Meeting minutes were approved at the Cultural Advisory Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at the Chicago Cultural Center's 5th Floor Millennium Park Room, 4-5pm.

Attendees:

Cultural Advisory Council ("CAC") Members: Chair Nora Daley, Vice Chair Marj Halperin, Dr. Carol Adams, Homer H. Bryant, Kevin Coval, Baraka de Soleil, Sandra Guthman, Mary Ittelson, Ra Joy, Eileen LaCario, Sheila O’Grady, Jane Saks, Roell Schmidt, and Michael Patrick Thornton.

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ("DCASE") Staff: Commissioner Michelle T. Boone, Julie Burros, Susan Friel, Barbara Koenen, Jamey Lundblad, Nathan Mason, David McDermott, Kenya Merritt, Wendy Miller, Matt Nielson, Danny Schulman, and Sue Vopicka.

Other: John Michael Schert, Visiting Artist and Social Entrepreneur, University of Chicago; Betty G. Farrell, Executive Director, Cultural Policy Center; and Carroll Joynes, Senior Fellow, Cultural Policy Center.

Commissioner Boone called the meeting to order. Marj Halperin motioned for the approval of minutes from the December 3, 2013, meeting to be approved. Motion carried; the minutes were unanimously approved.

Commissioner Boone introduced special guests John Michael Schert, Visiting Artist and Social Entrepreneur, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Betty G. Farrell, Executive Director, Cultural Policy Center; and Carroll Joynes, Senior Fellow, Cultural Policy Center. Commissioner Boone said that Mr. Schert had been invited to participate in a two-year residency at Booth to study how the creative process can be infused into business practices. Mr. Schert gave a presentation entitled “The Future of Chicago as a Global Cultural Hub” and said that in order for the arts to flourish in Chicago, the city needs a vibrant and growing creative economy; a workforce of artists and other creative people; creative communities across the city; a strong sense of civic pride and attraction to visitors; and research to use data effectively.

Commissioner Boone introduced the DCASE staff members in attendance who are working on crafting a new Public Art Plan for the City of Chicago: Julie Burros, Director of Cultural Planning, and the DCASE Visual Arts/Public Art staff: Danny Schulman, Susan Friel, Barbara Koenen, Nathan Mason, and Wendy Miller. The team gave an overview of the process which includes/will include: town hall meetings; a convening of makers and producers as well as an intergovernmental agency meeting; stakeholder engagement; a revised Percent for Art Ordinance; the establishment of regulatory processes and policies; the drafting of a comprehensive plan for public art; the adoption of an approved new ordinance; and the issuance and adoption of a final Public Art Plan. The team then conducted a group brainstorm session to engage CAC members for their feedback.

Commissioner Boone gave an overview of upcoming DCASE summer programs. She said that a new logo had been created for Millennium Park by Jason Pickleman of JNL Graphic Design in honor of the Park’s tenth anniversary. She said that the 10th Anniversary Summer Celebration would include: Loops and Variations; Downtown Sound; Made in Chicago, World Class Jazz; Summer Workouts; Summer Film Series; the Grant Park Music Festival; Family Fun Festival; Millennium Park Presents; and two special exhibitions: Jaume Plensa: 1004 Portraits, and Millennium Park: an Anatomy in Photographs.

Commissioner Boone said that the 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival would take place June 13-15; Chicago Bike Week would take place June 13-20; the 29th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival would take place June 27-29, its third year in Ellis Park; and that the 18th Annual Chicago Summer Dance would take place June 27 – September 14 both downtown and in park locations across the city. She said that Taste of Chicago would take place July 9-13, continuing with new and popular elements such as Celebrity Chef du Jour. She said that the lakefront festivals would continue with the 36th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival in August and World Music Festival in September.

Commissioner Boone said that CHGO DSGN: Recent Object and Graphic Design, was an amazing exhibit that opened at the Chicago Cultural Center on May 31, and that she was very excited to announce that Hebru Brantley: Parade Day Rain would open at the Cultural Center on June 14. She invited the members of the CAC to the City of Chicago’s tribute to Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House Music, in Millennium Park that evening.

Commissioner Boone thanked the members of the CAC for their continued support and asked for any member announcements.

Sandra Guthman invited everyone to attend the Harris Theater’s Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Simulcast on Friday, June 6. Dr. Carol Adams invited everyone to the 2nd Annual Civil War Family Day on Saturday, June 14, and the Sounds of History 2014 Jazz Series, both at the DuSable Museum. Homer Bryant encouraged everyone to attend the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center’s Spring Performance on Saturday, June 14, at Benito Juarez High School. Baraka de Soleil invited the members to take part in the Afro-Latin Two-Week Summer Dance Intensive July 7-18 at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. Roell Schmidt announced the world premiere of Links Hall’s “River See,” a theatrical jazz performance installation four years in the making, on June 19.

Commissioner Boone congratulated Ra Joy on the recent “Voices of a Creative State” Arts Alliance of Illinois luncheon. She invited the CAC members to attend the 2014 Chicago Gospel Music Festival preview reception on Tuesday, June 17. She then thanked the special guests and CAC members for their attendance and encouraged everyone to follow up with John Michael Schert to engage him in the planning of their upcoming programs and events.

Nora Daley adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Vopicka