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Home My WebLink AboutCAO-13-004 - The Kitchener Studio Project REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: April 22, 2013 SUBMITTED BY: Rod Regier, Executive Director (519-741-2200 x7506) PREPARED BY: Silvia Di Donato, Manager Arts and Culture (519-741-2200 x7392) WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: April 16, 2013 REPORT NO.: CAO-13-004 SUBJECT: KITCHENER STUDIO PROJECT RECOMMENDATION: (KSP) at 44 Gaukel Street; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into an agreement with Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, to use a portion of 44 Gaukel (KSP); said agreement to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor. SUMMARY: This report outlines a unique collaborative initiative called the Kitchener Studio Project (KSP) with the goal to develop and showcase academic collaboration for art, design and digital content creators. The Kitchener Studio Project will include academic and industry partners, as well as the regional arts community. The project furthers Kitchener Economic Development strategy for diversified and strengthened economic impact by fulfilling the identified need for creative talent, especially in the area of digital content creation. Located at 44 Gaukel Street, the activities during day and evening will greatly add to downtown vitality, transforming a currently vacant area of 10,000 square feet into a space with significant community and economic impact. BACKGROUND: Waterloo Region is well known for talent in computer science, engineering and mathematics, but it is much less well known for art and design. It is also recognized that content creation for digital devices is key to strategic success in digital media. Art, narrative, usability and design talent are required to provide online, mobile applications, gaming and entertainment content. 3 - 1 To sustain and diversify the local economy, a comprehensive talent offering is essential to attract and retain digital businesses. This is a strategic concern for Kitchener and the Waterloo Region as content creation and digital technology are currently evolving symbiotically. Content is driving technology and technological development enables the evolution of content. Both are required to build a truly competitive digital media cluster. Digital media companies locating in the Kitchener area have already indicated their site selection requirements include nearby access to art and design talent. They require effective content creators to fully develop their innovations, such as visual graphics for smartphone applications or music composition for gaming environments. Co-locating these business functions is necessary for collaboration and consolidated location costs. The result is sustainable and diversified employment impacts on the community. Research indicates that artists are critical to attracting all categories of talent to Kitchener as the place to find a fulfilling quality of community life. In addition to content creation, art and design is required to differentiate products and services in the new economy. Designing a great customer experience is the true competitive advantage, and these features need trained high caliber designers to succeed. The impact is also measurable for product design, advanced manufacturing and has impact on every other economic sector in the community. REPORT: The concept of the Kitchener Studio Project provides needed opportunities to showcase, highlight and collaborate with design in the community. This concept can ensure that Kitchener is highly competitive in the regional, national and international new economy. This project has a preliminary five year timeline, during which planning, experimentation and evaluation will result in long term ideal organization and governance. At that point, the City of Kitchener will determine the most appropriate use for the building at 44 Gaukel Street. The Kitchener Studio Project is a collaboration of multiple regional stakeholders comprised of academic institutions, technology sector partners and arts community groups. At the writing of this report, leading representatives from Conestoga College, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University are agreeing to collaborate in this space, including the Critical Media Lab, the Games Institute and the School of Media and Design. Additionally we have support from Communitech, Christie Digital and Electronic Arts, as well as interest from CAFKA and KWArtzLab. Conestoga College will be the lead tenant. The project is intended to develop 44 Gaukel Street as a location for displaced tenants at 156-158 King West, and combining these uses with a collaborative design learning environment. The expected timing is approximately five years as a pilot project after which time the project can be evaluated. Kitchener Studio Project Vision: Kitchener Studio Project is a collaborative space where art and design talent connect with the arts, education and business community. Objectives: 1. Create a collaborative space for enhanced academic and research opportunities for local post-secondary students engaged in digital media content creation. 2. Showcase design talent required for digital media and other sectors providing comprehensive business success, establishing a brand in Kitchener as a source for the full spectrum of creative talent; 3 - 2 3. Provide space for collaboration between business, arts community and students for digital projects; 4. Provide state-of-the art resources and space for arts and culture community; 5.Maximize the use of currently vacant space at 44 Gaukel Street. The outcome of this project is expected to be a visible showcase of art and design talent in Kitchener. The creative activities in this space will greatly add to downtown vitality and further the Kitchener Economic Development strategy for diversified and strengthened economic impact. A vacant space will be transformed into a centre for downtown vitality as a creative space at 44 Gaukel Street. Digital media companies locating in the Kitchener area have already indicated their site selection requirements include nearby access to art and design talent. They require meaningful content creators to fully develop their innovations, such as visual graphics for smart-phone applications or music composition for gaming environments. Co-locating these business functions is necessary for collaboration and consolidated location costs. The result is sustainable and diversified employment impacts on the community. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The activities at the Kitchener Studio Project align with the City of Kitchener Strategic Plan for development, downtown vitality and talent. It is supported explicitly by the Kitchener Economic Development Strategy (KEDS.11) Talent objective in which the City aspires to facilitate multi- institutional partnerships to enhance capacity of digital storytelling and immersive experience design related education and research. This project will develop talent required by growing digital media clusters such as the game, cinema, and data visualization industries. It will also contribute to a dynamic downtown by attracting students, faculty and start-up entrepreneurs. These activities also serve to enhance the downtown experience, consistent with the Downtown Action Plan. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Renovations to meet minimum occupancy will be financed as a capital allowance from existing budgets.The institutional partnership will cover all operating expenses for a five year term. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Collaborative discussions with multiple partners and potential partners have been undertaken. No broad community consultation is required. Moving forward, community engagement will be a key component in the prioritization, project planning and implementation in 2013-2017. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, CAO 3 - 3