november 10, 2017 bozeman school board of...

111SouthGrandAvenue•Bozeman,Montana59715•PH(406)587-9797•www.TheEmerson.orgTheEmersonCenterfortheArts&Cultureisa501(c)(3)non-profitorganization

November10,2017BozemanSchoolBoardofTrusteesBozemanSchoolDistrict7POBOX520Bozeman,MT59771DearTrustees:PleasefindtheattachedproposalsubmittedinresponsetotheBozemanSchoolDistrict7RequestforProposalsforEmersonLawn.TheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture’sBoardofDirectors,donors,andstafffullysupportthisproposal.WhenyouissuedthisRFPatyourSeptembermeetingyoucalleduponthecommunitytoshowyoutheircreativity.Webelievethatourproposalistheembodimentofcreativity.Inourproposal,weareinvitingyoutocollaboratewithusinsupportingtheartsandculturethatenrichourlivesandourcommunity.For25-yearswehaveco-managedtheEmersonLawn.Bydoublingdownonourpartnership–togetherwecanenhancetheEmersonLawnasopenspaceforourcommunitytocontinuetogatherintheheartofBozeman,surroundedbythearts.Byinvestingtogetherinopenspaceandtheartsweareinvestinginthefutureofourcommunity.ThisisourmomenttoshowBozemanthatwearewillingtoinvestinthem,justliketheyhaveinvestedinus.Thankyouforyourthoughtfulconsiderationofourproposal.Wewouldwelcometheopportunitytodiscussourproposalindetailwithyouatanytime.Togetherlet’screateaplacethatmakesthecommunityproud.Sincerely,

SusanDenson-GuyExecutiveDirector

GrandLawnProposal- 1

ProposalforEmersonLawn(BozemanSchoolDistrict7)submittedby

EmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture1.Organization: EmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture 111SouthGrandAvenue Bozeman,MT59715Name: SusanDenson-Guy,ExecutiveDirector

susan@theemerson.orgOffice:406.587.9797ext.102Mobile:406.580.4422

2.Signature: Date:10November20173.HereweproposetotransformthecurrentEmersonLawnintotheGrandLawn.ThenewnamerepresentstheproximityofthelawntoGrandAveandillustratesthecommitmentoftheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturetothecommunity-wideuseofthelawn.TheGrandLawnwillexpandontherichhistoryoftheEmersonLawnbyprovidinganopenspaceforourcommunitytogatherandcelebratetheartsfrompreformingartstooutdoorpublicart.Furthermore,weproposethattheGrandLawnbecomesinpartavenuefordisplayingstudentartofallages(particularlystudentsintheBozemanSchoolDistrict),alongwithotherlocal,regional,andnationalartists.TheGrandLawnwillrevitalizethecurrentEmersonLawn,whichwillundoubtedlybecomemoreofafocalpointforBozemanSchoolDistrictstudents,Bozemanresidents,andnon-residents.Asyouwillfindintheattacheddocuments,theGrandLawnisenvisionedasanenhancementandextensionoftheexistinglawnandsculpturecourtareascurrentlyonthenorthlawnoftheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture.Theproposedperformancestagewillbelocatedonthesouthernedgeofthelawn,slightlyelevatedandshowcaseasolidbackdroptoprojectsoundawayfromneighbors.Thelawnareawillbegradedsmoothandcontainanumberofnewtreesthatwillscaleanddefinethespacetofeelmoreasaroom.Theperimeterofthelawnareawillhave10’highhopsfencesateithersideandsurrounding6’highartfencesallowingformetalandotherartformsconstructedbyartiststobedisplayedandrotatedin-outonaregularbasis.Thecenterofthesitewillfeatureaconcreteplazaareawherefourspecialtyfoodtruckscanassembleonaregularbasistoservepatrons.Theplazaspacewillalsofeaturethreelargeoverheadretractablecanopiesandfestivaloverheadstringlighting.Bistrotablesandchairswillservetheneedsofbothpatronstofoodtrucksaswellasvisitorsviewingtheperformancesonstage.

