Meeting minutes were approved at the Cultural Advisory Council Meeting on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 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, Homer H. Bryant, Antonia Contro, Baraka de Soleil, Sandra Guthman, Mary Ittelson, Carolina Garcia Jayaram, Eileen LaCario, Jane Saks, Roell Schmidt, Ernest C. Wong, Chay Yew and Angel Ysaguirre.

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ("DCASE") Staff: Commissioner Michelle T. Boone, Tracie Hall, David Kennedy, Jamey Lundblad, David McDermott, Rich Moskal, Dylan Rice and Sue Vopicka.

Other: Ty Tabing, Executive Director, Chicago Architecture Biennial (“CAB”).

Nora Daley called the meeting to order and recognized new CAC members Carolina Garcia Jayaram, CEO, United States Artists; and Chay Yew, Artistic Director, Victory Gardens; and re-engaged CAC member Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director of the Illinois Humanities Council. She recognized special guest Ty Tabing, Executive Director of the Chicago Architecture Biennial and asked that the CAC members introduce themselves around the table.

Nora Daley motioned for the approval of meeting minutes from December 2, 2014, and the minutes were unanimously approved.

Commissioner Boone introduced Ty Tabing, who gave a Power Point presentation overview of the upcoming Chicago Architecture Biennial. Ty said that CAB’s inaugural 2015 edition is titled “The State of the Art of Architecture.” He said that it will be the largest international survey of contemporary architecture in North America and will take place October 1, 2015 – January 3, 2016. He said that the Chicago Cultural Center will serve as the event hub for CAB activities and that it will house the Biennial’s main exhibition - the first time in the Cultural Center’s history that the entire building will be dedicated to a single exhibition. He said that the second hub will be the Stony Island Arts Bank on the city’s South Side, a new cultural venue launched by acclaimed Chicago artist Theaster Gates. Ty said that transportation will be provided between the two sites.

Ty said that CAB will also activate a network of historic architectural sites throughout the region, including: Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois; and sites designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago and Oak Park as part of the Regional Program, made possible by Regional Sponsor SC Johnson. Ty said that the program centerpiece will be free regular tours of the historic SC Johnson Campus in Racine, Wisconsin, including the Research Tower and Administration Building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Ty stated that CAB will commission three publications, the first of which is a photo essay on Chicago by world-renowned photographer Iwan Baan, who worked with CAC member Jeanne Gang in Kalamazoo. He said that there will be an exhibition in Millennium Park of Iwan Baan’s photos. He stated that CAB is partnering with the Chicago Architecture Foundation to develop a complete education program. In conclusion, Ty said that the list of international architects and artists who will participate in CAB and information about the public programming component, to include a range of film screenings, symposia, performances, tours, city-wide and regional programs, will be announced in April.

Nora Daley asked the CAC members if there were any questions. Baraka de Soleil said that 2015 is the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and asked if there had been any planning around that. Ty said that CAB staff have been working with the ADA 25 Chicago team on opportunities and will definitely partner in some way. He said that, for example, the new beach concession kiosk that will be constructed as part of CAB’s Lakefront Kiosk Competition will be ADA compliant. Commissioner Boone added that CAB and DCASE have been working with Commissioner Karen Tamley of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Commissioner Felicia Davis of the Department of Buildings on ADA issues. She then thanked Ty for his presentation.

Commissioner Boone introduced Tracie Hall, Deputy Commissioner, Arts and Creative Industries, who gave a Power Point presentation overview of the inaugural Lake FX Creative Summit + Expo. Tracie said that Lake FX will take place April 16-19, 2015, and will shine a spotlight on Chicago’s innovative Film, Music, Fashion, Culinary and Art industries with its theme of “Improvisation and Innovation.” She said that it is a direct outgrowth of the Chicago Cultural Plan and builds upon the successful Creative Chicago Expo, Chicago Music Summit and Chicago Film + Media Summit which attracted over 11,000 attendees combined. Tracie said that the goal is to place Chicago on the map as one of the nation's premier hubs of innovation and community and economic development through the arts and creative industries and to become the region’s/nation’s largest FREE professional development and networking event for creatives. She said that SXSW in Austin, Texas, and NXNE in Toronto, Ontario, both helped to solidify the brands of their respective cities, but have participation fees that may be a barrier for some.

Tracie said that Lake FX will offer 70+ professional development panels and workshops, networking opportunities, an anchoring Expo, music and film showcases in the neighborhoods (tentatively Uptown, West Town, Wicker Park/Bucktown, Logan Square, Pilsen and Hyde Park ) and a culminating marketplace open to area artisans and entrepreneurs. She said that creative professionals of all levels will be invited to a campus that includes the Chicago Cultural Center as the hub, the Gene Siskel Film Center, Hard Rock Hotel, Macy’s on State, the Virgin Hotel and the Harris Theater. She said that she was excited to announce that Google has agreed to sponsor the inaugural Lake FX Summit + Expo.

Tracie introduced Dylan Rice, Director of Creative Industries – Music, who unveiled the Lake FX logo designed by Simple Truth Marketing Agency. Tracie then introduced Rich Moskal, Director of the Chicago Film Office, who spoke about the theme of “Improvisation and Innovation.” He said that the theme was chosen in reference to the growing need to compete in a creative economy that relies on personal branding, storytelling, relationship building, agility, and social networking. Rich said that major presenters will include Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton from The Second City; Dzine, a visual artist; Seymour Stein of Sire Records; Restaurateur Rick Bayless; Kevin Lyman from Warped Tour; Charles Adler, founder of Kickstarter; filmmakers Joe and Kris Swanberg; and many others.

Tracie concluded by saying that she hoped the members of the Cultural Advisory Council would serve as awareness advocates for the creative industries as they already serve as ambassadors for the arts and culture in Chicago.

Eileen LaCario and Baraka de Soleil expressed their concerns that Chicago’s theater and dance industries will not be represented at Lake FX. Commissioner Boone said that Chicago’s theater and dance communities are so strong that they don’t need the boost of the Lake FX Summit. She said that the goal is to address the lesser known of Chicago’s creative industries. She stated that DCASE would be open to looking at other art forms for the next iteration of Lake FX and that the inaugural areas of focus are meant to be the beginning of a larger conversation. Tracie Hall said that the plan is definitely to grow the event.

Nora Daley thanked everyone for their presentations and opened the floor for CAC member announcements. As there were no announcements, Nora Daley adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Vopicka