POEM Meeting Notes, Wednesday1/26/11

In Attendance at Vero Coffeehouse:  Marina Herrera de Hajek, Miriam Jordan, Nan Laurence, Robert Long, Dana Magliari, Joseph Newton, and Mike Sullivan.

The Group reported on it activities:

• POEM was a “mini stop” at the January First Friday ArtWalk.  Approximately 40 community members stopped by to learn about the Post Office building.
• Co-chairs Miriam Jordan and Robert Long were on KLCC’s Northwest Passage program January 4 to publicize POEM on the ArtWalk.
• Co-chairs met with Linda Zimmer, faculty member in the Interior Architecture program of the School of Architecture & Allied Arts at the University of Oregon. (Under consideration to present to students as possible project.)
• Miriam sent information to Phaedra Livingstone of the Art History and Arts Management programs of the School of Architecture & Allied Arts. Under consideration to present to students as possible project:
  §  Building considerations;
  §  Hidden liabilities;
  §  How spaces could be used;
  §  Address easements (i.e., conservation);
  §  Seismic upgrades;
  §  ADA access issues.

• Fund Raising

o   POEM will be pursuing grant writing opportunities:
§  National Endowment for the Arts
§  Spirit Mountain Community Fund
§  Paul Allen Foundation
§  National Parks Service “Save America’s Treasures”

To Do:

• Follow up on recent contacts;
• Initiate conversations with surrounding property owners;
• Introduce the project to professors of the PPPM;
• Continue conversations with City, County and state officials;
• Continue conversations with federal government;
• Contact A&AD of the UO to present project for student consideration as a class project;
• Visit Albany Post Office that was recently repurposed;
• Visit Coos Art Museum (Coos Bay’s repurposed 1936 Post Office).

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.  The next meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Respectfully submitted by Miriam Alexis Jordan

10/27 Notes + Next Meeting 11/17

POEM Meeting Notes
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Marché Museum Café, UO Campus

In Attendance by Group:  Miriam Jordan, Robert Long, Dana Magliari, Jerry Ross.             Guests: Bob Hart

The Group outlined strategies to continue community discussion of repurposing historic sites such as the historic U.S. Post Office building.

It was reported that another piece of property on the same block as the Post Office is for sale.  This expanded the discussion of envisioning a grander multi-use project on that block that would accommodate the growing needs of the arts and culture community, and perhaps expanding the art gallery district.

It was decided after the November 4 Election would be a good time to begin conversations with members of the Lane County Commission, City Council, and Legislature about receiving support for the best use for the historic U.S. Post Office building and surrounding property.

A letter was sent to the dean of the Arts and Administration Program of the School of Architecture & Allied Arts,  seeking participation from AAA professors and instructors in leading site visits to the PO and assigning student projects related to repurposing the space.

Proposed Upcoming Activities:
*January First Friday ARTWalk (confirmed)
*City Club program
*KLCC “Northwest Passage” interview
*Initiate conversations with surrounding property owners
*Continue conversations with City, County and state officials *Continue conversations with federal government (Jerry Ross – also follow up with LCC Art Department, and Mike Sullivan) *Contact AAA of the UO to present project for student consideration as a class project (Miriam Jordan)
*Follow up on information that the property adjacent to the historic building is also for sale. (Dana Magliari)
*Visit Albany Post Office that was recently repurposed *Update POEM supporters of recent events (Miriam & Robert)

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.  The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17, 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Marché Museum Café at UO.

Meeting Notes from 9/22/10

POEM Group Meeting Notes, September 22, 2010
Marché Museum Café

In Attendance:  Miriam Alexis Jordan, Robert Long, Jerry Ross, Dana Magliari, Barbara Perrin.  Guests:  Douglas Beauchamp.

The August 18 meeting minutes were approved. Strategies were presented for continued discussion.

