HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts & Culture - 2012-02-21ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
February 21, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
PRESENT:Helena BallREGRETS:Juan Bohorquez
Don BourgeoisAshley Dean
Laura Lee DamAllan Hoch
Mark DerroCatherine Mombourquette
Cheryl EwingBill Nuhn
Councillor Kelly GallowaySarry Zheng
Ann Marie Hadcock
Aaron MacFarlaneSTAFF:Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Coordinator
Earl McCluskieCarrie Kozlowski, Recording Secretary
Sean PuckettSilvia DiDonato, Manager, Business
Development
RodRegier, Executive Director,
Economic Development
CALL TO ORDERDon Bourgeois, Chair
1.0Acceptance of Agenda
Silvia DiDonato to give a brief overview of Economic Development Strategy in addition to
Music Cluster discussion.
Agenda acceptedasamended.
2.0Acceptance of January 17Minutes
Minutes accepted as circulated.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
3.0Sub-group Reports
3.1Arts and Technology report:
Economic Development Strategic Plan: Silvia Di Donato
Focuson best practicesandopportunities for local economy.
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Goal:Create an environment of success.
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Community consulting began 2010; priorities developed based on outcomes of
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community engagement.
Symposium was held; more than 150 ideas generated in 150 minutes. Arts and
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Culture priorities figured prominently.
Five core areas of focus identified:
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1.Start-up city: foster a good environment for entrepreneurial activity. Locally, we
have a strong tradition of entrepreneurship. Ideas: be a one-stop shop to meet
needs of fledgling businesses; work with Small Business Centreand Tannery…
2.Leading-edgecluster building:includes related (spinoffs) and competing
businesses. E.g.: Environmental (solar); pharmaceutical/biolife sciences;
manufacturing; food processing; digital media; emerging technology; arts…
3.Become a talent magnet:ensure Kitchener has attractive assets (including
vibrant arts and culture activities); retain university/college graduates. Create a
welcoming environment where people feel they belong.
4.Dynamic downtown: grow market for residential; add to number of employees to
increase vitality and retail. Ideas: develop City-owned land and increase
festivals.
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February 2012 -ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
February 21, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
3.1 Cont’d Economic Development Strategy:Silvia Di Donato
5.Innovation district: King and Victoria, Tannery, School of Pharmacy, Bramm
Street (City-owned property) is an opportunity. Ideas: focus on branding, vertical
growth, urban research parks, increased density, and urbanization. Transit hub.
Music Cluster: Silvia Di Donato
Focus is on a music clusteras one facet of a larger arts and culture cluster.
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This is one action item out of the five-year economic development strategy.
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Strategy: use this as a starting point to support growth of arts and cultural industries;
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celebrate local talent; prove its validity as an economic generator. Build on
community engagement and grassroots movement in support of the Boathouse (live
indie music venue), the catalyst for a music cluster.
Music cluster could encompass: musicians, gaming industry, digital media, recording,
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booking agents, venues, online services for musicians, ticketing, musical instruction,
production, Laurier’s school of music, local radio stations, Centre in the Square,
Registry Theatre, sound engineering, video… Includes competing businesses and spin-
offs. In general, businesses having to do with music loosely connected geographically.
Tasks: identify stakeholders, build a steering committee, undertake stakeholder
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consultation to seek best practices and insight on needs (with Creative Enterprise
Initiative, industry players, artists, etc.), create an asset inventory, mobilize
stakeholders, and develop an action plan. Hope is to have stakeholder consultation
in spring 2012.
Goals: create ‘music jobs’. Facilitate enough activity to support full time
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employment in the sector.
Elements of a successful music cluster: jobs for musicians, placesto play/livemusic
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venues, audiences.
Idea: facilitate smaller venues to host performances through ‘Downtown Live’
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program. Help venues understand and achieve what’s involved in hosting
performances, and understand fair wage practices.
Seeking volunteers to assist.
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ACAC input:
Local food movement is afoot; we could initiate a local art (music) movement.
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Music cluster could present synergies with visual arts. Build civic pride. Encourage
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engagement with local arts scene.
Question: nowadays, a musician’s fan base may invest in musicians upcoming
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releases. Steering Committee could investigate the ‘fan as investor’ phenomenon,
and build on it?
Ontario Contact (an event): Focus is on performing arts. A provincial organization
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with an event of national stature. Will take place in Kitchener in October 2012 and
2013. Helps local musicians and performers find/create performance opportunities
outside of the home community. Cheryl Ewing is contact. She is willing to
collaborate and integrate a music cluster focus.
Opportunities for musicians/artists to build business development skills are
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necessary. In addition to business skills, also specific technical skills relevant to the
cluster (e.g. sound technologies). Local post-secondary schools could assist in
meeting these needs.
ACAC sees potential goals as audience development and venue development for live
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music, facilitating growth of the local indie music business, but don’t limit the
cluster by defining it as ‘live’ music only.
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February 2012 -ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
February 21, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
3.1 Music ClusterCont’d: Silvia Di Donato
How will these things be nurtured? Stakeholder consultation will help develop the
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‘how’.
Inventory people whose businesses are touched by cluster, be inclusive. Even radio
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stations and Laurier’s music school are potential stakeholders.
Collaborate with Creative Enterprise Initiative on audience development.
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Can this proposed music cluster intersect with the Tannery, and build on the
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momentum of the tech cluster?
