MEETING MINUTES
May 2025 Arden Artisan Collective Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4 PM at Annette’s House: 1615 Sunset Ln, Ardencroft. In attendance: Megan King, Jill Althouse-Wood, Shay Seaborne, Cookie Ohlson, Linda Toman, Annette Hearing
1. ADMINISTRATIVE/ FINANCES
A. Approve Zoom meeting minutes: Approved: https://www.ardenartisans.com/meeting-minutes
B. Finances are available online and are up-to-date: Noted.
2. DEBRIEF EVENTS PAST—BRIEFLY
A. Spring Arden Social: Jennifer Borders, keynote speaker, couldn’t come due to illness. Shay, AAC social organizer, noted that the sharing and socializing went very well. ACTION: In the future have AAC social “share prompt(s)” ready to go.
3. UPCOMING 2025 EVENTS/PROJECTS
A. Fall Social: Next social on Oct 28, will feature Jen Borders. ACTION: Check Buzz calendar.
B. October 2D Show at Grand: Megan: Submissions, due by tomorrow May 8, are underway for Round 1. Some of these initial submissions will be used for promotional purposes.
C. November 3D Show at Blue Ball Barn: Micah Altman is curator and has previously solicited art from sculptors for promotion purposes. Submissions are due on August 1.
D. Public Art—electrical boxes: There is a Zoom meeting organized by Bethany on May 14 to discuss theme and plans. Grant status expected sometime in May. Aside: it was noted that Arden needs a meeting space for ad hoc resident meetings.
E. Possible taking over the Showcase at the Buzz. Clare is interested but must see if it will work with her schedule. Possibly with another person. We are committed to doing two displays. One for ACRA and one for after the fair to promote our shows. We will see from there.
F. The things that aren’t on the agenda for 2025, namely AAC Arden Fair booth, Small Art Show
Instead, the AAC will be involved with facepainting at the Arden Fair and have promotional material at the facepainting area and with individual AAC artists with booths at the fair. There will be training a few days before the fair for AAC members and a schedule done ahead of time. ACTIONS: Have marketing plan ready. Megan to set up training date with a professional face painter and send out sign up for fair day.
Linda asked for help with decorating the Arden fair, specifically with refurbishing the banners. Cookie suggested having help be able to take the banners home to work on them to make it easier for everyone. ACTION: Linda and Cookie to discuss how to manage banner refurbishing for the Arden Fair.
Jill has approached the owner of the Talleyville frame shop about AAC being part of their 6x6” small art show in Nov-Dec and some signage for AAC member art.
4. MARKETING** Bulk of the meeting will be spent on this.
Setup template and timelines. Use our email list to connect with people. Jill Megan, Micah, to meet to discuss the plan. Reach out to other arts organizations. Banner for 125 year of art? Clare—include images; Sadie, Barbara have submissions. ACTION: Setup marketing calendar.
A. Press Release
B. Podcast, State of the Arts—any others?
C. Email lists and mailings
D. Print
1. Postcards
2. Posters
E. Social Media/Web
1. Facebook
2. Instagram
3. Website
4. Arts Calendars
5. Other Arts Organizations
F. In Arden
1. Page
2. Showcase in Buzz
3. Presence in Fair
E. Marketing Tools
1. Village license for Adobe suite
Adobe License: Consider going through the Arts and Crafts Gild to get an Adobe license (includes light room, photoshop, in design, etc.) for the Arden’s Gild Hall library? ACTION: Get info on Adobe licenses. Set up training for Adobe.
5. MEMBERSHIP/DUES
1. Taking this online.
2. Value for Membership: What do people get for membership?
Membership dues through square space to be due at a set time of year, like January. Partial year possible (6-month prorated). Part of website (e.g., the meeting minutes) will be members only and password protected. Charge $35 annually. Members benefits: 1 listing on the website, submission of artwork to AAC shows without a commission fee on sales, and tiered class fees (lowered fee for AAC members vs. public). Action: Revisit the benefits of AAC membership for completeness.
6.NEW BUSINESS (I know of none)
Maker Space: Necessary to be certified to use the maker space at the Rte 9 library.
Reviewed the suggestions from AAC members from the last AAC meeting. ACTION: Shay to check we have addressed members ideas?
· “Wing” photobooth opportunity, write on feathers--do this at Arden Fair by facepainting area?
· Villages of Arden each have Goldsworthy-style sculpture in the woods – a competition of sorts. Liz Ryan could lead this?
· Collab fair at the Buzz
7. WRAP-UP
A. What are action items? See bolded above.
B. Next Meeting time/place? Tuesday, July 22, 4 pm. Note, there is no AAC meeting in June!