• Apply and receive a great that would allow this group to conduct a feasibility study.  A feasibility study is needed to determine the integrity of the site.
• Research on who else is doing things with older buildings?  How does managing a cultural industry help the local economy? Why does art and culture matter?
• Talk to property owners around the perimeter of the Post Office (on 520 Willamette Street). Talk about feasibility study with local businesses.
  • Ken Guzowski
  • Conner/Wooley
  • Brian Obie
  • Roscoe Devine (Mid Town)
  • Tom Bowerman
  • Smith Family Bookstore
  • Talk to other stakeholders –David Morris (Carl’s son)

• Identify eight to ten capital projects that are in the works:
• EWEB
• 5^th Street Market
• Down to Earth center
• Downtown
• Shelton McMurphy House

• Pursue grants from OCF, Meyer Memorial Trust
• Pursue Community sustainability grants.  Is POEM eligible?  (Mike Sullivan – LCOG).  Sustainable Communities, NEA.
• Get signatures of support.  Have people agree to have the names listed on a letter of support.
• Expand preservation – expand on the commercial historical district – increase the footprint.  Tie in other buildings to be included in the Commercial Historical District.
• Research other renovation programs including Denver, CO and Coos Bay, OR.
• Research on creating a Cultural Heritage Trust.

After some discussion, it was determined that receiving endorsements from neighboring property owners about POEM’s proposed project would add credibility to the concept of expanding a commercial historical district, and the importance of preserving the building and its art as a public/community space. The POEM group was asked to read, edit and update the Letter of Interest that was updated by Miriam Jordan.

Meeting Notes 9/1/10

In Attendance:

Dennis Hebert-Save Civic Stadium Campaign

Miriam Alexis Jordan
Robert Long
Dana Magliari
Barbara  Perrin
Angela Ross

Dennis Hebert talked about how saving Civic Stadium came about and the efforts required to make progress.

Robert Long reported that contact was made with Douglas Beauchamp, Executive Director for the Lane Arts Council (LAC) about creating an arts and culture trust for the Eugene/Springfield area.  The objectives of this group may relate to the Lane Arts Council – focus on initiatives that involve historical preservations.  This group is creating a proposal to be used in submitting proposals to the OAC, NEH, etc.  Robert maintains a funding calendar UO Digital Scholars and plans to forward opportunities to this group, paying attention to deadlines. Help identify other people who ought to be part of that. Lane arts Council is a re-granting organization that receives funds from the State level (Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust) for redistribution to local arts organizations (Lane County Culture Coalition also re-grants to local arts organizations from the Cultural Trust).  The LAC has a competition for funds each year.  The POEM group may compete for funding to also form this arts and culture trust.  Other grants to consider include the Cultural Tourism Grant.  Grants like that would fund for a massive campaign.  The POEM group would need to develop a way for 10,000 POEM friends to invest in this project, continue its community outreach, and implement a membership/sponsorship system.  Under consideration is the concept of selling shares of stock at $1000 each, to be saved in an interest-bearing escrow account, for the purchase and renovation of the building.

Additional Updates
The group reconfirmed the focus of the project and provided the following input.

• Focus on the fine arts created by Pacific Northwest artists (past and present), contemporary and traditional.  However, there is excitement with exhibiting current, modern, outrageous in-your-face art by Native Americans who make modern art now, artists from the Pacific Rim, with room to expand when appropriate.  Angela Ross reported that when she first thought of Pacific Rim – it would seem to open up more possibilities for fundraising, and suggested reviewing other communities, governments of various countries, cities, and states’ fundraising efforts.

• Extensive renovation is needed to upgrade the HVAC system, security, and accessibility. Research is needed to determine exact needs.
• Consider federal agencies and foundations at the national level.  Dana Magliari expressed concern that there is already limited money available and if people are going to be interested.  He suggested the group get concentric (i.e., Cascadia). The Paul Allen Foundation is an example of strong support in the arts and culture component. The Oregon Community Foundation is a collection of all the small family foundations.  Angela has written grants and confirmed the expectation that you have to show there is community support for this project.  She suggested having individuals pledge support, before pursuing grants.  But first, you have to show community desire.
• Consider the goal to being a 501c(3) entity.
• Develop opportunity for donor sponsorships (i.e., name on each of the mailboxes, should they remain as an ornamental feature; purchase tile, shelves, and other naming spaces).
• Present to faculty in the UO Arts & Administration Program, Architecture, Sustainable Cities Initiatives, and Public Policy & Planning Management program to consider the 36,000 s.f. building as a possible project for students.
• Jerry Ross has written a Letter of Intent to the Post Office.  Miriam requested a copy of this document.
• Consider an advisory board.

