Jasper Arts Commission meeting: Working with new master plan

The challenge for the Jasper Arts Board to grow outside of the boundaries of the Jasper Arts Center to public locations around the city was the topic of discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.

Arts board President Mike Jones asked the other board members, if they had not already, to read the Jasper Downtown and Riverfront Master Plan that was delivered to the City of Jasper by Barry Alberts of CityVisions and David Gamble of Gamble and Associates.

The draft of the plan has a section near the end that talks about giving arts a place in the public.

And while successful public arts ventures like the Chalk Walk in May meet the goal of getting arts into the public realm, permanent displays are being discussed by the board.

Arts Program Coordinator and Technical Assistant Corina Mack reported during the meeting that she is still gathering information on painting murals on selected buildings in Jasper as permanent arts displays.

Mack told the board that she is taking sketches of ideas from Jasper High School Students for the murals.

Arts Director Kit Miracle told the board that the plan calls for a Jasper Public Arts Commission that would bring together the Arts Commission, Friends of the Arts and local artists to advance the public art displays. She sees that as important so that arts efforts are coordinated among those groups.

Jones says that any plans for a new arts center or renovation of the existing facility are on hold until redevelopment efforts are spelled out and a plan is started.[hr]

Board member Pat Thyen asked for a status update on the request to the City of Jasper to get a credit card issued to the department so that employees do not have to pay for Arts Center expenses with their own cards.

Jasper City Attorney Renee Kabrick told the board that they have met with a consultant who has helped the City of Westfield in a similar situation.

She reports that a meeting has already been held between members of the Jasper Clerk-Treasurer’s Office and this consultant who can guide the City of Jasper through the process.

A Purchase Card program was implemented for the City of Westfield, which is being examined for Jasper, as well. Kabrick says that the program has been approved by the State Board of accounts.

Also in the meeting Tuesday:

-Jones reported that board member Micky Seger has submitted her resignation. Beth Seidl is her replacement — she was appointed by the Jasper School Board at their last meeting. Seidl will take her place on the board in January.

-It was announced that an ad would be placed to replace Visual Arts Coordinator Erin Steftenagel who will be staying on until her replacement is found. Erin has a new assignment, which begins next September.