project does not replace future public sculpture found through a Request For Proposals (asking artists to submit their ideas). Other public sculptures can still be pursued in tandem with this project.
* For this John Sterner sculpture, the ACC is working on securing a $10,000 SEMAC grant. This is for a Modified Arts & Cultural Heritage grant, which will open on October 1, with a November 1 deadline. Due to limited resources available during the pandemic, specific eligibility requirements will be imposed. Previous experience has shown us that SEMAC will not fund a project if an artist has not first been identified and scope of project defined. If we don't receive the SEMAC grant, this project will not happen.
* A letter describing the proposed sculpture is attached.
* The ACC views the HRC as a perfect partner to help with this project, due to the visibility and idea behind this project/artist, which supports the missions of the HRC and ACC. We are asking for one HRC representative to be a part of reviewing the grant, and participating in the Public Art Review Committee (PARC) which will review and approve the sculpture design.
* In order to maximize the City's ability to apply for multiple SEMAC grants in 2021, the ACC is askin...
Click here for full text