Consolidated marketing for the cluster necessary. Would allow artists/musicians to
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concentrate on creating art/music, rather than on business tasks that are not their
strength.
We need a one-stop place to find out what’s going on in the local music scene; a
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centralized on-line location for event postings.
ACAC members interested in participating:
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Mark Derro (Conestoga College). Interested in the inventory/database, venues,
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promotion…
Earl McCluskie (Chestnut HallMusic)
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Cheryl Ewing (Ontario Contact) interested in the synergy with Ontario Contact.
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Stakeholder participation is critical to drive the initiative.
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3.2Clusters/Multiuse Arts Space: Aaron MacFarlane, Helena Ball
Committee discussed and agreed that an assetmapping component of theproposed
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municipal cultural planning project would provide foundation material for a later
facility needs feasibility study.
3.3City’s Role in Arts/Culturesub-groupreport: DonBourgeois
On February 27, 2012 Don Bourgeois will present the report on ACAC’s
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recommendations on the draft Official Plan to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives
Committee.
4.0Public Art Working Group Report: Ann Marie Hadcock
On a motion made by Helena, seconded by Sean:
“That ACAC support the selection of Larry Hunter’s proposal for a Public Art mural in
Belmont Village.”
MOTION CARRIED
Discussion:
Mural shown to committee.
Actual stores are depicted.
Budget for project is $10,000.
At its recent meeting, Public Art Working Group:
Supported the above recommendation
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Met with Hilary Abel, new Downtown Marketing and Program Coordinator, to discuss
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programming for the Cube. Cube is for showcasing local events, artists, promotion
for City events. No commercial aspect to the Cube. Not for profit groups may
request a spot on the Cube.
2012 Youth video Competition to be advertised at end of the month.
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February 2012 -ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
February 21, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
2012 Artist in Residence, Jefferson Campbell-Cooper to install a map on the floor in
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the Berlin Tower ARTSPACE in March. Will feature a public engagement aspect where
people can contribute to the map and submit experiences on Fridays. Project is
called The Peoples Museum of Kitchener.
INFORMATION ITEMS
5.0Arts/Culture Unit:Cheryl York
The unit has been realigned from the Community Services Department to Economic
Development Department.
This is a positive development, as it will lead to better collaboration.
Kitchener’s arts and culture programming reflects the city’s support for arts and culture.
The unit support fair payments to artists, and will continue to do so. The move reinforces
this support.
ACAC Chair and Vice Chair were consulted by senior staff. Feedback provided to staff:
That granting for arts and culture organizations continue.
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That neighbourhood arts and culture activities be fostered.
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That art for art’s sake continue to be valued, not just art and culture as an economic
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driver.
6.0Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC) Report: Aaron MacFarlane
DAC reviewed the preliminary strategic plan for the downtown. View more information
here:http://www.kitchener.ca/en/businessinkitchener/downtownstrategicplan.asp
7.0Council Report: Kelly Galloway
Council has passed the city’s final 2012 budget. 2.39% overall tax increase.
Festival of Neighbourhoods: New this year,qualifying events held in any month of the year
may now be eligible for the $10,000 capital improvement draw.
www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitchener/FestivalOfNeighbourhoods.asp.
City is currently reviewing its on line strategy(social media, web site).
Transportation Master Plan coming forward. Read on line:
www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitchener/Transportationmasterplan.asp.
The Boathouse (live music venue in Victoria Park, specifically, the relationship of the public
path and the restaurant’s patio) has been a hot topic at Council and in the community
lately. If you have comments, please email all members of council.
City of Kitchener’sHuman Resources and Diversity Committee won an Integration Award at
the recent Chamber of Commerce dinnerrecognizing inclusive hiring practices.
8.0Members’ Updates
Laura LeeDam: Creative Enterprise Initiative (CEI) hosted a funders ‘speed dating’ meeting
for members of the ‘culture sector’ to meet with representatives of organizations (not
municipalities) that fund arts organizations. 130 participants, 8-10 funderstook part.
Comment: perhaps the municipalities should be invited to participate, in future, as
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they are major funders of local arts organizations.
Cheryl Ewing:Sandra Bender has been appointed the new CAO of the Centre in the Square.
She is a strong enabler of audience developmentwith a wealth of knowledge and
experience. Good for community.
Don Bourgeois:Coalition of Performing Arts (COPA) members are convening at the Rum
Runner Pub to reinvigorate this group. Local Tourism Board has begun to integrate a new
ticketing system (Meridian). Members of the Waterloo Region Marketing and Tourism Board
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February 2012 -ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
February 21, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
will have access to it. Attend a meeting about it on March 2, 2012 at 9:00am or 1:00 pm at
themuseum. Used to book tickets, reservations, and put together dinner and event
packages. Good system for marketing arts and culture events. CEI is involved.
Earl McCluskie:Performance opportunities provided by the Registry Theatre have enabled
local musicians to achieve success on the world stage. For example, local guitarist Kevin
Ramessar is now opening on Broadway in the Stratford Festival production ofJesus Christ
Super Star. The Registry is a valuable asset for our local arts community.
ADJOURNMENT
The chair adjourned the meeting at 5:50p.m.
NEXT MEETING
March 20, 2012, 4:00 p.m., Conestoga Room.
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February 2012 -ACAC Minutes