Edina Arts Commission Seeks Input on Welcoming City Spaces
The Edina Arts & Culture Commission met Thursday to discuss how the city can make its public buildings more welcoming to people of diverse cultural backgrounds. The commission provided feedback on the city's equity plan, focusing on improvements to entry areas at City Hall and other municipal facilities.
During the October 23 meeting at City Hall, commissioners discussed the city's Equity Strategic Action Plan with a focus on the built environment—how physical spaces can be designed to welcome and reflect diverse cultures. The discussion centered on two main locations: the entry and reception areas of City Hall (including the Police Department lobby) and the Public Works and Park Maintenance Facility.
Commissioners explored what currently makes these spaces welcoming, what improvements could be made through art, furniture, and signage, and how the city should decide what cultural representations to include. The commission also identified other stakeholder groups that should be involved in these decisions. No formal vote was taken on this item; instead, it was designed to gather the commission's input for city staff to consider.
In other business, commissioners received updates on their current workplan, which outlines ongoing arts and culture initiatives across the city. The commission also learned about upcoming programs and classes at the Edina Art Center, though no action was needed on that informational item.
The commission received an invitation to the Empty Bowls event, scheduled for Sunday, November 2, at Normandale Lutheran Church. The community event supports Crosstown Meal on Wheels and aims to raise awareness and funds for seniors and vulnerable adults facing food insecurity. The meeting concluded with approval of minutes from the commission's September 23 meeting.
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Commission Input on Equity Strategic Action Plan - Built Environment
Dissent: N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
Moved by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report. · Seconded by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
The item initiated a discussion seeking feedback from the Arts & Culture Commission on evaluating and improving public spaces within city-owned buildings to be welcoming and accommodating of diverse cultures. The discussion focused on the main entry reception areas of City Hall (including Police) and the Public Works and Park Maintenance Facility, covering aspects like existing welcoming features, potential enhancements through art/furniture/signage, decision-making processes for cultural representation, and identification of other relevant stakeholder groups.
Arts and Culture Commission Workplan Update
Dissent: N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
Moved by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report. · Seconded by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
Commissioners provided updates on the status and progress of ongoing initiatives and projects identified within their workplan. This was an informational item designed for the commission to share current progress without requiring a formal action or decision.
Upcoming Art Center programs
Dissent: N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
Moved by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report. · Seconded by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
This item served as an informational report detailing a listing of upcoming art programs and classes scheduled at the Edina Art Center. No action or decision was requested from the Commission, serving purely as an update on future activities.
Empty Bowls invitation
Dissent: N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
Moved by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report. · Seconded by N/A - Not recorded in agenda/item report.
The Commission received an invitation to the Empty Bowls event, scheduled for Sunday, November 2nd, at Normandale Lutheran Church. The event aims to support Crosstown Meal on Wheels by bringing the community together to share a meal and raise awareness and funds for seniors and vulnerable adults needing food and social connection. This was an informational item with no action requested.
N/A - Direct quotes from speakers are not available in this document.
N/A - Direct quotes from speakers are not available in this document.
N/A - Direct quotes from speakers are not available in this document.
N/A - Direct quotes from speakers are not available in this document.
Source document
Meeting location:
Edina City Hall
Community Room
4801 W. 50th St.
Edina, MN
Arts & Culture Commission Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 23, 2025
4:30 PM
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. Minutes
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. Commission Input on Equity Strategic Action Plan - Built Environment
7.2. Arts and Culture Commission Workplan Update
8. Chair and Member Comments
9. Staff Comments
9.1. Upcoming Meetings & Events
Page 1 of 17
9.2. Upcoming Art Center programs
9.3. Empty Bowls invitation
10. Adjournment
Page 2 of 17
BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Item Activity: Approve
Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art
Center
Department: Parks & Recreation
Date: October 23, 2025
Meeting: Arts & Culture Commission
Agenda Number: 4.1
Item Type: Minutes
Item Title:
Minutes
Action Requested:
Approve minutes from the Sept. 23, 2025 meeting of the Edina Arts and Culture Commission.
Information/Background:
Attached, please find the meeting minutes from the Sept. 23 meeting of the Edina Arts and Culture
Commission.
Supporting Documentation:
1.
