Fine Arts Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2021-09-08

Agenda - Corrected
 Skokie Fine Arts Commission
 September 8, 2021 Meeting
 7 p.m.
  I. Call to Order
  II. Welcome and Introductions of New Commissioners
  III. Recap of 2020 and 2021
 a. Fall in Love with Skokie – Fall 2020 Photo Exhibit
 b. Warm Days, Warm Hearts in Skokie – Summer 2021 Photo Exhibit
  IV. Upcoming Projects
 a. Artistic Excellence Awards
 i. Nominations accepted through November 1, 2021; review and
 discussion at November 10, 2021 Commission meeting
 ii. Awards presented at December 6 or 20, 2021 Village Board
 meeting – no reception due to COVID-19 and budget limits
 b. Listening Sessions (both pending confirmation by artists)
 i. October 13, 2021 Commission meeting – presentation by
 Commissioner Debra Hatchett, owner of Anatomically Correct
 ii. December 8, 2021 Commission meeting – presentation by Music
 Theater Works staff
 c. SOAR
 i. Discuss program options at the October 13, 2021 meeting
 d. Other
  V. Open Discussion
  VI. Adjournment
Upcoming meetings: October 13, November 10, December 8, 2021; location either
conference rooms D/E at Village Hall or Skokie Police Headquarters training room.

Meeting Notes
 Skokie Fine Arts Commission - September 8, 2021 Meeting
I. Call to Order – 7 p.m. by Chairperson Pam Garbarini; those present
 Included Vice Chairperson Jeff Rhodes, Commissioners Debra Hatchett,
 Doris Liberman, Jackie Moses, Mitch Thomas and Ellen Waxberg and
 staff liaisons Ann Tennes and Enkhnasan Taylor.

II. Garbarini welcomed everyone to the meeting, and all of those present
 introduced themselves.

III. Recap of 2020 and 2021 – Garbarini commended the commission and
 Tennes for coordinating the Fall in Love with Skokie – Fall 2020 photo
 exhibit as well as the Warm Days, Warm Hearts in Skokie – Summer 2021
 photo exhibit. Waxberg asked about the commission’s grant program, and
 Tennes explained that the initiative has been eliminated from the Village
 budget for the next few fiscal years due to the extreme economic toll on
 Village revenues from the COVID-19 pandemic.

IV. Upcoming Projects

 Artistic Excellence Awards - Nominations accepted through November 1,
 2021; review and discussion at November 10, 2021 Commission meeting;
 awards presented at a December Village Board meeting. Tennes noted that
 the budget and pandemic conditions will not support a reception and also
 advised that no nominations have been received to date. Nomination
 information is featured in the current edition of NewSkokie, is posted on
 the home page of the website and will be included in upcoming editions of
 SkokieNews. Waxberg suggested former Fine Arts Commission
 Chairperson as a possible nominee.

 Listening Sessions (pending confirmation by artists) - October 13, –
 presentation by Commissioner Debra Hatchett, owner of Anatomically
 Correct; December 8 – presentation by Music Theater Works staff. Other
 possible presenters in coming months: Skokie Theatricals, Devonshire
 Theater, Skokie Sculpture Park, North Shore Center and Ellen Blum
 Barish. Rhodes expressed enthusiasm for the listening sessions and
 requested a formal brainstorming session on how the commission can
 amplify the work of other Skokie arts organizations. Hatchett expressed
 interest in promoting Skokie-specific artists in all areas of the Arts; Tennes


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 advised that this might be easier for some types of artists than others, but
 that the commission should discuss.

 SOAR – Garbarini expressed interest in discussing options for presenting a
 2022 Student Outstanding Artists Recognition (SOAR) program without a
 large reception as occurred in past years. The North Shore Center’s
 limited lobby hours might not be conducive to ‘drop by’ visits for student
 artists and their families. Tennes suggested the Skokie Public Library as a
 possible alternate location, with student art displayed in various locations
 at the Library. Garbarini requested a SOAR brainstorming session in
 October, noting that spring 2022 conditions and options might be difficult
 to predict. Tennes said she would contact the Library to see about
 feasibility as an alternate location.

V. Open Discussion
 Partnerships with other Village advisory boards and commissions –
 Waxberg mentioned this idea that had been discussed in the past; Tennes
 advised that most Village commissions were just resuming in person
 meetings and program planning. Rhodes suggested partnerships could
 extend to commissions other than the Public Arts Committee and
 Performing Arts Center Board. Garbarini suggested tabling this discussion
 until 2022.

 Family Arts Day – this program was in the initial planning stages when the
 COVID-19 pandemic began. Rhodes suggested a commission
 brainstorming session to discuss a possible summer 2022 event featuring
 various Skokie Arts organizations.

VI. Meeting adjournment – 7:58 p.m.
Upcoming meetings:
  • October 13 – listening session and SOAR discussion
  • November 10 – Artistic Excellence Award discussion and SOAR and/or
 commission community arts support discussion
  • December 8 – listening session and SOAR and/or commission community arts
 support discussion

Meetings held in conference rooms D/E at Village Hall or Skokie Police
Headquarters training room, pending attendance confirmations.


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