HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-058 - Public Art 5-Year PlanREPORT
REPORT TO:
Community Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
September 13, 2010
SUBMITTED BY:
Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and
Services
PREPARED BY:
Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator, ext. 3381
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT: August 23, 2010
REPORT NO.: CSD-10-058
SUBJECT:
PUBLIC ART FIVE-YEAR PLAN (2011 - 2016)
RECOMMENDATION:
That Policy I-816 be amended to clarify the nature of eligible construction projects as
detailed in Report CSD-10-058; and further,
That the five-year public art plan strategies in this report be approved.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
:
Public art works located at Kitchener’s civic buildings and prominent downtown public spaces
have become a distinguishing tradition in our community. Among Canadian municipalities,
Kitchener is a public art leader for its size. Since 1995, the public art program has
Contributed to community engagement;
Shown that Kitchener is a creative community;
Supported the development of partnerships with the general public, the arts community
and arts service organizations;
Made the arts accessible to the public; and
Improved both the quality of the built environment and the quality of life in our
community.
Until 2008, a series of policies governed the program. These policies were consolidated in
Policy I-816 (Appendix A) in December 2008, following a program and policy review conducted
by The Planning Partnership. The review recommended the creation of a public art master plan
for Kitchener as the next important step in building the program.
The development of the ‘five-year public art plan’ included public input through a survey titled
“What makes a place special?” (Appendix B). The survey, advertised throughout the community
in 2009, generated a good response from the public, providing suggestions for (1) new locations
for public art and (2) unique Kitchener stories to tell.
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The five-year plan builds on existing program strengths, supports the program goals and
identifies strategies for implementation during the period 2011 – 2016.
The recommendations appearing throughout this report are as follows:
(A) Policy Amendment
Recommendation: Amend Policy I-816 Section 2, to clarify the nature of eligible
projects: Eligible projects include new construction or construction that achieves
major changes in the scope of a facility such as new programs, services or
functions. This does not include projects where only routine maintenance is being
carried out.
(B) Five-Year Plan Strategies
Recommendation: Explore future public art projects with partners, including
Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area (CAFKA).)
Recommendation: Pursue municipal partnership opportunities to educate the
public and continue to build the discipline of public art in our community.
Recommendation: Inform the private development sector of our public art
program and invite and encourage participation.
Recommendation: Waive the purchasing process, if maintenance or restoration
on art work is required, to allow the original artist to perform the work within the
specified budget. In cases where the original artist is unavailable, the arts and
culture unit will select a suitable professional consultant through an RFP process.
Recommendation: Public art works must be (1) permanently sited, or (2) installed
for a specific length of time with the understanding that the art work will not be
stored by the City thereafter.
Recommendation: Public art policy compliance should be built into the project
management processes of all affected civic construction projects.
Recommendation: Develop promotional and educational tools in various media to
educate and inform both the general public and sectors of interest.
BACKGROUND:
Definition
Public Art: original art works, permanent or temporary, in any medium or discipline, placed,
incorporated or performed in publicly accessible indoor or outdoor locations in response to the
site and for the benefit of the public.
For the purposes of the current policy and this report, Public Art does not include plaques,
archival collections or heritage assets already supported by other budgets, committees and
policies, nor does it include those art works acquired through the Artist in Residence program.
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Kitchener’s program
1995 – 2008: Policies
With the exception of Queen Victoria (1907), the Corporation of the City of Kitchener began to
place art works in public locations in 1993 when “Horsepower” was installed at the Duke Street
entrance of the new city hall. This report discusses the city’s program while recognizing that
private agencies, and other government bodies, have occasionally installed their own art works
in Kitchener over the years.
An “Art, Artifact Acquisition and Management Policy” was first approved in 1995. The “Percent
for Public Art Policy” dates from 2001. A “Public Art Collection Management Policy” was put in
place in1998 and the “Public Art Policy” in 2003.
Character of the collection
The collection reflects the municipal principles of inclusion, diversity, accountability and fair
process, and community engagement. Many local artists are represented in the collection, and
the majority of works were acquired through public processes with modest budgets. Therefore,
the collection is broadly representative rather than specific or specialized, and, as with any
public competitive process, choices are constrained by the availability and quality of the
competitors’ proposals.
Scope of the collection
The collection numbers 17 permanent art works. Fourteen were acquired through open
competition processes. Donations account for the other 3 acquisitions. Locations of the art
works include: City Hall, Speaker’s Corner, Victoria Park; McKenzie King Park, Country Hills,
Forest Heights, Stanley Park, Chandler Mowat, Victoria Hills and Downtown Community
Centres; Kitchener Market; Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex; and, Activa Sportsplex
(nine neighbourhoods). Materials span a broad range from cast cement to stainless steel. Many
local artists are represented in the collection.