Assignment

• Draw a map of downtown businesses to make contact about the U.S. Post Office.
• Meet with downtown business owners about the shareholder concept of owning and caring for the U.S Post Office building.
• Meet with local arts and culture organizations about their challenges. Robert Tomlinson, executive director of the Oregon Arts Alliance (formerly Oregon Crafted) has talked about the direction of his organization, working with his board to consider ways to branch out and dove-tail with other arts organizations on specific projects.
• Read the City of Eugene Cultural Policy Review Report of June 2007, that was approved by City Council (become familiar with the goals and strategies that may relate to POEM).
• Research examples of converted municipal and public buildings. (i.e., the Coos Bay Post Office; the Arts Base in Reno, Nevada, an old riverside building was converted into artists’ studios).
• Research funding models.
• Research examples of sustainable cities.  Look for juicy comparables of how arts and culture contributed to the economic vitality of a community. (Robert has stats for Oregon)
• Develop an Abstract.
• Develop a proposal to build and sustain an arts museum that would include examples of how the arts benefit the economy.

Next POEM meeting: Wednesay 9/22 11:30

Corrected date! The next POEM meeting is 11:30-12:30, Wednesday 9/22, at the Marche Cafe in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) on the UO campus. Come for lunch, come introduce yourself, come listen to our latest reports and plans. You may also suggest topics by using the comment thread here.

LTD has many route-connections to UO. Closest campus parking is on Kincaid, 14th and 15th; closest free parking is at least 5 minutes away in the West University neighborhood.

Opportunity to Preserve Eugene’s Cultural Heritage

By Miriam Jordan (POEM) for the Register-Guard, Saturday 8/28/10

I recently joined a conversation with a group of artists and arts professionals about the concept of transforming the historic U.S. Post Office building into a Eugene Museum (POEM). POEM’s basic objective is to create a museum in downtown Eugene dedicated to historic and contemporary art of the Pacific Northwest. Beyond that, POEM hopes to make the historic Post Office on Willamette Street that home. This hope is the inspiration for the name: Post Office > Eugene Museum. This Art Deco-era building at 520 Willamette Street, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is for sale with an asking price of $2.1 million. The POEM discussion group strategized on the use of the facility, funding sources and partnerships, and researched sustainable funding practices that would ensure ongoing conservation and preservation of the art that is part of the building, and benefit from the historical value of the Carl Morris murals and the WPA era. A strategic plan of this enterprise is being created by this small group, based on a shared vision initially proposed by artist Jerry Ross.

Two articles were written about this historic building’s potential (Eugene Weekly 4/5/2010, and Register-Guard 7/31/2010), that highlighted the Post Office building’s inherent and significant cultural value, and presented a unique opportunity to preserve a piece of our cultural heritage. Once a proposal is outlined, ultimately the matter will come down to – a) how this art museum would be funded and sustained; and b) what entity(s) should be responsible for this public project.

What would it take to realize this vision? The visionary investor would understand that the value of arts and culture is in the elevation of a community spirit and economy, and finds satisfaction in contributing to the quality of life. An example of this philanthropic spirit is in the case of the Jaqua Academic Center for Student Athletes project that was funded entirely by one benefactor through a process of leasing the land from the UO and built the $41 million center as a private project, then presenting it to the University as a gift after it was completed (Register-Guard 8/10/2010).

In the case of the Post Office building, if such a comprehensive plan could be realized, the project could be then be presented to an appropriate organization as a gift (with an endowment to fund for paid arts professionals to manage it). What a great gesture it would be for the arts and cultural industry to have such a benefactor to help realize a vision that would last for future generations.

There are other approaches, of course, and the POEM discussion group will continue to meet and welcomes community input and support. The community may write to POEMpnw@gmail.com. POEM will develop a proposal, but ultimately, someone needs to step to the plate and move this project forward before the opportunity is gone.

Miriam Jordan, Robert Long and Joseph Newton talking to Eugene at the Eugene Celebration 2010

POEM @ Eugene Celebration

Please come see POEM-people at the Eugene Celebration next weekend, and learn how you can contribute to the goal of transforming the historic Post Office at 520 Willamette into a Eugene Museum for historic and contemporary art!

We’ll be at Booth 14 in Community Causeway, in the Park block of Willamette Street between 7th and 8th. Look for the P O E M banner. We’ll be handing out flyers (like the one below, but with our new address) and donor forms, and we want your help to spread the word.