The new Hastings Arts & Culture Commission now has commissioners, with approval by the Hastings City Council Monday, Feb. 21.

The commission was formed in December to enhance arts and culture in public places in the city and is funded by $20,000 in this year’s budget for arts project, with an additional $5,283 for staff support for the commission.

The initial city ordinance creates the council through 2024, and the council would have to extend the life of the commission prior to that time.

The ordinance governing the commission states the purpose of the Arts and Culture Commission “shall be to assist Hastings in becoming a community in which arts and cultural activities: 

• Are recognized as vital components of community life that are worthy of investment and support from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
• Are valued and promoted for their economic benefits and development potential throughout the city.
• Include Hastings’ historic, existing and emerging cultural group’s identity and sense of community.
• Support the goals of Hastings’ arts education and programs for young people.
• Engage the talents and involvement of retirees and senior citizens.
• Enhance the public perception of Hastings’ identity and quality of life in the community itself, the surrounding region, and beyond.
• Achieve a strong sense of place through beautification and the creative activation of arts and culture.”

As part of the city public art and culture program, “The Commission will advise the City Council on the commissioning placement and maintenance of works of art that have been purchased or accepted by the city, or which are owned by the city because they have been produced or created with public funds.” The commission will also advise the city on arts-related capital investments. 

The ordinance states, “To encourage broad community participation in the Public Art and Culture Program and to ensure artwork of the highest quality, the Commission may solicit the pro-bono participation of community representatives and professionals in the visual arts and design fields as part of the artist and artwork selection process for particular public art projects in accordance with the size and complexity of the public art projects. These advisors may assist the Commission in the selection of artists, public art project oversight and other related purposes, but shall have no vote on matters coming before the Arts and Culture Commission. No funds may be expended without prior Council approval.” 

The commission will also work with city departments and “may develop and advocate design standards for City facilities, roadways, public areas, and private development, in order to advance a coherent image of Hastings as a place of unique aesthetic, architectural, and cultural identity.”

Commissioners appointed to get to the Arts & Culture Commission work were Barb Hollenbeck, Jeannie Tribe, Steven Read, Sherry Humphrey, Ryan McCoy, Joe Becker, Kirk Skeba and student representative Deidre McGill.

Candidates for the commission were interviewed Feb. 8 by a panel that included Councilmember Tina Folch, Hollenbeck, City Administrator Dan Wietecha and Assistant City Administrator Kelly Murtaugh.

Hollenbeck, Read, Skeba and McGinn will serve one-year terms, while Becker, Tribe Humphrey and McCoy will serve two-year terms.