Projects underway
Civic projects now underway include Country Hills Community Library, Kitchener (Main) Library,
Parking facility at Charles & Benton, Kingsdale Community Centre, McLennan Park, Belmont
Business Improvement Area (Belmont Ave), Consolidated Maintenance Facility, the restoration
of the Bullas sculptures and the “CUBE” student video competition.
The past average rate of acquisitions has been two art works per year. With the recent
provision of stimulus funding by other levels of government, the city has undertaken more
capital projects than usual and therefore more public art projects.
REPORT:
A. Policy amendments and process changes
The operation of the program itself has highlighted the need for an amendment since policy I -
816 was approved in 2008.
Project eligibility for the one percent funding allocation has been confusing. Policy I-816 uses
the phrase “civic construction projects with budgets of $100,000 or more”. Staff from various
departments have requested a more detailed definition of the word “construction”. A survey of
percent for art policies indicates that use of the word “construction” is very common, but in the
interests of clarity, Policy I-816 should be amended to prevent further confusion.
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Recommendation: Amend Policy I-816 Section 2, to clarify the nature of eligible
projects: Eligible projects include new construction or construction that achieves
major changes in the scope of a facility such as new programs, services or
functions. This does not include projects where only routine maintenance is being
carried out.
B. Five-Year Public Art Plan
Why this plan has been developed
program review
In 2008 a public art was conducted by The Planning Partnership.
The review identified key issues, challenges and opportunities in the program, and assessed the
collection.
new policy
As a result of the review, a was prepared for Council’s consideration and approved
in December 2008 (Policy I-816 Financial) (Appendix A). In a first step toward improving the
program, the policy achieved a consolidation of previous policies. It also re-affirmed the percent
for public art funding mechanism.
recommendation for a long-term vision
The policy repeated the review’s or master plan.
five-year plan
A helps us to:
• Develop a vision that sets principles, priorities and expectations for growth
• Clarify the administration process and technical troubleshooting
• Identify mechanisms to establish partnership opportunities with other agencies and the
private sector
• Raise public awareness about the public art program and collection, and community
benefits
• Plan and budget for maintenance and conservation of the collection
How the plan was developed
Sources of information were:
Research of comparative programs and best practices
Program review report
Public survey results, February 2010 (Appendix B)
Interdepartmental staff consultations
Consultations with Public Art Working Group, Arts and Culture Advisory Committee,
regional municipal partners, and other service providers
Capital forecast data
Identification of gaps and needs in the administration of the program.
Vision and objectives
Through consultations during the program review in 2008, we heard citizens’ wishes for
Kitchener:
• Beautiful, well-designed public spaces featuring public art
• Identification of Kitchener as an exciting creative city
• A panorama of inspirational art works for citizens to enjoy
• Vibrant public spaces where people want to meet and spend time
Vision
The following statement was created during the public art program review through
stakeholder and public consultation:
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Kitchener is a vibrant community where the best forms of public art explore our diversity,
tell our stories, and welcome artists to use creativity and imagination to make unique
landmarks and beautiful gathering places.
Objectives
To contribute to the City’s cultural identity
To contribute to its strategic priorities: that is, better quality of life, increased social
cohesion, good urban design, broad community involvement, increased potential for
economic development, and public access to the arts
Strategies 2011 – 2016
strategies
The plan’s combine flexibility and best use of funds, with maximum benefit for the
community. General objectives are to:
Implement public art projects at priority civic sites identified in the 2010-2019 capital
budget forecast
Support temporary installation projects such as digital projections on the Berlin
Tower
Extend installation (up to five years) of a Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and
Area 2011 festival art project
Promote the collection and public education
Maintain the collection
Create mechanisms for the participation of private and institutional developers in the
public art program.
Strategy One: Percent for Art
public art for civic construction projects
Kitchener’s program has concentrated on as its
major focus. One percent of construction costs is allocated to public art. This requirement is tied
to specific projects such as community centres, libraries, fire stations, parking facilities, and City
Hall. These sites offer high visibility and high usage in most cases.
Kitchener’s projects strive for public art that is responsive to the site and its use in some way –
such as through design, theme or function. Site selection, combined with available budget,
helps to determine the type of project: indoor/outdoor, temporary/ permanent. All outdoor art
works must ensure public safety and be durable and low-maintenance. Sites are also assessed
for technical feasibility of installation.
Public art commissions are awarded as a result of public competitions and fair jury selection
processes. The quality of selected art works is directly related to the quality of artist proposals
received. The City retains the right not to award a commission if suitable proposals are not
received.
Parks Design & Development and Operations staff have agreed to support the mechanism of
combining one percent allocations from small parks projects in order to fund a single larger
project in an appropriate park location. Staff also supports an approach to public art where an
artist would be working on design questions with Parks staff at an early stage in order to
integrate public art with other site elements.