GrandLawnProposal- 2

ThenorthernportionoftheGrandLawnwillfeatureasculpturecourtconsistingofapermeableperimeterfencethatwouldremainopen,butalsocanbeclosedandsecureddependingonthenatureofaspecialevent.Thecourtareawillfeaturedecomposedgranitesurfacingwithconcreteperimeterandconnectionsthroughouttothefoodplazaarea.Thesculptureswillbesetagainstan8’highboard-formedconcretepaneltofeaturethepiecesappropriately.Thecourtwillprovidelinearbenchseatingtohelpcontaintheperimeterandfeatureinteriorbenchesforviewing.Thesemi-permanentstagewillbeavenueforperformingartssuchasconcertsandplaysperformedbyBozemanSchoolDistrictstudents,ShakespeareintheParks,LunchontheLawn,BozemanSymphony,IntermountainOperaBozeman,BozemanActorsTheater,andoutdoormusicandfilmfestivals.ThesculpturegardenatthenorthendoftheGrandLawn,alongBabcockStreet,willincludesculpturesthatintegrateandcomplementthecurrentsculpturescurrentlyonthenorthlawnoftheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture.ThesculptureexhibitswillrotateandweenvisionthatthisareacouldbeusedtohighlightBozemanSchoolDistrictstudent-designedsculptures(designedandconstructedbystudentsintraditionalartsclassesalongwithstudentsstudyingwoodworkingandwelding).TheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturehasalonghistoryofworkingwiththeBozemanPublicSchoolDistrictandsurroundingdistrictstoengagetheirstudentsinartappreciation.TheSchoolsintheGalleryprogramhasbeenthepremierartseducationprogramforstudentsofallagesformorethan15yearsattheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture.Throughthisprogramweinvitestudentsofallagestoengagewithexhibitshighlightingtheworksoflocal,regional,andnationalartists.TheSchoolsintheGalleryprogramhashostedmorethan4,500studentsinthepast5yearsfromtheBozemanSchoolDistrictandsurroundingareas.TheSchoolsintheGalleryprogramwillbefullyintegratedintotheGrandLawnbyeducatingstudentsontheimportanceofpublicartexhibitsinalocationwheretheircommunitygathers.TheGrandLawnwillbefullylandscapedsuchthatisestheticallypleasingandinvitingtoallmembersofthecommunity.WebelievetheGrandLawnwillbeanoutstandingopenspaceforthecommunitytogatherwithinwalkingdistanceofdowntownBozeman.Moreover,theGrandLawnwillbeashowcaseandmodelforothercommunitiesthroughouttheIntermountainWest,muchliketheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture.TheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureisanenormousassettoBozemanandsurroundingcommunities,thuspairingthatresourcewiththeGrandLawnwouldenrichourcommunityandprovideanoutdoorvenueforstudent,local,andnationalartistswhileprovidingaplaceforthecommunitytorelaxandenjoydowntownBozeman.AsrequestedintheRFP(i.e.,'...CityofBozeman'sdowntownredevelopmentinitiatives.'),wedescribehowthephilosophyoftheGrandLawnalignsperfectlywiththeGuidingPrinciples(GP)outlinedintheDowntownBozemanImprovementPlan(datedDecember14,2009;https://downtownbozeman.org/uploads/Pdfs/DBIP_Final_12-14-09_SM.pdf):

• TheGrandLawnwillprovidesafeaccessforpedestriansandbicyclists,andwillbeADAcompliant.ThedesignfortheGrandLawnisvisuallyappealingandcomplementstheneighborhoodanddowntownBozeman(GP2).

GrandLawnProposal- 3

• TheGrandLawnwillbeafocallocationforciviclife.ItwillalsoserveasanoutdooreducationspaceforBozemanPublicSchoolDistrictstudentsandavarietyofoutdoorartsandcultureevents.TheimportanceofpreservingandenhancingaspacesuchastheGrandLawnisclearlynotedbyGuetzkow(2002)where"...communityartsprogramsaresaidtobuildsocialcapitalbyboostingindividuals'abilityandmotivationtobecivicallyengaged,aswellas,buildingorganizationalcapacityforeffectiveaction."(https://www.princeton.edu/~artspol/workpap/WP20%20-%20Guetzkow.pdf)(GP3).

• TheGrandLawnwillbethepremieroutdoorvenueforartsandcultureinBozeman(GP3).

• TheGrandLawnprojectwilltakeintoaccountthecharacterofBozeman'shistoriccoreandmatchthearchitectureandstyleoftheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturewhileallowingforthoughtfullyconstructedcontemporaryaspects(GP4).

• UnlikemanyprojectsindowntownBozeman,parkingwillnotbeasproblematicgiventhecurrentparkinglotownedbytheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureandeasyaccesstostreetparking.Additionally,theparkinggarageisafewblocksawayandiswithineasywalkingdistancetotheGrandLawn(GP5).

• TheGrandLawnisperfectlysituatedforthecommunitythatparticipatesinBozeman'spublictransitsystem.Currently,theStreamlinebusservicehasastoponthenortheastcorneroftheproposedGrandLawn(GP6).

• TheGrandLawnwillbealargepublicspacemanagedbytheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureandwillbeactivethroughusebythecommunityandBozemanPublicSchoolDistrict(GP7).

• TheGrandLawnwillbeopenspacethatwillcontributetoahealthiercommunitybyprovidingavenueforallpeopletoappreciatewhatartsandcultureprovidetosociety(GP9).

• TheGrandLawnwillbeaperfectblendofhistoricandcontemporarydesign.Moreover,thematerialsusedintheGrandLawnwillbesustainableanddurablesuchthattheGrandLawnmaintainsitsfunctionandvisualappealovertime(GP10).

