HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-068 - Industrial Artifacts ProjectREPORT
REPORT TO:
Community Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
November 8, 2010
SUBMITTED BY:
Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
PREPARED BY:
Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator, Ext 3381
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT: October 5, 2010
REPORT NO.:
CSD-10-068
SUBJECT:
INDUSTRIAL ARTIFACTS PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Industrial Artifacts Project continues to be administered by the Community
Services Department as detailed in report CSD-10-068.
BACKGROUND:
On October 26, 2009, Committee received report CSD-09-059 (Industrial Artifacts Project -
Program Review) and the consultant’s report “Industrial Artifacts Project Program Review” by
Goldsmith Borgal and Company Limited.
At its meeting held November 24, 2009, Council resolved that the consultant’s report be
received; that staff investigate a new form of program delivery in partnership with the Regional
Municipality of Waterloo; that staff consider how to recognize taxpayers’ investment in the
program; and that the results of these deliberations be reported back to Council.
REPORT:
Regional Discussion; Stored Inventory
Discussions were held with the Region. We learned that they do not have sufficient financial or
staffing resources to absorb the industrial artifacts project into their current heritage
programming. However, they agreed to review the artifacts inventory to determine whether
some artifacts could become part of the new regional history museum’s collection.
Agreement was reached on the donation of one stored item, the Colonial Cookie mould. This
will allow its long-term preservation whether on display or in storage.
Staff reviewed the number and condition of items remaining in storage and discussed the
concept of having a number of artifacts on display at Francis Green by the end of 2011. This
would place a group of these stored items in a highly visible downtown location across from the
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Kaufman building. Signage would ensure public education about the project and acknowledge
the city’s long stewardship role in industrial heritage through its industrial artifacts collection.
Short-term loans of items that are suitable for indoor display only are possible from time to time.
The Beckett School has already expressed an interest in one artifact.
Artifacts stored at the city’s works yards will be re-located prior to the move to the consolidated
maintenance facility.
Items in storage at Guelph Street will be preserved to the best of the city’s ability given the
environmental limitations of the storage building.
The Program’s Future
The city will continue to provide stewardshipof the collection as it now stands; promote these
industrial artifacts as a way of making our public spaces unique and memorable; and
acknowledge Kitchener’s industrial history to the extent that human and financial resources
permit.
The city will carefully consider future acquisitions using criteria such as:
an item’s relevance and importance to Kitchener’s heritage
the preferred suitability of other regional collecting institutions as repositories
available display locations
storage capacity (Guelph Street) if no display space is available
cost to acquire, refurbish and maintain
Routine maintenance
within annual budget limits will continue to be done for items on display
outdoors.
public education and
Opportunities for better interpretive signage and other forms of
promotion
will be pursued whenever possible.
Recognizing Investments
Possibly the best way to recognize the investment made by taxpayers in this program since its
start in the late 1990’s is to maintain the collection as well as possible and to let residents know
the heritage significance of the machines. The city’s new website has a page devoted to the
program and its collection.
With the development of more installations at the Francis Green location (King and Francis) in
2011, the city should consider officially naming this space to reflect our significant shared
industrial heritage.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital account 59500070 accommodates maintenance of the collection with annual increments
of approximately $15,000. The account has sufficient funds to support the refurbishment and
installation of three or four machines at Francis Green next year and erect signage.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
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