Kitchener’s five-year plan identifies projects at civic facilities based on the Capital Budget
Forecast for civic construction. The city has been using this method of site selection for the past
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fifteen years. It provides structure to the program but its site and funding limitations may restrict
the program in the future.
Strategy Two: The Pooled Fund
New elements
to be considered for 2011 – 2016 programming and supported by the pooled
fund include:
mechanisms for inviting private sector participation
promotion
temporary installations
digital public art on the Cube
project partnerships with other arts organizations
special projects in priority locations identified during consultation.
Set up in 2009, the Project Balances Account holds 40% of the 1% funds from $10-million+
projects. The funds are meant to support those projects which otherwise would not be possible
or would be underfunded.
Projects valued at over $10 million contributing to the pooled fund up to 2016 are Kitchener
Library, Consolidated Maintenance Facility, and two parking facilities. The expected
contributions up to 2016 total approximately $250,000.
The pooled fund is dependent on very large and infrequent projects. It may not sustain other
forms of community public art in the long term. Other public art funding strategies need to be
developed. A review of the capital budget forecast in 2015/16 will indicate whether the pooled
fund will remain viable.
Strategy Three: Partnerships
Partnerships with otherarts agencies
in the community such as Kitchener-Waterloo Art
Gallery, Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area (CAFKA), and the Downtown Business
Improvement Area were identified in the program review as potential partners. Project-based
partnerships are expected to occur from time to time as resources and opportunities permit.
There have been no projects of this type to date.
Recommendation: Explore future projects with partners, including Contemporary
Art Forum Kitchener and Area. Selected installations from CAFKA’s biennial
exhibitions could remain installed for up to five years for the benefit of Kitchener
visitors and residents.
Partnerships withcapital grant or loan recipients
This requirement to participate in the public art program is stated in Policy I-816 as follows: “In
construction projects for which the City has provided grants or loans to an outside agency, the
terms of the loan or grant agreement include a requirement for public art to be included in that
project. The grant or loan must be in excess of $100,000. The one percent allocation will not
exceed $300,000.” Although there have been no opportunities for this type of partnership to
date, we will actively pursue any such opportunities in the future.
Partnerships withother municipalities
A project to increase awareness of public art and promote the region’s public art collections and
other program aspects is under discussion with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the
townships and the cities of Cambridge and Waterloo. The production of a brochure for self-
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guided driving, cycling and walking tours could enhance residents’ and visitors’ experience of
the region’s public art assets.
Public art is an evolving discipline. Administrators and artists learn more with every project they
undertake. Investing in public art education for administrators and artists in our region will
strengthen public art’s contribution to the quality of life in our community.
Recommendation: Pursue municipal partnership opportunities to educate the
public and continue to build the discipline of public art in our community.
Strategy Four: Private Sector
Public art in our community may grow through partnerships with institutional and private
developers with projects at prominent sites throughout the city. Discussions are already
underway with Planning Department staff to bring information about our program to private
sector developers at the pre-submission consultation stage. Staff is collaborating with Waterloo
and the Region to ensure that developers are aware of the region-wide growth of public art.
Kitchener has the planning framework in place that will assist program growth through: the
Official Plan, Urban Design Guidelines, By-laws, and Parks and Open Space master plan.
Recommendation: Inform the private development sector of our public art
program and invite participation.
Strategy Five: Collection Management Guidelines; Procedures
Collection Management
The document (Appendix C) presents guidelines for maintenance of
the collection. Maintenance has always been carried out on an as-needed basis. As the
collection ages, the need for regular (annual) inspection of art works will increase. Most works in
the collection could have a lifespan of at least 25 years.
.
Art works in need of specialist attention are maintained through conservation contracts The
independent consultants, skilled conservators and restorers required for this type of work are
few in number. Standard purchasing policy procedure such as the RFQ has not provided the
city with the expertise needed for art work maintenance or restoration. This was demonstrated
in the recent work done on the Bullas sculptures. Further, artists may be best suited to doing
remedial work on the pieces they have created.
Recommendation: Waive the purchasing process, if maintenance or restoration
on art work is required, to allow the original artist to perform the work within the
specified budget. In cases where the original artist is unavailable, the arts and
culture unit will select a suitable professional consultant through an RFP process.
Storage
The city has no dedicated art storage space. Such space would need to be secure, climate-
controlled and equipped to accommodate a range of art work types and sizes. Until such time
as dedicated, secure and climate-controlled storage for art works is established, projects must
be (1) permanently sited, or (2) installed for a specific length of time with the understanding that
the art work will not be stored thereafter. The exception to this approach is digital media works
that can be stored in an office setting as well as electronically.
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Recommendation: Public art works must be (1) permanently sited, or (2) installed
for a specific length of time with the understanding that the art work will not be
stored by the City thereafter.
