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11/27/2015 10:14:43 AM
SAINT PAUL - Minnesotans are invited to help shape policies regarding art in the newly renovated and preserved Minnesota Capitol. A series of public input meetings will be held throughout the state this fall, where citizens will have the opportunity to share their opinions with policymakers on how Minnesota should be conveyed through art.
"The subcommittee is setting a framework to guide future additions to the symbolic decoration of the Capitol," said Sen. David Senjem, subcommittee co-chair. "These meetings will help shape the policies for generations to come."
The restored Capitol will have significantly more space for the public with the opportunity for new artwork in the building. In addition to the discussion about the potential for new art, existing art in the Capitol will also be discussed. Most existing art in the Capitol commemorates the Civil War and Minnesota prior to 1905.
We want the public's input," said Rep. Diane Loeffler, subcommittee co-chair. "With expanded public space and rotating art shows we will have the opportunity to tell more stories about Minnesota's accomplishments and its people."
"Much of the existing art in the Capitol reflects the popular ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of the majority population in early 1900s and some of those may not represent the way many of us think today," said Paul Anderson, retired Supreme Court Justice, subcommittee co-chair. "What do you think should be done with the art that may not reflect our attitudes as Minnesotans in the twenty-first century?"
The subcommittee will tackle many challenging questions to ensure art at the Capitol represents a broad and inclusive story about Minnesota's heritage and culture.
"The State Capitol belongs to the people of Minnesota and the art in the building should reflect and respect all Minnesotans," said Department of Administration Commissioner Matt Massman, whose agency is overseeing the Capitol's restoration.
Several public meetings have been held, with more to come. The schedule is updated on the Subcommittee on Capitol Art website as new dates and locations are confirmed. Members of the public unable to attend a meeting can share their ideas with the subcommittee by emailing capitol.art@state.mn.us or by taking the 'Art in the Minnesota State Capitol' survey. Upcoming meetings are listed below.
Date: Monday, November 30
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: American Indian Resource Center
Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
Directions
Date: Tuesday, December 1
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: Hamline University
Anderson Center, Rooms 304-5 (corner of Snelling Ave. N. and Englewood Ave.)
774 Snelling Avenue N, St. Paul, MN 55104
Directions (Google Maps)
Parking: On street, free. Underground $1/hour
Date: Sunday, December 6
Time: 2-4 pm
Location: McLeod County Historical Society
380 School Rd NW, Hutchinson, MN 55350
Directions (Google Maps)
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Bloomington Center for the Arts
Council Chambers
1800 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431
Directions (Google Maps)
Date: Wednesday, December 9
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Minnetonka Community Center
Community Room
14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Directions (Google Maps)
The Subcommittee on Capitol Art was established by the bi-partisan Minnesota State Capitol Preservation Commission to make recommendations for policies that will provide a unifying and representative space for art at the Capitol.
The Minnesota State Capitol Preservation Commission was formed in 2011 by statute to develop a comprehensive, multi-year plan for the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of the Minnesota State Capitol. The Minnesota State Capitol is undergoing its first comprehensive restoration since the building's completion in 1905.
To learn more about art in the Capitol, please visit mn.gov/capitol-restoration/art.
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Contact: Cathy Klima
Communications Officer
cathy.klima@state.mn.us
651-201-2627
