## Arts & Culture Commission Meeting Agenda April 23, 2026, 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Mayors Conference Room, 4801 W. 50th St. ## Accessibility Support: The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order ## 2. Roll Call ## 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda ## 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes 4.1. Meeting minutes from Feb. 26, 2026 Arts and Culture Commission meeting ## 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations ## 6. Community Comment During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share issues or concerns that are not scheduled for a future public hearing. Items that are on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals must limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of speakers on the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Individuals should not expect the Chair or Board/Commission Members to respond to their comments tonight. Instead, the Board/Commission might refer the matter to staff for consideration at a future meeting. 7. Reports/Recommendations ## 7.1. Initiative 1.1.2 Edina Art Grant Program 7.2. 2026 Workplan Updates ## 8. Chair and Member Comments ## 9. Staff Comments Page 1 of 12 ## 9.1. Upcoming Meetings & Events 10. Adjournment Page 2 of 12 ## Item Report April 23, 2026 ## Arts & Culture Commission ## Item Number: 4.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art Center Item Title: Meeting minutes from Feb. 26, 2026 Arts and Culture Commission meeting ## Action Requested: Please approve the meeting minutes from the February 26, 2026 Arts and Culture Commission meeting. ## Information/Background: Attached, please find the Arts and Culture Commission meeting minutes from the Feburary 26, 2026 meeting. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## 1. Draft ACC Meeting Minutes 2.26.26 Page 3 of 12 Page 4 of 12 Page 5 of 12 ## Item Report April 23, 2026 ## Arts & Culture Commission ## Item Number: 7.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Information Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art Center ## Item Title: Initiative 1.1.2 Edina Art Grant Program ## Action Requested: Review and approve Art Grant Initiative recommendations for the 2026 Edina Art Grant recipients. ## Information/Background: ## Application Deadline – April 10 10 applications received The Edina Art Grant Initiative Team choose grant applicants with strong goals, clear planning and execution plans, as well as a focus on diverse artistic experiences for a range of ages in our community and broad exposure. We recommend that the Edina Arts and Culture Commission approve seven grant recipients to receive the approved $5,000. Grant Recipient #1 - Anti-Racism Collective of Edina - Juneteenth Celebration - A Cultural Journey ## through History Art Banner Project The 2026 Edina Juneteenth Celebration will take place on June 19, 2026, at Centennial Lakes Park and is organized by the Anti-Racism Collective of Edina in partnership with Hennepin County Joint Community Police Partnership, the City of Edina, and the City of Richfield. This year's event theme, A Cultural Journey through History, will deepen the educational experience for attendees of all ages, with emphasis on making history visible, accessible, and engaging. Requesting $800 to create a set of banners commissioned by a local or community-connected artist that honors the traditions, heritage, and cultural legacy of African Americans, and shares the Juneteenth historical timeline. Banners would be made using durable, reusable materials so the group could display for future Juneteenth events, community gatherings, and programming. ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation: Well-organized and seem to have necessary approvals for execution. Project would involve commissioning with local artist Banners would be visible after the 2026 event, and shared with the community for future years. Award $400 Grant Recipient #2 – 50th & France Business Association – The 50th & France Summer Concert Series – Page 6 of 12 ## Student Performances The 50th & France Summer Concert Series, now in its sixth year of enlivening the plaza in Edina downtown to create a community with live music and an opportunity to spotlight student performers during the summer months. Concerts are held Friday evenings, June 12 – September 4, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, (12 weeks), outdoors at the Nolan Mains Plaza (within 50th & France business district). Requesting $600 – provided to student performers ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation Well-established program that focuses on a specific targeted audience Nice marketing plan to recruit students with minimal to no barriers of participation Award $600 Grant Recipient #3 - MSP Film Society- Minneapolis St Paul International Film Festival - (MSPIFF)@Edina Theater - MSPIFF features world-class film programming, with new international and US independent fiction films and documentaries. Movies are shown at In April 2025, 1700+ moviegoers (Edina residents and visitors) enjoyed 25 movies over seven days. This year the festival expanded to 41 movies over eleven days, with at least 10 visiting filmmakers available for post-screening Q&As, including one Oscar-nominated film director and one star-alum of Mad Men. For the past two years, the MSP Film Society, a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization, has expanded MSPIFF ## to the Edina Mann Theatre MSPIFF@EdinaTheatre, selecting specific titles in service of Edina community-building and connecting Edina cultural organizations (e.g., Edina Somali American Committee, Edina Muslim with free and/or discounted admission. In April 2027, MSP Film Society would like to continue this effort in connecting Edina cultural organizations with MSPIFF@EdinaTheatre, distributing free and/or discounted admission. Grant requested - $1,000. 29 movie tickets (@ $17 ea.) x 2 titles: $986 + $14 cost to promote ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation: The team believes the films spark meaningful cultural conversations within the festival space. The high artistic merit of the selections serves as a compelling draw for the initiative Award $500 Grant Recipient #4 – 50th & France Business Association - Edina Art Fair – Emerging Artists Zone Edina Art Fair, now in its 59th year, has featured some of the best fine artists from Minnesota and nationally. Page 7 of 12 Friday, June 3 - Sunday, June 6 and held at 50th and France, with Emerging Artist Zone located on the east side of 50th and Ewing. Emerging Artist Zone invests in the future of the arts by lowering barriers to entry for first-time exhibitors. By providing mentorship, professional exhibition opportunities, and comprehensive promotional support, the program equips emerging artists with resources needed to launch sustainable creative careers. Requesting $1,000 – directly supporting Emerging Artist Zone (10-12 artist booths). ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation These early opportunities are often pivotal to first time artists, and seeing the program flourish the past two years we feel this provides a significant and positive impact to our local artist community. Emerging Artists Zone strengthens the diversity of the Edina Art Fair by introducing fresh perspectives and a wider range of artistic expression. Award $1,000 Grant Recipient #5 - Artist Donte Mearon - Mobile Printmaking- Edina Art Fair The artist would create a mobile printmaking set-up, allowing him to share the art of printmaking and experience with visitors at Edina Art Fair as well as other community events. Plans would be to initiate the mobile printmaking setup at Edina Art Fair (Kidzone area), June 5-7, 2026, and future community events. Requesting $1,000 – Pay for portion of material costs including: wood, wheels, printing press, paint. ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation Supporting a local artist/educator Focused on young and family audiences Community-building through shared experience and exposure to diverse forms of artmaking Grant allows for the artist to continue sharing printmaking in an accessible format with various audiences and community events Award $1,000 Grant Recipient #6 – Morningside Theatre Company (MTC) – Plaza Performances In partnership with 50th & France Business Association, Members of the MTC community put on an hour-long interactive performance for children of all ages which includes a variety of songs, storytelling and crafts. Plaza Performances will take place Saturdays, June 6th, June 20th, July 11th, July 18th, and August 1st from 10 am – 11 am, outdoors at the Nolan Mains Plaza (within 50th & France business district). Requesting - $1,000 – funding for three actors and one director with rehearsal, setup, marketing and performances. Page 8 of 12 ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation Theatre medium is nice contrast to other applicants Focus on free programming for families and children Award $500 Grant Recipient #7 - Edina Asian American Alliance (EAAA) - Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Festival In observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month, EAAA will host the AAPI Festival. Celebration and elevation of AAPI art, cultures, and communities in Edina. Festival planned and implemented by EAAA – an intergenerational, grassroots coalition of students, parents, and community members allied in deep commitment to Asian and Asian America youth in the Edina Community. AAPI Festival will take place Saturday, May 16th, 12pm- 4pm at Rosland Park, with rain back-up Sunday, May 17. Requesting $1,000 – to be used in support of the event by providing funding for artist honorariums, space rentals, and audio productions, etc. ## Initiative Team Thoughts and Recommendation: Well-planned event with clear purpose of intent with goal to share AAPI culture and community, while appealing to a broader audience through education and engagement within the Edina community. Award $1,000 ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## None Page 9 of 12 ## Item Report April 23, 2026 ## Arts & Culture Commission ## Item Number: 7.2 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art Center ## Item Title: 2026 Workplan Updates ## Action Requested: No action requested ## Information/Background: ## 2026 Arts and Culture Workplan: ## Arts & Culture Commission The Commission strives to build a vibrant community through support of arts and culture and advises the City Council on artistic initiatives in Edina, including the Edina Art Center. ## Initiative 1.1.1: Art Center Colocation at Southdale Library The Arts and Culture Commission will continue to bring forward community perspective for the new Art Center, collocated at the Hennepin County Southdale Library. 2026 Initiative members: Piacek-Llanes, Scully, Steinberg, Westlund, Buzar Barua (s), Peterson (s) ## Initiative 1.1.2: Edina Art Grant Program Arts and Culture Commission members will review, refine and host a third year of the Edina Art Grant Program. ## 2026 Initiative members: Curtin, Fram, Pandya, Piacek-Llanes, Peterson (s) Initiative 1.1.3 Review Public Art Opportunities for New City Facilities and Locations The Arts and Culture Commission will review public art elements and make recommendations to public projects, such as Fire Station #2, Fred Richards Park, Braemar Arena and others. 2026 Initiative members: all ## Initiative 1.1.4: Commission Participation in Community Events Commission participation in up to two community events this upcoming year. ## 2026 Initiative members: Byrd, Scully, Steinberg, Zbaren ## Initiative 1.1.5: Utility Box Art Wrap Program Three of the five boxes were wrapped in 2025. The remaining boxes will be wrapped in 2026. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). Page 10 of 12 ## None Page 11 of 12 ## Item Report April 23, 2026 ## Arts & Culture Commission ## Item Number: 9.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Information Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art Center ## Item Title: Upcoming Meetings & Events ## Action Requested: Information only ## Information/Background: ## Upcoming Meeting Dates ## Date Time Location ## Thursday, May 16 12-4 PM AAPI Festival, Rosland Park ## Thursday, May 21 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room ## June 5-7 TBD Edina Art Fair ## Thursday, June 25 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room ## Saturday, July 4 TBD 4th of July Parade ## Thursday, July 23 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room ## Thursday, August 27 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room Saturday & Sunday Sept. 5 & 6 TBD Fall Into the Arts Festival, Centennial Lakes ## Park ## Thursday, September 24 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room ## Thursday, October 22 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room ## Thursday, November 19** 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room ## Thursday, December 17** 4:30 PM Edina City Hall, Community Room **Date adjustments due to holidays ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## None Page 12 of 12