Procedures
Ensuring that EOI’s/RFP’s for construction projects include information about the public art
requirement helps project sponsors, managers and consultants with planning for public art
opportunities in the early design of facilities, and thus offers artists design opportunities that are
not possible once actual construction has begun.
This principle has been applied with a degree of success in Victoria Park and Kitchener (Main)
Library. Community Services’ “Project Management Process Guide” contains instructions for
public art discussions in the early planning stage of any Community Services Department
construction project for the purposes of policy compliance, budgeting and other necessary
inclusion steps.
Recommendation: Public art policy compliance should be built into the project
management processes of all affected civic construction projects.
Strategy Six: Promotion and Public Education
We now see the public art collection on the new city website. Other important initiatives are 1)
the publication of a public art tour brochure, 2) preparation of an information guide for private
developers to be distributed through the Planning Department, and 3) interpretive signage at
public art sites.
Recommendation: Develop promotional and educational tools in various media to
educate and inform both the general public and sectors of interest.
Appendices
A. Public Art Policy I-816 (current)
B. Public Consultation – Survey results
C. Collection Management Guidelines
D. Schedule of Projects
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
COMMUNICATIONS:
The draft plan was circulated for comment to the Public Art Working Group, Arts and Culture
Advisory Committee, and affected City departments.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
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APPENDIX A
COUNCIL POLICY RESOLUTION
PUBLIC ART POLICY App A.doc
POLICY NUMBER: I-816 DATE: December 8, 2008
POLICY TYPE: FINANCIAL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART POLICY
POLICY CONTENT:
1.0PURPOSE
Kitchener is a vibrant community where the best forms of public art
explore our diversity, tell our stories, and welcome artists to use creativity
and imagination to make our public spaces landmarks and gathering
places.
The goal of the public art policy is to contribute to the City’s cultural
identity and its strategic priorities. Better quality of life, increased social
cohesion, good urban design, broad community involvement, increased
potential for economic development and public access to the arts are
some of the intended benefits.
2.0SCOPE
2.1 The policy serves the City of Kitchener’s many neighbourhoods. It
supports the development of partnerships with the general public,
the arts community and arts service organizations, and with
institutional and private sector partners.
2.2 Two citizen advisory committees are directly involved in the public
art program: the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and the
Public Art Working Group.
2.3 The policy affects the following City departments: Economic
Development, Finance, Legal, Facilities Management, Community
Services, and Development and Technical Services (Planning,
Engineering). The Arts and Culture Unit, Community Services
Department, is primarily responsible for policy implementation.
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POLICY NUMBER:I-485
POLICY TYPE: FACILITY
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART POLICY
2.0SCOPE, CONT’D
2.4 The policy governs programming which results in the permanent
acquisition and/or temporary display of public artworks. Program
funding derives from a one percent allocation applied to civic
projects with construction budgets over $100,000. The municipal
public art collection develops through this program.
Eligible projects are new construction projects and construction projects
that produce major change in the scope of a facility such as new programs,
services, functions. Maintenance projects are ineligible. Capital projects
funded through other levels of government are ineligible.
2.5 The policy does not govern programming under the Industrial
Artifacts Project title, nor the Artist-in-Residence program.
3.0DEFINITION
Public Art
: original art works, permanent or temporary, in any medium or
discipline, placed, incorporated or performed in publicly accessible indoor
or outdoor locations in response to the site and for the benefit of the
public.
For the purposes of this policy, Public Art does not include plaques,
archival collections or heritage assets already supported by other budgets,
committees and policies.
4.0POLICY
4.1 Through the public art program, the City acquires art works of
excellent quality for the purpose of permanent or temporary
displays in public places such as civic buildings, civic plazas,
streetscapes, and open spaces (parks, trails).
4.2 A master plan for public art contains strategies for the best use of
funding and preferred sites based on specific criteria. Criteria for
preferred public art sites and art works include high visibility
locations and appropriate scale, ease of public access, relevance to
the community, ease of maintenance, consistency with the City’s
Urban Design Guidelines and Neighbourhood Design Guidelines,
quality of the art work, budget considerations and equitable
distribution of sites throughout the City.
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POLICY NUMBER:I-485
POLICY TYPE: FACILITY
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART POLICY
4.3 One percent of the costs of civic projects with construction budgets
in excess of $100,000 are allocated to a consolidated public art
capital account. The maximum allocation at the one percent
contribution is $300,000.
4.0POLICY, CONT’D
4.4 Civic construction projects contributing to the consolidated capital
account are eligible for a public art project as follows:
(a) Projects that generate less than $10,000 (e.g. one percent of
a capital budget less than $1 million) are supplemented from
the consolidated account to the $10,000 level for any one
public art project
(b) Construction projects that generate more than $100,000
(e.g. one percent of a capital budget greater than $10
million) will consume 60% of the one percent allocation for
their public art project. The remaining 40% of the one
percent allocation is contributed to the consolidated fund for
use by smaller projects and
to complete the priorities of the
community as expressed in the public art master plan.
