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 asking for the HRC to partner and ultimately the HRC will be the named applicant (City entity) on this SEMAC grant. The ACC will draft the grant. Having the HRC the named applicant, the City can apply for SEMAC grant funding for multiple projects in 2021, with another commission as the applicant.
• John Sterner will be visiting Northfield briefly on October 9 to review the sculpture site.
Alternative Options:
The HRC does not apply for the grant.
Financial Impacts:
Potential for $10,000 to pay for sculpture.
Tentative Timelines:
Grant deadline is November 1, 2020