Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a contract with artist Eric Adjetey Anang to provide up to $6,650 to offset expenses related to the residency as the first Thurber Park Artist in Residence. Funding for the contract will come from the Planning Division’s Municipal Art Fund capital program, which has approximately $505,000 in available budget authority. No additional City appropriation is required.
Title
Approving the Madison Arts Commission’s selection of Artist Eric Adjetey-Anang as the first Thurber Park Artist in Residence.
Body
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2018, a lease with the Town of Blooming Grove was approved by Resolution No. RES-18-00069, File No. 49683, which will allow for the City to use the space located at 3325 Thurber Avenue as an artist studio; and,
WHEREAS, using the Thurber Park facility for an art studio fulfills Darbo-Worthington-Starkweather Neighborhood Plan recommendations adopted by the Common Council on September 19, 2017, Resolution Enactment Number RES-15-00436, File ID No. 47509; and,
WHEREAS, over 18 months the Madison Arts Commission, the Madison Arts Program Administrator and staff from Madison Public Library’s Bubbler, have worked to shape an equitable and inclusive residency program that will have positive impact on the surrounding community and the professional advancement of the participating artists; and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Blooming Grove has made necessary improvements to the facility to make it suitable for an art studio, upgrade electrical service, and make it ADA compliant, and is nearly ready for occupancy; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Public Library has agreed to manage the public outreach aspects of the arts residency as part of the Bubbler’s Artist-in-Residence program and will partner with the Madison Arts Program Administrator to manage the program; and,
WHEREAS, Madison Public Library staff issued and widely publicized an open call for artists for the Thurber Park Artist in Residence opportunity on June 7, 2019; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Arts Commission reviewed and scored 14 applications at their July 9, 2019 meeting at the Salvation Army at 3030 Darbo Drive and ranked the application of Eric Adjetey Anang the highest; and,
WHEREAS, Eric Adjetey Anang, a recent immigrant from Ghana, is a world-renowned wood worker who has run his family’s coffin design business for 15 years, has extensive experience facilitating group workshops and collaborating with community members, and received positive reviews from Madison Public Library staff who observed his success engaging community members and youth in a short term residency at Central Library’s Bubbler maker space; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Arts Commission recommends the Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence opportunity be awarded to Eric Adjetey Anang; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Arts Commission recommends Eric Adjetey Anang be provided $6,650 to offset expenses related to the residency; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Arts Commission will identify an appropriate opportunity for the selected artist to create a permanent public art piece for the City’s collection for which, if approved by the Common Council, the artist may receive further compensation,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning Department and Madison Public Library are hereby authorized to execute a memorandum of understanding regarding staff roles and responsibilities between the partners running the Thurber Park Artist Residency; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Madison Common Council approves of the selection of Eric Adjetey Anang to be the first artist-in-residence at Thurber Park; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Planning Division Director to sign a contract on behalf of the City with artist Eric Adjetey Anang, setting forth the terms of his occupancy of the studio space as Artist-in-Residence and providing a fee not to exceed $6,650, for his services and expenses related to occupancy of the studio space, open studios, workshops, supplies, and initial design of a public art work for Madison’s public art collection. The contract shall be in a form approved by the City Attorney and Risk Manager and counter-signed by the Finance Director.