DRAFT Minutes Sept. 23, 2025
Page 3 of 17
Page 4 of 17 Page 5 of 17 Page 6 of 17 BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: October 23, 2025
Meeting: Arts & Culture Commission
Agenda Number: 7.1
Item Type: Report & Recommendation
Item Activity: Discussion
Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art
Center, Addison Lewis, Community Development
Coordinator
Department: Parks & Recreation
Item Title:
Commission Input on Equity Strategic Action Plan - Built Environment
Action Requested:
Provide feedback to city liaison on questions evaluating and improving public spaces.
Information/Background:
As part of implementing the city’s Equity Strategic Action Plan, a group of staff have been assigned a
task to evaluate and make recommendations for improving public spaces within city owned buildings
with regard to being welcoming and accommodating of different cultures. The main entry reception
areas of City Hall (including Police) and the Public Works and Park Maintenance Facility have been
identified as buildings to focus on first. Staff are seeking feedback from the Arts & Culture
Commission on the following:
1. What do you currently find welcoming about our City Hall/Police Department lobby area
and the Public Works lobby area?
2. What would make a space more welcoming regarding the representation of cultures
(artwork, furniture, signage, etc.).
3. What process do you think the city should use to make decisions on which cultures to
represent, how to select artwork, etc.
4. Are there other groups you think we should talk to?
Supporting Documentation:
None
Page 7 of 17
BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: October 23, 2025
Meeting: Arts & Culture Commission
Agenda Number: 7.2
Item Type: Report & Recommendation
Item Activity: Discussion
Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art
Center
Department: Parks & Recreation
Item Title:
Arts and Culture Commission Workplan Update
Action Requested:
No action required
Information/Background:
Commissioners will provide updates on the status of current workplan initiatives. See attached
workplan progress report.
Supporting Documentation:
1.
Oct ACC workplan update
Page 8 of 17
Page 9 of 17 BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: October 23, 2025
Meeting: Arts & Culture Commission
Agenda Number: 9.2
Item Type: Report & Recommendation
Item Activity: Information
Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art
Center
Department: Parks & Recreation
Item Title:
Upcoming Art Center programs
Action Requested:
No action requested
Information/Background:
Attached is a listing of the upcoming art programs and classes at the Edina Art Center
Supporting Documentation:
1.
Fall class list
Page 10 of 17
Page 11 of 17 Page 12 of 17 Page 13 of 17 Page 14 of 17 Page 15 of 17 BOARD & COMMISSION
ITEM REPORT
Date: October 23, 2025
Meeting: Arts & Culture Commission
Agenda Number: 9.3
Item Type: Other
Item Activity: Information
Prepared By: Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor Art
Center
Department: Parks & Recreation
Item Title:
Empty Bowls invitation
Action Requested:
No action requested
Information/Background:
Attached, please find an invitation to ACC members to the Empty Bowls event on Sunday, Nov. 2.
Supporting Documentation:
EMPTY BOWLS EVENT
1.
Page 16 of 17
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd
10:30am-2:30pm
Normandale Lutheran Church
You are cordially invited to the Empty Bowls Event to support Crosstown
Meal on Wheels!
Empty Bowls is an event that brings the community together to share a meal of homemade soup,
bread and dessert donated by local restaurants out of handmade bowls, donated by local artists.
Community members eat together and take a beautiful bowl home as a reminder of our
neighbors who need food and shelter.
This event will support the Crosstown Meals on Wheels goal, to continue to improve the health
and quality of life of seniors and others in need by providing nourishment and social connection.
Meals on Wheels is serving a record number of meals. An aging population, stubborn inflation,
and cuts to benefits like Snap and Medicaid continue to put more vulnerable older adults at risk
of going without food.
We are grateful to donors who recognize the current need and have stepped up to support
neighbors during challenging times. This is a time of uncertainty. Yet, amid these challenges,
there is hope—and that hope comes from you. Because of our donors and volunteers, neighbors
continue to receive the nutritious meals and daily connection they rely on.
Please join us at the upcoming Empty Bowls event. Pick out a fabulous bowl from the many
bowls that have been donated by local artists and enjoy great food donated by some of your
favorite restaurants. And enjoy your community.
Thank You for your support!
Page 17 of 17
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Other Topics from This Document
Equity Strategic Action Plan - Built Environment
Arts and Culture Commission Workplan Update
Upcoming Art Center Programs
Empty Bowls Invitation and Community Event
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