(c ) Construction projects that generate an amount between $10,000
and $100,000 will consume the exact amount of the percent
allocation for their public art project.
4.5 The consolidated account enables a choice of options for public art
projects:
(a) public art projects at civic sites,
(b) temporary installation projects such as digital projections on
the Berlin Tower,
(c) promotion of the collection and public education.
4.6 Eligible construction project budgets are identified annually during
the capital budget process.
4.7 The program continues to support public art objectives as
described in the Official Plan and other approved planning
documents.
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POLICY NUMBER:I-485
POLICY TYPE: FACILITY
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART POLICY
4.8 The City engages in public art partnerships with the private sector,
the institutional sector, arts organizations, and other governments.
4.9 The City encourages the private development sector to participate
voluntarily in the percent for art program.
4.0POLICY, CONT’D
4.10 In construction projects for which the City has provided grants or
loans to an outside agency, the terms of the loan or grant
agreement include a requirement for public art to be included in that
project. The grant or loan must be in excess of $100,000. The one
percent allocation will not exceed $300,000.
4.11 The public art collection is documented and maintained to the
highest standards.
Exempt public art maintenance and repair work from the Purchasing Policy
requirements when necessary to enable artists and materials experts to
perform this specialized work on the collection.
5.0IMPLEMENTATION
5.1 Roles and Responsibilities
5.1.1 The Arts and Culture Unit manages the public art program
and is responsible for project development and monitoring,
competition processes, collection management,
communications, and partnership creation. However, the
program’s implementation depends on participation from
many departments in varying degrees. These roles range
from contract preparation to art work maintenance.
5.1.2. The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee’s permanent sub-
committee, the Public Art Working Group (PAWG), provides
specialized advice on policy, program and projects and
champions the program in the community. All acquisitions,
whether by competition-derived commission, direct
purchase, or donation, are reviewed by PAWG and then by
the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. This advisory
committee support is communicated to Council when
recommendations are made. PAWG members routinely
serve on competition juries.
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5.1.3. Both the general community and members of the arts
community participate in competition juries to provide
balance and stakeholder involvement. Ward councillors are
invited to participate on a public art juries which serve their
wards.
5.1.4 Public art celebrations are designed to be public events.
5.0IMPLEMENTATION, CONT’D
5.2 Project Planning
Public art information is included in RFP documents for eligible
construction projects. With this approach, public art is integrated
earlier into the capital project for both efficiency and optimum
results.
5.3 Acquisition Methods
A variety of acquisition methods are used to better serve the needs
of unique projects and situations and the overall mandate of the
collection. Open competition-generated commissions, invitational
competition-generated commissions, direct purchases and
donations are used.
5.5 Jury Procedures
Competition juries ensure a fair public process through balanced
participation by community representatives, other project
stakeholders and professional arts community representatives.
Competition juries function in accordance with established
procedures.
5.6 Technical Review of Proposals
All commission proposals derived from competitions, and proposals
for direct purchases, are reviewed by an interdepartmental staff
team and, as needs warrant, by outside experts, to assess
compliance with mechanical, structural, health and safety, and
maintenance requirements.
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SUBJECT: PUBLIC ART POLICY
5.7 Education
Public education strategies include, but are not limited to,
participation on juries, communication tools such as signage, artist
talks, brochures, website information, and public art symposia.
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APPENDIX B
Public Art Five-Year Plan Public Survey
Public consultation
Early in 2010 a public survey was advertised:
“What makes a place special?
Location? Landscape? Use? Memories?
The City of Kitchener has been recognizing and celebrating special places for the last
decade by installing public art at or near them. Each of these art works is one-of-a-kind,
made just for that location, and tells a story about living in Kitchener. We know there are
other locations and other stories of significance. If you know of a great location for public
art, or if you have a compelling story about Kitchener, we want to hear from you.”
The survey asked respondents to answer two questions:
(1) Identify up to 10 important sites for public art in Kitchener. The best sites have some
of the following qualities: easy to see close-up or from a distance; well lighted; well-
travelled area; crossroads/intersection nearby; other well-used amenities nearby;
significant park or trailhead; neighbourhood focal point; heritage or cultural part of town;
downtown location.
(2) Do you know some important Kitchener stories? These may be about unique projects,
people or things. Limit your response to a maximum description of 250 words. You may
include up to three stories.
Survey Results
Identified sites
The most frequently identified sites (in ranked order) for public art were
- Parks, parkettes, sports facilities
- Victoria Park
- Downtown/King Street
- City Hall
- Farmers’ Market
Reviewing the respondents’ choices of the above-listed locations for public art, it was
clear that people are unaware of the public art already in their community. At Victoria
Park, we have Queen Victoria, the Canoe and The Luggage Project. At City Hall we
have Millennium Thumbprints, Horsepower and Anvil. At the Market, there is the Sweet
Pea fountain. We need better public education through promotion of the collection. One
improvement in public art information is provided by the city’s new website.
