In attendance: Peter Belford, Kelvy Bird, Matt Carrano, Aram Comjean, Suzanne DesRosiers, Terry Dovidio, Jo Guthrie, Rachel Mello, Hilary Scott, Nicholas Shectman, and Rachel Silber.
Gretchen Kinder contacted us from the city to see if high school students could show at the high school as part of SOS.
Suzanne Lubeck (a teacher at the Kennedy School) is looking for artists to work with students for a student project, as part of the SOS educational outreach, and we connected her with an artist who will work with her.
Suzanne DesRosiers wants to work on Artists Choice again.
Jo Guthrie is done with membership!
Now that registration is closed -- the unofficial number is 340. Of those, about 140 came in the last three days!
How do we get from what's currently in the reg database to the information that we need to put together the map? Last year: 2 reminder emails saying "please update" and then specifically "this is what we have for information".
email to artists: did you have a problem with your location in the map book last year?
From the schedule spreadsheet:
Payment status by Feb 8
Finalizing list of artists by site by Feb 12
Proofread all site locations, and show what side of the street is which by Feb 19 (either driving the neighborhood or using google maps)
Ask artists to update database -- immediately
Lock down database and dump data for map book on Feb 18
After map layout we need another proofreading pass.
Policy issue for next year: how do we feel about studio names for single person studios? Space issue but good promotion. Revisit next year.
We'll need to do graphic design before the next meeting, and some of this could be done ahead: non-map content pages; covers; ad information.
Is there a theme this year? Yes: "Why Art? Because ..." Good press release material - interview artists and find out what their "because" is.
Graphic design steps: Cover + overall design; Map; Supporting material; Ads.
Jenni is willing to hand off the files. Terry is willing to collaborate with people. We can get a template ... probably. Terry is leading the map book! contact info: teresadovidio@hotmail.com or 617-216-3713
Deb Morgan has been selling ads -- Kelvy collecting information for the map book, will collect this info too.
Is there going to be a bike parade again? or a different opening event? Rachel Darman is back, let's ask her.
Are we going to do a survey again? It could be optional. Discussion about getting the survey data into the hands of the SOS board.
Community space: Sarah Dobkin on the line, by phone. What is the status of community space? Armory - Fri, Sat, some of Sunday? Do we need a second space? They need the list --- they have 25 people. That will fit. What about people in east somerville? Do they need something more local? Is that a different list? Does Carrie have a space there? Sarah thinks she found a space at a retirement home or something. More energy by having everyone in one location? Can we use Clarendon Hill on Sunday if not? If we're not using the Clarendon Hill space, is that a good space for Sierra to use for a kids event? What about the space here at Mad Oyster? The Growing Center? Close the loop with Gretchen Kinder with respect to high school art show -- Matt will get involved and follow up with Hilary. We need to know the community space by the 22nd, but we're close.
Artists' Choice: Evelyn knows we are coming. April 16 is the obvious date for the opening, but crunched with holidays and travel for Mara; Sunday the 19th might be better for her. Pick up May 16 and 17th. Drop off tentatively Saturday, April 11 and Monday, April 13. Prep, week of 6th in the evenings -- painting and the like. Hanging, week of the 13th. Size limit 18"x18".
We need to scare up someone to work on the reception food. Approach cambridge culinary institute? Approach debra morgan about sponsorship? Whole foods will give us food if we give an ad. Talk to Bev about food coordinator. Ursula is handling music.
Print our logo on the balloons!
There will be a database work session from 1-3 pm on February 21, and a data wrangling and map info meeting from 7-9 on Thursday, February 26. Ad deadline is the beginning of march; when do they have to send us art? The to-press deadline is Mar 19 + a week for proofreading.
What publications are we doing? Is there a flyer? We should do that again, but two weeks earlier. Is there a postcard or postcard size flyer? It might be worth it for somerville film festival advertising -- or it might be better ask Julia Tenney to talk to the IFF.
Trolleys were a great sponsorship opportunity. We need a volunteer to actually call the trolley companies. Last year, the city sponsored two of the trolleys. What parking lots do we have? These questions are needed for the map book.
Waiving resident parking would cost the city about $2500 for parking revenue -- this won't happen, they just don't do it any more.
Upcoming meetings:
Thursday Mar 12 -- general meeting, 7 pm - 9 pm location TBD
Thursday April 2 -- general meeting physical and runtime things and flyer distribution, location TBD
Publicity: banners in Davis and Union, person who can promote outside somerville, Boston cultural center, Boston conference and visitors center, print and web outlets -- get a list of these from Heather.