CASE Committee Meeting Packet Materials 2020.09.17
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
TO: CASE Committee
FROM: Danita Dempsey, CASE Manager
RE: Staff Update & Art in Avon 2021
DATE: September 8, 2020
SUMMARY: This report provides an update on current special events and art activity; and, discusses
future planning ideas for art in 2021. Regarding future planning of art, the CASE Committee is being asked
to offer overall guidance on two projects, 1.) the Mural Project on the Recreation Center exterior wall(s) and
direction on the two questions listed below:
1. Should the Town identify the artist and provide guardrails leaving the artist full creative control? OR
2. Identify the artist and provide guardrails with multiple iterations submitted for approval?
And, 2.) consideration to forego sponsorship of the Colorado Mountain News Media project in 2021 and
considering other temporary and/or permanent art installations instead which are outlined below.
STAFF UPDATE: Below is a brief update on the events and art projects which have been completed since
our last meeting and those coming to fruition this month. Also, Staff is working with the Recreation
Department athletic events to fine tune process, offer clarity and efficiencies to protoco ls, and support
marketing efforts where needed.
1. Staff learned this week that Man of the Cliff will not be hosted this year in its traditional format in
Nottingham Park. The producer is considering a small invitation only reduced competition format
at Bonfire Brewery
2. SunsetLIVE! is a wrap and was a great addition to Avon’s event programming. Attached as
Exhibit A are the Post Event Briefs for events on July 12 through September 6.
3. The Avon Art Festival took place September 5th and 6th and was well attended for a first-year event
during a pandemic. Staff hopes to have Colorado Events (producer) post event report by the time
the Committee meets on the 17th.
4. The Avon Arts Celebration multi-day art festival is the final event of the season and staff hopes to
have CCM Events (producer) post event report by the time the Committee meets on the 17 th.
5. The Virtual Scavenger Hunt is available for participation in English and Spanish beginning Friday,
September 11th and closes Monday, September 21st in both English and Spanish. Attached as
Exhibit B is the “Tease” developed to help create buzz.
6. Faces on Trees – This project is complete. See photos attached as Exhibit C.
7. Decorating Park Benches – This project is complete. See photos attached as Exhibit D.
8. Pending - "Avon in the Time of COVID". Staff is finding it difficult to get responses from VVAG
recommended photographers. This has become lower in priority.
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
CURRENT ACTIVITY: Staff has begun work on the planning phase for 2021 art projects, specifically the 1.)
Mural Project and 2.) other temporary and/or permanent art installations in lieu of the Colorado Mountain
News Project (CMNM) project. Each of these art projects are detailed below.
1. Mural Project - outlined in the attached Exhibit E and for reference during our meeting. As the
Town embarks on the planning and/or building phase for Nottingham Park improvements (cabin
remodel, public restrooms, beach restrooms building) and eventually the west Main Street Mall
(MSM) extension and Lot B hotel development, the Mural Project location will become a focal point
and gateway to Nottingham Park. The recommended approach and not unlike other communities
are to solicit requests for proposals (“RFP”) and/or Artist Call Ou t; examples of RFP’s from other
communities are included in Exhibit D. Due to the strategic location and longevity of the Mural,
Staff is seeking guidance with specific questions on the process which are paramount to
developing the RFP:
A. Should the Town identify the artist and provide guardrails leaving the artist full creative
control?
i. Premise is the Town selects an artist based off like works that fits with the desired
outcomes (project goals). Providing loose guardrails to the artist and trusting their
creative compass to guide design concepts without a multiple iteration approval
process. OR
B. Identify the artist and provide guardrails with multiple iterations submitted for approval?
i. Premise would include the artist submit potentially multiple iterations of design
concepts for Town approval.
Secondly, Staff is seeking regarding foregoing sponsorship of the CMNM project in 2021 in order to budget
other temporary and/or permanent art installations. A summary of the CMNM projects is provided in
number “3” below.
To learn more about art programs and installations in like communities, Staff toured the Town of
Carbondale “Art Around Town” program with Laurie Lindberg, Carbondale Public Works Assistant to the
Director and Town liaison on the Carbondale Public Art Commission. Ms. Lindberg will join us via Zoom at
the September 17th meeting to provide an executive summary and answer questions on two of their unique
programs to include decorating of trash cans and the Art Around Town. A brief summary is provided below:
2. Other Temporary and/or Permanent Art Installations - Carbondale
A. Decorating Trash / Recycling Cans: Staff believes Carbondale’s approach to decorating
trash/recycling containers could work well in Avon. Essentially they worked with a local art
teacher to create a design which was then translated to a vinyl sticker which Public Works
staff adhered to approximately 65 trash cans in the Town’s creative centers. The cost of
the vinyl stickers was approximately $6,400 and does not include the cost of the trash cans
which were purchased from the City of Aspen at a significant discount.
B. Art Around Town: This program provides a mechanism for temporary installations
throughout Carbondale’s creative center to be renewed each year with minimal investment
from the Town. Additionally, the program delivers community vibrancy and placemaking,
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
supports the art community and artist themselves with awareness, financial compensation,
opportunity to sell works which includes a revenue share between the artist and the Town;
and, speaks to both residence and destination guests. Carbondale juries’ artists beginning
in October, deinstalls in mid-May and re-installs at the end of May. Each year the new
selections are presented to the community through the Art Around Town event supported
by a walking-map which is available year-round – See Exhibit F. Carbondale budgets
$21,000 each year to support this program. Staff believes this model could work in Avon
and act as a springboard to further our art efforts.
Currently, the 2021 proposed budget includes $20,000 earmarked to be the Community Sponsor of the
CMNM project. The exact scope of the project is to be determined however, Staff anticipates the project
will be like those sponsored in 2018, 2019 and 2020 – see Summary below.
3. Colorado Mountain News Media Projects Summary – The Town has sponsored a temporary art
installation for the past three years which has supported local non-profit fund-raising efforts and
activated Nottingham Park and the MSM. This is a great program which supports local non-profits,
requires minimal staff support, provides added value with exposure through multi-level media
campaign to include digital, programmatic and newsprint; and, drives awareness to the MSM. A
brief Summary is provided below with imagery included in Exhibit G.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: The 2021 proposed budget includes a total of $45,000 for temporary
and/or permanent art installations. Currently, $20,000 is earmarked for the CMNM project and $25,000 for
an art installation (Mural).
Thank you, Danita
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A – SunsetLIVE! Post Event Briefs
Exhibit B – Virtual Scavenger Hunt Tease
Exhibit C – Faces on Trees Final
Exhibit D – Park Benches Final
Exhibit E – Mural Project Outline
Exhibit F – Art Around Town Flyer Carbondale
Exhibit G - CMNM Projects Imagery
Name of
Project Dates
Town
Investment Non-Profit Benefactor Funds Raised Donated
Playhouse
Project
6/9 -
7/20/18 $18,000
St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospitaltiy;
Vail Board of Realtors Foundation
$16,000 to St.
Judes; $3,000 to
Playhouse donated to
Betty Ford Apline
Benches of
Avon
6/17 -
7/19/19 $20,000
Each non-profit kept gthe bench they
created to auction/sell as desired N/A N/A
Home For
Hounds
6/23 -
7/23/20 $20,000
Eagle Valley Humane Society; Vail Board of
Realtors Foundation
$4,000 to Humane
Society; $3,000 to N/A
Colorado Mountain News Media Projects Summary