Important stories submitted:
(i) Reminders of our heritage. For example, one respondent said how nice it
would be to have a commemoration of the ball park that was once at Victoria
Park. Another identified the need to include First Nations and pre-settlement
stories.
(ii) Community diversity. For example, a newcomer felt comfortable and welcome
when he realized what a multicultural community he had arrived in.
(iii) Commemoration/recognition of achievement. For example, a respondent
urged the creation of a bronze commemorative sculpture of Mr Harry Watts, WW
1
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II veteran. Another talked about “The General” Frank Groff (deceased) and his
contribution to the Bridgeport neighbourhood.
(iv) Defining place/identity. For example, Hwy 8 and the Grand River landscape
are significant and deserve large scale public art.
Other Suggestions
Interpretive signage would provide needed information for public art works
Use media such as projection and light to create high tech public art
2
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APPENDIX C
City of Kitchener
Public Art Collection
Collection Management Guidelines
1.0 Background
Policy I-816 (Financial) – Public Art, was approved by Council on December 8, 2008.
This financial policy established a funding mechanism designed to allow more flexibility
in the public art program. A broader program scope now includes temporary installations
and projects that are not tied to construction projects. The policy further recommended
the development of a public art master plan to assist with the management of the public
art program. The collection management guidelines are an appendix to the master plan.
2.0 Mandate of the Public Art Program
The City of Kitchener’s public art program acquires, exhibits and maintains original art
works. The program supports the temporary installation and/or performance of original
works of art. The program promotes the program and makes information about the
collection accessible to the public.
Definition – Public Art
Original art works, permanent or temporary, in any medium or discipline, placed,
incorporated or performed in publicly accessible indoor or outdoor public locations in
response to the site and for the benefit of the public.
3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1 The City of Kitchener funds the program and, as owner, is steward of the collection
held in trust for the citizens of Kitchener. City of Kitchener staff is responsible for
managing the collection according to the guidelines presented in this document.
3.2 City staff work with volunteers through the Public Art Working Group (PAWG) and
the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC). PAWG is a permanent sub-
committee of ACAC, dealing primarily with the City’s visual arts programming. ACAC
provides advice to Council on arts and culture matters.
3.3 Acquisitions are considered for the collection by Community Services Department in
consultation with staff in affected departments and relevant committees and communities.
Acquisitions through commissioning, direct purchase, or donations are approved by
Council.
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4.0 Nature of the Collection
4.1
The Public Art Collection consists of art works acquired through commissions, direct
purchase and donations. Commissions are funded through the City’s 1% percent-for-art
funding mechanism. The collection reflects the municipal principles of inclusion,
diversity, accountability, fair process, and community engagement. Many local artists are
represented in the collection, and the majority of works were acquired through public
processes with modest budgets. Therefore, the collection is broadly representative rather
than specific or specialized. As with any public competitive process, art selection is
subject to the availability and quality of the competitors’ proposals. However, beyond the
constraints of public process, the City strives for acquisitions and exhibitions of high
quality, site relevance and the works’ ability to engage the public.
4.2 Percent-for-Art Collection
Since 1993, with the acquisition of “Horsepower” and its installation at the Duke Street
entrance to City Hall, 15 additional artworks have come to the collection through
competition processes. Locations include, Victoria Park; Country Hills, Forest Heights,
Stanley Park, Chandler Mowat, Victoria Hills and Downtown Community Centres;
Kitchener Market; Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex; and, Activa Sportsplex
(nine neighbourhoods). Materials span a broad range from cast cement to stainless steel,
depending on the needs and constraints of their sites. Again, many local artists are
represented.
4.3 Donations
The collection has three examples of donated artworks. “Queen Victoria” by Raffaele
Zaccaquini was unveiled on Victoria Day, May 1911. The Princess of Wales Chapter of
the IODE raised the $6,000 needed for the monument. In 1998, a pair of cast cement
figurative sculptures, created circa 1938 by Helen Waimel Robertson and now known as
the Bullas sculptures, was donated to the City. The works once graced a fountain in front
th
of a local business owned by Mr. Bullas. They are the only mid-20 century works in the
City’s collection. In 2005, Kitchener Professional Fire Fighters Association donated a
bronze by Tim Schmaltz for installation in Civic Centre Park. “Protecting the Memory”
and “Queen Victoria” are both commemorative sculptures.
4.4 Storage and Maintenance
There is no dedicated, secure and climate-controlled storage for public art at the present
time. Installations of work have been permanent, rather than temporary. The City has not
yet established a routine maintenance plan, although when works are in need of attention,
conservation is undertaken through contracts with the artists who created the works or
with specialists as required.
