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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-10-054 - Arts & Culture Advisory Committee Report on AchieREPORT REPORT TO: Community Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: September 13, 2010 SUBMITTED BY: Arts and Culture Advisory Committee PREPARED BY: Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator (ext. 3381) WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: August 20, 2010 REPORT NO.: CSD-10-054 SUBJECT: ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACHIEVEMENTS 2009, 2010 RECOMMENDATION: That the end-of-term report by the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee be accepted by Council. BACKGROUND: Since 1996, the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) has advocated on behalf of the arts and provided Council with consultation and advice on arts and culture development in Kitchener. The committee’s volunteers bring knowledge of arts and culture to their monthly meetings, and share additional time and expertise as members of ad hoc sub-committees. ACAC sees connecting and empowering community groups as a major role. ACAC’s last report to Council was in October 2008 (CSD-08-084). The term of the current committee ends in November 2010. Members are pleased to present their end-of-term report to Council, highlighting achievements over the past two years and identifying priorities for future work. REPORT: Members who served during the term are Jennifer Breithaupt (Chairperson), Lawrence McNaught (Vice Chairperson), Councillor Kelly Galloway (former Co-Chair), Juan Bohorquez, Alison Burkett, Len Carter, Peter Hammond, Ann MacKenzie-Martino, Betsy Petker, Helena Redshaw, Julie Robbescheuten, Kathleen Sheehy, Tracy Smith, and Jamie Vasey. Members of the Public Art Working Group, a subcommittee of ACAC, are Gordon Hatt (Chair), Brian Dietrich, Paul Roorda, Patty Lynes, Stefan Rose, Alison Burkett, Juan Bohorquez. Staff resource people are Ingrid Pregel, Manager of Cultural Development, Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator, Carrie Kozlowski, Arts/Culture Program Assistant and recording secretary to the committee, Don Chapman, Manager, Special Events. ï ó ï Highlights of actions and deliberations over the two-year period are outlined below. Culture Plan II ACAC facilitated meetings with the community to discuss implementation strategies for recommendations in CPII to do with (1) a mentorship program for new immigrant artists; (2) arts and media relations; and (3) artists’ networking. ‘mentorship program for new immigrant artists’ Thediscussion was taken up by an ad hoc committee consisting of representatives from WRIEN, YMCA, Multicultural Centre, MT Space, Neruda Productions and the Multicultural Cinema Club. This committee is developing a plan for two new programs (Mentorship Program; Internship Program) which could be implemented by partners in the community. Arts and media relations were further explored through an ad hoc ACAC subcommittee. After conversations assisted by Susan Cudahy with media representatives, a media workshop for artists was presented at the April 2010 Arts, Business, Creativity conference. networking opportunities for artists Recommendations to do with were supported by the city through hosting two “Culture Camp” events in December 2009 and March 2010. In addition, the city was a partner with the region’s other municipalities and Small Business Centres in the third annual Arts, Business, Creativity conference. cultural mapping studyenabling organization A and the Prosperity Council’s initiative were supported by ACAC. youth representatives on city committees A recommendation for was taken up by ACAC in the 2008 revision of its terms of reference. A youth category on the committee has been filled. This will continue to function as a membership category in the future. Other opportunities for youth involvement in city arts programs is through the new Student Video Competition for the Cube and the annual student exhibit in the Rotunda Gallery line-up. priorities for further Culture Plan implementation ACAC has identified . Using knowledge gathered from involvement in community discussions and discussions with other advisory committees (EDAC, DAC) and through awareness of the city’s strategic goals, the priorities are as follows: 1. Defining the city’s role in arts and culture development within the context of the Region’s position and the positions of other private and public sector agencies. 2. Developing strategies for youth engagement in arts and culture. 3. Developing a feasibility study as a first step for a downtown multiuse arts centre; ACAC to contribute to scope of study 4. Developing an arts and culture cluster development strategy in partnership with economic development agencies, arts organizations, and private enterprise. 5.Developing strategies to build audiences and cultural tourism. ï ó î ACAC recognizes the need for ongoing work to implement Culture Plan II. Although originally conceived as a five-year plan, it has become increasingly clear that the scope and ambition of CP II requires an ongoing commitment to arts and culture development in Kitchener. Future development will grow from the accomplishments made to date and effective community partnerships. Advocacy and Communication ACAC serves as a resource for the purpose of advocacy, networking and information sharing. February 5, 2009 - ACAC hosted a town hall at the Registry Theatre to report back to the community on Culture Plan II implementation. A variety of artists performed including solo cellist Hector Vasquez. Artwork from KWAG’s permanent collection was also on display. Common topics of interest were discussed at joint meetings with the Public Art Working Group, Downtown Advisory Committee, and Economic Development Advisory Committee. Kitchener Youth Action Council members attended an ACAC meeting to discuss how to reach and interact with youth to encourage participation in the arts (CP II #26). Artists and organizations attended ACAC meetings as delegates to inform members about their activities and events. Magnetic North Theatre Festival representatives made presentations, as did Martin de Groot of Waterloo Region Arts Council, Susan Cudahy of WRTMC, and Eric Tucs and Beth Dempster, Civics Research Cooperative. Robert Gissing from KWartzLab brought news of his organization’s arts and technology activities. Ingrid Pregel and Cheryl Ewing provided news of the Prosperity Council’s enabling organization, a project which ACAC supported. ACAC members attended the annual advisory committee joint meetings hosted by Compass Kitchener. ACAC members serve as representatives on both DAC and EDAC. Public Art and Artist-in-Residence Support Artist-in-Residence - ACAC supported the recommended selections for 2010 and 2011 Artist- in-Residence appointments (Stefan Rose and Sean Puckett). ACAC has been proud to support this program since 1996. Public art program – In collaboration with its permanent subcommittee, the Public Art Working Group (PAWG), ACAC continued to support various projects such as art acquisitions for the parking facility at Charles and Benton, Country Hills Community Library, McLennan Park, Kingsdale Community Centre, as well as the unveiling ceremony for Speaker’s Corner art work, and the student video competition for the Cube. ACAC 2009/10 Workplan – Topics Addressed Discussed opportunities for board governance training in the region (CP II #45): ACAC’s interest in organizing and providing a workshop of this type is beyond the scope of ACAC’s advisory mandate. Other agencies in K-W do have programs of this type up and running (Capacity Waterloo Region, Kitchener Volunteer Action Centre). Staff will ï ó í contact the two agencies to ask for promotional literature which can be handed out at the city’s annual grants information session. PAWG completed a minor review of the Artist-in-Residence program in order to reflect, in the 2010 call for proposals, the loss of studio space at City Hall in 2009. Further study of the funding of the Artist-in-Residence program will be done by staff in the future. Compilation of audience statistics (CP II # 38) is now a reporting requirement of Tier One and Tier Two grants recipients. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services ï ó ì