Arts Commission Minutes - 05/16/1978 MINUTES OF WICHITA FALLS ARTS COMMISSION May 16, 1978
The second meeting of the Wichita Falls Arts Commission was
held at 12:30 p.m. in the Silver Square Room at Parker Square
State Bank.
Saundra Heffington, President, called the meeting to order, and
stated that the minutes of the prior meeting were typed and sent
to everyone. The minutes were corrected to read that Saundra
Heffington was actually elected as President of the Arts Commission
instead of Chairperson. Saundra brought to the attention of the
Commission that the Board of Realtors had the meeting room at
Howard Duff's reserved for the 3rd Tuesday of every month, and
another meeting place would have to be found. It was agreed to
keep the meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of every month and obtain another
place to have the meeting, which will be June 20, 1978. The place
will be decided later and members will be notified. Don Burkman
stated he had no dates posted as yet, and it may be done at the
June meeting.
Saundra Heffington said the three elected officers met last week
and looked at ideas from other cities having commissions. . .seeing
how these commissions were working. She gave four ideas:
1. money could be allocated to the individual agency for the
project.. .there would have to be definite criteria for applying,
and an application form developed.
2. city wide project (Jerry Estes gave example at meeting..will
elaborate further on) .
3. put tax money aside to accumulate so as to have more to work
with.
4. a combination of any of the above.
Jerry Estes stated that Wichita Falls and all areas around North
Texas were without a public sculpture, and suggested that water and
sculptures naturally go together. . .the water being a reflecting pool,
etc. He suggested maybe putting one in Bellvue Park because everyone
coming or leaving Wichita Falls passes by Bellvue Park. Jerry
suggested an Amphitheatre (open air) to go along with the sculpture
• and reflecting pool, and mabe have productions in the amphitheatre.
The city of Wichita Falls could apply for and get a community block
development grant because this location is in an impacted area.
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He concluded by suggesting the commission could put seed money
aside to get the sculpture and the pool, and that possibly it
could be scheduled for completion and tie in with the 100th.
Anniversary of the city. As for productions in the theatre, it
was mentioned that the MSU Drama Department and Backdoor Theatre,
etc. . .could ask for a grant to subsidize money for these productions
(2 or 3 plays in the summer, musicals, operas, etc.) The Symphony
and Ballet were mentioned for the music end of it, Dr. Hindman
brought to mind to the Commission that it wouldn't be an easy task
to have musicals and plays in an open air theatre due to weather
in this area, lighting problems, sound, etc.. , and also the expense
of planning for staging in an outdoor situation, The idea of putting
the Time Capsule under the floor of such a theatre was mentioned.
Robin King suggested the Depot Square might be a better area for such
a concert area than Bellvue Park because itts more in the Midtown
Area, and with the completion of Convention Center, there would be
alot of foot traffic from the Convention Center. It was agreed to
concentrate on Depot Square because of the Activity Center. Don
Burkman interjected that $5,000 was left over from the Bicentennial
Commission that must be spent on the Time Capsule. It was then
suggested that an annual event of all the Arts be held in the Activity
Center, maybe once a year, on the order of a Fiesta, which met the
approval of the Commission.
Jose Gonzales discussed the application cycle, and the length of time
it took to actually obtain the funds being requested.
Saundra Heffington stated she did not feel the Commission would be
ready to submit its application for funds for the upcoming City
Fiscal Year. Steven Ondreajas thinks the money would be carried
over to another year, and that 1% of the funds be used for a par-
ticular reason, such as a liveability city project($100,000 for
urban development. . .depot square. . .other streets. . .midtown area,
etc. Funds available maybe as Phase 1.) The Commission should know
by September if We will get $2,000,000 grant in connection with the
1982 100th Anniversary of the city.
•
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There was a discussion as to dividing the money into different
groups by Mark Whittlinger, and Harold Bonham interjected that
the Commission should work as a unit and not an individual group,
and we should not hurry too much for the funds. Jerry Estes stated
that Wichita Falls should be proud of what we already have (museum,
ballet, symphony, etc. ) Everyone agreed.
Johnny Hampton said he thought it would be beneficial to have each
organization represented in the Commission to submit a resume of
their organization, its goals, objectives, and financial needs for
the year. Each organization should mail this resume to the Commission,
and this will enable the Commission to better understand the organiza-
tions and their needs and will be most beneficial when the allocating
of funds begins.
Saundra Heffington appointed Johnny Hampton to chair the Application
Committee, and those serving on the committee with Johnny Hampton
are: Mark Whittlinger, Don Maxwell, and Carolyn Sanders. This
committee will set up a form stating the guidelines for those wishing
to receive a grant. All of the resumes of activities in each
organization is to be turned in at the next meeting, and the secretary,
Helen Henry, is to notify the agencies not present at this meeting.
Those attending this meeting were:
NAME AND REPRESENTATION THOSE NOT IN ATTENDANCE
AND NOT REPRESENTED
Don Burkman-Auditorium Mgr.-City of WF
Jerry Estes-WF Symphony Orchestra Mrs. Howard Chapmen-At-large
Saundra Heffington-At-large Mr. Kenneth Kramer-At-large
Dr. Jennie Louise Hindman-At-large Mrs. Aubrey Cox-WF Arts Assc
Mr. Harold Bonham-At-large
Jose Gonzales-Backdoor Theatre
Carolyn Sanders-Ballet
John Hampton-At-large
Gwendolyn Jackson-At-large
Mrs. Clarence Muehlburger-At-large
Dick Gose-Broadway Theatre
Robin King(for Pat Jones)-Heritage
Society
Mark Whittlinger-Backdoor Theatre
Mary Honor Wolverton-WF Museum & Art Center
Don Maxwell-Music Dept.-MSU
Steve Ondrejas-Planning Dept.-City of WF
Martha Steimel-Times & Record News
TV coverage of the meeting was provided by Channel 6.
Saundra Heffington, President, adjourned the meeting.
Respectively submitted,
If
Helen Henry, vallig;/"."
Secretary