5.0 Collection Development
5.1
In developing the collection, the primary objective is to fulfill the vision of the public
art policy:
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“Kitchener is a vibrant community where the best forms of public art explore our
diversity, tell our stories, and welcome artists to use creativity and imagination to make
our public spaces landmarks and gathering places.”
5.2
Collection development is based on
A collection vision
Policy directives
Master plan implementation strategies
Available funding
Available staff resources
Conservation and maintenance requirements
6.0 Procedures – General Principles
6.1
The City of Kitchener public art collection reflects the municipal principles of
inclusion, diversity, accountability and fair process, and community engagement.
6.2
To be considered for acquisition, art works must be original and unique.
6.3
All acquisitions have regular, professional maintenance.
6.4
All acquisitions are formally accessioned through collection management procedures.
7.0 Acquisition
7.1 Criteria for Acquisition
Acquisitions are based on the following criteria:
relevance of an art work to the program’s vision and mandate
availability of the human and financial resources required to acquire, document,
preserve, store and exhibit the item
quality of the work
safety related to materials and fabrication; technical and financial feasibility of
installation
the existence of relevant and adequate display sites, indoor and outdoor
oral or written documentation to support ownership, authenticity, study, and care
in the case of a donated item, absence of restrictions from the donor on the use or
disposition of the item
legal agreement where appropriate
7.2 Approval Process
7.2.1
Potential acquisitions are presented to Council by staff, after presentation to PAWG
and ACAC.
7.2.2
In the case of a donor requesting a tax receipt, a report will be prepared for
Council’s consideration.
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7.3 Methods of Acquisition
7.3.1
Items are acquired through donation, bequest, direct purchase or commission
resulting from a competitive process.
Gift/bequest/donation – an item may be accepted from any source, including staff
members. A document equivalent to a donation form, such as a will, will serve the
same purpose. Donation includes any assignable rights. The City of Kitchener
will not knowingly accept a donated item whose ownership is in question.
Direct Purchase – in cases where a particular artist’s work is suitable for and
responsive to a site, the city may exercise the option to purchase. Such purchases
are presented to PAWG and ACAC before being forwarded to Council for
approval.
Commission – Commissions are awarded to artists through Council approvals. All
commissions are subject to legal agreements prepared by the City Solicitor.
Commissions are awarded after the completion of a competition process.
Competitions may be open or invitational, depending on the needs of the project.
Competition short-listing and final selections are made by juries comprised of
project stakeholders, visual arts professionals, and the ward councilor. Each
project has its own jury.
Juries are used to assess applications submitted by individual artists to a specific
deadline. Juries may (1) select a winning submission or proposal, (2) select a
short list of candidates to go on to a second stage when the competition is in two
stages (3) agree not to select a winning candidate. The jury’s motion is forwarded
by staff to PAWG and ACAC, before being presented to Council for approval.
The City reserves the right to cancel a competition at any time up to and including
a Council decision.
7.4 Income Tax receipts and appraisals
7.4.1
Income tax receipts for items are available to donors. The receipt will reflect fair
market value at the time of the acquisition, determined by an independent appraisal in
accordance with Canada Revenue Agency requirements.
8.0 Documentation
8.1
The City of Kitchener accurately and thoroughly documents the collection to
fulfill its stewardship role.
8.2
Documentation will be the responsibility of designated City of Kitchener staff.
8.3
All transactions pertaining to the items in the collection including accession, de-
accession, moving, maintenance and conservation work must be documented.
8.4
Administrative forms such as Donation Forms will be consistent in format with those
used by Corporate Records Department.
8.5
Information about the collection will be accessible by the public under reasonable
conditions with the exception of information restricted through the Municipal Freedom of
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Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and through restrictions placed on public
accessibility related to personal privacy and confidentiality by the donor.
9.0 Loans
9.1
As the public art collection comprises art works that are on permanent display and
specific to their location or site, loans are not feasible.
10.0 De-accessioning
DEFINITION: De-accessioning refers to the permanent removal of items from the
collection originally acquired on a temporary or permanent basis.
10.1
The City of Kitchener reserves the right to remove objects from its public art
collection under the following conditions:
legal compliance (proof of ownership; maintenance of the integrity of the public
trust)
the item’s non-conformity to the collection mandate
the item has deteriorated to a non-restorable condition
the item has been lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair
the program is unable to preserve and display the item in compliance with its
mandate.
10.2 Methods of Disposition
10.2.1
A decision to de-accession must be based on the recommendation of City staff
with consultation received from PAWG and ACAC. The consent to de-accession shall be
recorded in writing and remain as an integral part of the documentation pertaining to the
transaction and the object’s city collection history.
10.2.2
First consideration is given to a not-for-profit institution that can provide a high
level of care for the object and can continue to keep the object accessible to the public.
