4.1. BPASR 04-15-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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By having a plethora of usable spaces, Furniture and Things Community Event Center has something for everyone in the community regardless of age or interests. This is why Elk River is pleased to propose a public art project at this highly used facility where a great number of individuals, residents and visitors, have the ability to appreciate the piece. 11. What makes you believe the proposal will be welcomed or celebrated by the community? Provide examples such as surveys, community meetings, audience feedback, local and regional studies, etc. The Elk River community has a history of backing public art in many forms. In 1989, the Elk River Arts Alliance was founded as a non-profit organization that worked with local businesses, city and county government, area schools, arts organizations, and artists to provide quality arts experiences and programming for the residents of the area until the early 2010’s. While the alliance is no longer active, the group left a lasting mark on arts appreciation in the community. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department facilitated a community survey in October of 2019 to assist completion of their Park Plan. One of the items identified in the survey was that public art was a priority. Throughout the summer, Elk River hosts the Riverfront Concert Series featuring local and regional bands. These events pack Rivers Edge Commons on the banks of the Mississippi River with residents and visitors of all ages supporting this musical side of art. Additionally, numerous public art projects have been commissioned within the city. Most recently was Slipstream, a large-scale abstract sculpture positioned prominently at the gateway to downtown Elk River. Prior to that, Whimsical Windmill, a tall, colorful windmill full of moving parts, was installed within our municipal campus near the entrance to the public library. The community support received in response to the multitude of past art pieces and programming leads us to believe that “Where Energy Flows” will be similarly celebrated.