• TheGrandLawnwillprovideastrongconnectiontothedowntownartscommunitybypromotingallartswithinBozemanandsurroundingcommunities.ThephilosophyandmissionfortheGrandLawncomplementsthatoftheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture(GP11).

• TheGrandLawnlandscapingwillcomplementthesurroundinglandscapeandthemountainsetting.ThedevelopmentoftheGrandLawnwillframethecurrentviewofdowntownBozemanwiththeBridgermountainsservingasitsbackdrop.TheGrandLawnwillundoubtedlystrengthentheamenitiesuniquetotheCityofBozeman(GP12).

Inadditiontomeetingtheguidingprinciples,theGrandLawndirectlymeetsthecriteriamentionedinsection4'AWell-PlannedCity'inthedraftBozemanStrategicPlan.Specifically,section4.4.estates'DowntownandMidtownPublicSpace.Developpublicspacesinthedowntownareaandothercommerciallocations.'

GrandLawnProposal- 4

TheGrandLawnalsolinksdirectlytotheBozemanPublicSchoolDistrict's20YearPlanningHorizonmentionedundertheheading'AVividDescriptionoftheDesiredFuture'where'Together,BozemanPublicSchools,students,familiesandthecommunityregularlycollaborateasequalpartnerstoachievethesharedgoalsfortheDistrictandcommunity'(https://www.bsd7.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=112502&pageId=676750).TheGrandLawnwillbeagatheringplaceforstudents,families,andthecommunityandweproposeapartnershipbetweentheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureandtheBozemanPublicSchoolDistrictforthebenefitofstudentsandthecommunity.Furthermore,itisstatedinthesamedocumentthat'BozemanPublicSchoolsareintegraltothecommunityandrecognizedasasignificantcontributortoBozeman'soutstandingqualityoflife.'Wearguethatbuildinguponthesuccessful25-yearpartnershipbetweentheBozemanPublicSchoolDistrictandtheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturetodeveloptheGrandLawnwouldsignificantlycontributetothequalityoflifeinBozemanbywayofartandculturalappreciationinavenuethatexemplifiesthequalityoflifeexpressedbythecommunity.4.Parkingisnotaconcern,asstatedabove,giventheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturehasparkingavailable.5.TheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture'sBoardofDirectorsandleadershipteamhaveextensiveexperienceinsuccessfulprojectdevelopmentandimplementationforprojectsofvaryingsize.EmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureBoardofDirectors:

• WynnJessup,President-extensivecareerintheinvestmentindustry,includingmostrecentlyservingastheChairmanandPresidentofChartwellInvestmentPartnersandRigelCapital

• MikeDrewiske,VicePresident-formerVicePresidentofFirstSecurityBank• BrookMerrow-writinginstructorforGallatinCollegeandMontanaStateUniversity• JimRunyan-OwnerofRunyanandAssociates• JessicaPlamer-Investmentbankerandartist• AlissaBanks-OwnerA.BanksGallery• MaggieHammett-AssistanttothePresident,MontanaStateUniversity• VickiSaab-Researcher,U.S.ForestService

LeadershipTeam

• SusanDenson-Guy,ExecutiveDirector-25+yearsinnonprofitleadershipandprojectmanagement

• ReneeStephens,DirectorofOperations-20+yearsinprojectmanagement• AlissaPopken,EducationCurator-5yearsinexhibitcurationand10yearsin

educationalprogrammanagement• ErikHansen,MaintenanceTechnician-20+yearsinconstruction,contracting,and

facilitymaintenance

GrandLawnProposal- 5

• MikeWeix,TheaterManager-18yearswiththeEmerson'sTheater• SonjaBahr,DirectorofCommunityOutreach-8yearsindevelopmentandoutreach• TamaraKnappenbeger,Events&MembershipManager-8yearsineventandprogram

developmentTheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturestaffhavemorethan90yearsofcombinedexperienceinsuccessfullydevelopingandexecutingprojectsofallsizes.Forexample,afire-suppressionsystemwascompletedin2014thatinvolvedsecuring$135,000andimplementingacontractwithavendorandretrofittingthesystemtoabuildingthatis100yearsold.A$100,000solararraywasconstructedsothebuildingcouldbemoreenergyefficientandatitscompletionwasthelargestsolararrayinBozeman.TheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturedesignedandsecuredfundingfortheoutsidesculptureparkalongBabcockStreet.Moreover,theEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturehasinvestedintheEmersonLawntoprovideavenueforthecommunitytogathertoenjoytheartsandculture.ThestaffareconstantlysecuringextramuralfundingtomaintainandupgradetheEmersonbuilding,whichinvolvesworkingcloselywiththeCityofBozemantoobtaintheproperpermitsandmeetcoderegulations.WeareveryfamiliarwiththepermittingprocessandhaveagoodworkingrelationshipwiththeCityofBozeman,ourneighbors,andthecommunity.6.WerecognizethemonetaryvalueoftheEmersonLawn.However,weandmanymembersofthecommunityrecognizethevalueandnecessityofmaintainingopenspaceinourDowntown/Midtowncommunity,whichhasbeenrecognizedasaprioritybycityplannersandthecitycommission(seeabove).Furthermore,theconnectionthatstudentsofallageshavewiththeartsandcultureinavenuesuchastheproposedGrandLawnandtheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureispriceless.HowdoyouputapriceonayoungadultstudyinganoutdoorsculptureonawarmdayinMay,thattheninspiresthemtobecreativeintheirendeavors?Howdoyoumonetizethefeelingthatabandofyoungmusicianshasplayinginfrontofafewhundredpeople?Whatisthepriceofaparentseeingtheirchild'sartdisplayedalongBabcockStreetforthousandsofpeopletoenjoy?Howdoyoumonetizethatplacewhereawearytouristcantakeabreaktojustreflect?6-a.TheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturehassecuredfundingforthedevelopmentandmaintenanceoftheGrandLawnfromananonymousdonor.ItisoursincerehopethatthisproposalisselectedbytheBozemanSchoolDistrictsBoardoftrusteesasthebestinvestmentinthefutureofourcommunity.Oncetheproposalisadvancedwewillprovidethefundingdocumentationatthattime.Untilthenthedonorrequeststoremainanonymous.6-b.Notapplicableatthistime.6-c.WeproposethattheBozemanPublicSchoolDistrictworkwiththeEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturetoseetheGrandLawntofruition.Asstatedabove,fullfundingforthedevelopmentandmaintenanceissecured.Belowarefouroptionstoconsiderforthepartnership:

GrandLawnProposal- 6

1. BozemanPublicSchoolDistrictdonatesthepropertytotheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulture

2. BozemanPublicSchoolDistrictandtheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturecontinuetoco-managethespace

3. EmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureentersalong-termleaseforthepropertywiththeBozemanPublicSchoolDistrictrecognizingthatallimprovementstotheGrandLawnarethepropertyoftheBozemanPublicSchoolDistrict

4. BozemanPublicSchoolDistrictagreestosellthepropertytotheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCultureattwotimesitsfairmarketvaluewhentheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturewasoriginallyacquiredin1992.

7-a.Done.ThefeasibilityoftheprojecthasbeendeterminedthroughconsultationwithDesign.5LandscapeArchitectureandtheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturesBoardMemberswithexperienceinplanninganddevelopment.TheprojectisveryfeasibleandwebelieveitwillhavebroadsupportfromthecommunityandtheCityofBozemanbecauseitpairsnicelywiththeguidingprinciplesintheDowntownBozemanImprovementPlanandtheBozemanPublicSchoolDistrict's20YearPlanningHorizon.7-b.Done.Fundingfordevelopmentandlong-termmaintenancehasbeensecuredthroughananonymousdonor.7-c.Afewmonths.Weanticipatethatitwilltakelittletimetofinalizethedevelopmentplans(seeattacheddocuments)andtosecurethenecessarygovernmentapprovals,especiallygiventhegoodworkingrelationshiptheEmersonCenterfortheArtsandCulturehaswiththecity.7-d.WeanticipatetheGrandLawncouldbecompletedbyautumn2018orspring2019atthelatest.8.Seeattacheddocuments.

• Pages7-9;GrandLawnarchitecturalrenderings• Page10;Examplesofartisticperimetersfromothercommunities• Pages11-16;PhotographsillustratingthemixeduseoftheEmersonLawninitscurrent

andhistoricuse

GrandLawnProposal- 7

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GrandLawnProposal- 8

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GrandLawnProposal- 9

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GrandLawnProposal- 10

Exampleofartisticperimeter.

Exampleofasculpturepark.

GrandLawnProposal- 11

Photo1.-BandinfrontoftheEmersonillustratingthattheEmersonwasestablishedwithartsandculturefromitsinception.

Photo2.-MusicianplayingonthecurrentstageattheEmersonLawnillustratingthecurrentuseofthelawnforperformingarts.

GrandLawnProposal- 12

Photo3.-TheEmersonLawnfullofcommunitymembersenjoyingLunchontheLawn.TheGrandLawnwillundoubtedlyenhancetheexperience.

Photo4.-Outdoorartseducationonthenorthlawn.

GrandLawnProposal- 13

Photo5.-Sculptureinstallationonthenorthlawn.

GrandLawnProposal- 14

Photo6.-InternationaliceclimbingfestivalattheEmersonLawn.

GrandLawnProposal- 15

Photo7.-Amomentwhenartsparkedimagination--imaginewhattheGrandLawnwillinspire.