Second consideration is given to the disposal of objects through public sale.
10.2.3
The object will not be transferred for ownership to any employee of the City, or
any person associated with the program.
10.2.4
De-accessioning will be by means of gift, exchange, sale or intentional discard
(destruction of an object that has lost its integrity, or cannot be legally gifted or sold).
10.2.5
The disposition must be documented.
11.0 Preservation, Conservation, Maintenance
11.1
The City of Kitchener acts as a steward for the collection.
11.2
The City maintains the collection in the best display condition possible supported by
the Public Art Maintenance account.
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11.3
Uncomplicated and routine condition recording and maintenance may be carried out
by city staff trained in the care of the art works. More demanding work requires the
experience and knowledge of experts in various media. In some cases, this may be the
artist who created the work. A reference list of specialists is compiled in order to expedite
the RFQ process.
11.4
Acquisitions must meet safety requirements and be made of durable materials
requiring a minimum of maintenance.
11.5
Storage of items not on display must be secure and climate-controlled.
12.0 Legal Agreements, Indemnity and Insurance
12.1
The Legal Department prepares commission contracts which are signed by the
mayor and the affected artist. The contract makes provision for altering the agreement
should the need arise.
12.2
In addition to any other requirement herein, the Artist shall protect and defend the
City and indemnify and hold it harmless from any and all claims, demands, actions,
losses, causes of action, proceedings, suits, damages, expenses or liability of any kind,
including reasonable legal fees and expenses of litigation, brought by any person,
whether in respect of damage to person or property, or in respect of any damage
whatsoever, arising from any occurrence occasioned in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, by an act or omission or negligence of the Artist, his/her agents, servants,
employees, subcontractors or customers, or arising out of any breach, violation or non-
performance of this Agreement.
12.3 General Liability Insurance
: The Artist shall maintain liability insurance
acceptable to the City throughout the term of this Agreement. Coverage shall consist of a
comprehensive policy of public liability and property damage insurance in an amount of
Such insurance shall name The Corporation
not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence.
of the City of Kitchener as an additional insured
thereunder and shall be endorsed to
include a Cross-Liability Endorsement with a Severability of Interests Clause, Premises
and Operations Liability, Blanket Contractual Liability, Products / Completed Operations
Liability, Personal Injury Liability and Non-Owned Automobile Liability.
12.4 Provisions:
The Artist shall forward a Certificate of Insurance on the City’s Form
(STANDARD CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE located on the internet at
http://www.kitchener.ca/tender.asp)
evidencing this insurance with the executed
Agreement. The Certificate shall state that coverage will not be suspended, voided,
cancelled, reduced in coverage or in limits except after thirty (30) days prior written
notice by certified mail to the City.
It is also understood and agreed that in the event of a claim any deductible or self-insured
retention under this policy of insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the Artist and
that this coverage shall be primary insurance as respects the City. Any insurance or self-
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insurance maintained by the City shall be considered excess of the Contractor's insurance
and shall not contribute with it.
The City reserves the right to modify the insurance requirements as deemed suitable.
12.5
The collection is a city asset valued and insured at the level of the original
commission or purchase amounts.
13.0 Program Review
The public art program will be reviewed every five years to ensure relevance,
accountability and adequate funding levels.
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APPENDIX D
Schedule of Public Art Projects
1. Projects already in progress
: Projects in various stages of development, from 2010
– 2013, organized according to installation date:
2010201120122013
MunicipalConsolidated Parking facility, Kitchener
Garage at MaintenanceCivic Centre Library, Queen
Charles and FacilityStreet
Benton
Country Hills Kingsdale
CommunityCommunity
LibraryCentre
McLennan Park Belmont
Avenue
BullasOtto Street
sculptures
restoration
Digital
projections on
the Cube –
Student Videos
2. Eligible projects in capital budget forecast (2009 – 2015)
(a) Community Services
Doon Valley Golf Course expansion (2010)
Three splash pads (2011)
Vogelsang Green (2013)
Mill Courtland Community Centre addition (2012)
New Indoor Pool (2014 – 2016)
(b) Development and Technical Services
According to the 2009 – 2015 capital budget forecast, contributions from sixteen
projects with average construction costs of about $250,000 provide a total of $50,000
for the public art program. The high profile Otto Street reconstruction (2010/2011)
stands out as a priority site for the use of these funds.
(c) Economic Development
City Centre Interior Park (2015)
3. New Projects 2011 – 2016:
Public art confirmed; estimated installation dates
20112012201320142015
Doon Valley Mill Courtland VogelsangNew Indoor City Centre
Golf Course CommunityGreenPoolInterior Park
Centre
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Parking facility,
Civic District
CAFKA legacy
project
(extended
temporary)
Otto Street
Student Video
Competition
(Cube
projections)
Public art
promotional
brochure
Guidelines for
developers
(brochure)
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