HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts & Culture - 2014-11-18
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2014CITY OF KITCHENER
PRESENT:Danielle Deveau
Earl McCluskie
Sean Puckett
Mark Derro
Caroline Hissa
REGRETS:Helena Ball
Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock
Allan Hoch
D. Morton
STAFF:Silvia DiDonato, Manager, Arts/Culture
Janette MacDonald, Technical Analyst, Economic Development
Carrie Kozlowski, Recording Secretary
GUESTS:Rawl Banton, Create Waterloo Region
CALL TO ORDER: Earl McCluskie, Chair
1.0Acceptance of Agenda
Agenda accepted as circulated
2.0Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None
DELEGATIONS
3.0OMDC Digital Content Creator Research: Rawl Banton
A consortium of partners (Cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and Cambridge, University
of Waterloo Stratford Campus, Communitech,Spear Street Capital and Whitney Commercial
Real Estate), along with the Ontario Media Development Corporation(OMDC),are conducting
a study to assess the size and disposition of firms engaged in cultural media (content)
production in the region.
Globally, digital media is a growing sector. Locally, we support hardware and software
development, but lag in supporting digital creative content.
Creative content industries: film and video production, video games, music recording and
publishing, commercial theatre, interactive digital media, magazine and book publishing.
Focusof study: identify, engage and describe digital media companies in our region and
surrounding areas (east to Guelph and west to Stratford) which are content creation
companies. Then develop actionable recommendations to address the development needs of
content creation industries in the region.98 companies have been identified so far. 30 will
be interviewed.
Goals of study: to help drive economic development priorities in the region, to facilitate
opportunities for artists, arts organizations and creative initiatives.
Study dovetails with the development of a regional economic development strategy,
connects with Music Works recommendations, and builds on the CREATE Region Symposium
earlier in 2014 that began a public discussion around the development of a regional digital
media content production strategy.
Findings so far:
Members of the content creation community generally donot know each other. This
o
precludes them from communicating, working together, and availing themselves of each
other’s services.
Content creators are generally not aware of available OMDC support, including funds.
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November2014-ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2014CITY OF KITCHENER
Noentity exists as a resource to support the content creation cluster.
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May be opportunities to share findings with Interactive Ontario’s Mapping Ontario Digital
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Economyproject.Interactive Ontario is a trade association for digital creation:
Example of what can be done: Manchester, England. Like us, they operate in an
environment of multiple levels of government. They implemented a voucher program where
businesses and creative companies can sign upto post a request describing the creative
content needed (i.e., video, advertising). Througha lottery, matching funds are available to
work with another registered firm that provides the services needed.
4.0Kitchener Economic Development Strategy (KEDS)Update: Janette MacDonald
Development of KEDS took place in 2011. Will be refreshed in 2015.
New KEDS will providean opportunity to engage a new city Council in the economic
development strategyand allowvaluable consensus-building opportunities with the new
Council and the community on how to advance the urban economy.
Will also reflect the addition of Arts/Culture and Special Events units to the Economic
Development department.
Five core areas of focus included KEDS2011: startup city, leading edge cluster building,
talent magnet, dynamic downtown, innovation district.
KEDS 2011 had the advantage of the Economic Development Investment Funding (EDIF) to
drive projects.
Other strategies and plansthat will inform(or be informed by)KEDS 2015:
Transportation master plan
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Future Arts/culture strategy , Special Events strategy, Kitchener Market strategy
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Waterloo Region Economic Development Strategy (WREDS). Should be ready for January
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2016, when the new Regional Economic Development body is set to begin. Kitchener's
next strategy will help shape the WREDS.
Like last time, both internal and external stakeholder consultation will contribute to the
development of new KEDS. Goal is to engage new participantsby asking currently engaged
stakeholders to identify others who should participate in the conversation about KEDS.
Ideas for consultation:
Another symposiumwhere 150 people are invited to generate 150 ideas in 150 minutes.
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Brought together people who might not otherwise interact.
Possible hands-off approach: asking the community to lead conversations about KEDS on
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themes that interest them, and thenshare feedback with the city.
Timeline: currently undertaking an environmental scan. Stakeholder consultations to start in
March 2015 and wrap up in June. Staff to synthesize results over summer, then draft the
strategy, review, circulate and present to Council.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
5.0Joint Advisory Committee meeting overview
On November 4, Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge arts/culture committees gathered for a
joint meeting.
Observations:
Rather than competing for audiences, arts groups could look for ways to expand their
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audiences
Post-secondary institutions provide an opportunity to engage new audiences for life.
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Advisory Committees benefit from diversity of members and eclectic composition to
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ensure broad based arts and culture representation. .
Lookingfor ways to improve.
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November2014-ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2014CITY OF KITCHENER
6.0Committee end-of-term wrap up: Identifying ACAC achievements
Compass Kitchener All Committee appreciation event to take place on Tuesday, November
25 meetingat 4:00 pm in the Conestoga Room.
Each committee must submit a brief list of main achievements throughout the term.
Staff circulated a list of possible achievements to committee members for their
consideration
ACTION item: ACAC members to email their list of top achievements to Carrie
INFORMATION ITEMS
7.0Reports to Council: Silvia DiDonato
Reports upcoming in 2015.
8.0Centre in the Square Consultation: Silvia DiDonato
Stakeholder consultation to take place on Thursday, November 27 at Kitchener Public
Library.
General community consultation to take place in the New Year.
9.0Music Works and Media Update:Silvia DiDonato
Based on the Music Works action plan (September 2012), a study about a music resource
centre/hub“is underway.” Provincially funded pilot programs being considered for 2015 in
collaboration with community partnerssuch as the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and
CEI.
10.0Public Art Working Group (PAWG) Report: Sean Puckett
PAWG reviewed over 80 applicants for the Rotunda Gallery 2015 exhibition schedule and
selected artists to exhibit in the gallery next year.
11.0Downtown Advisory Committee update: no report in D. Morton’s absence
12.0Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) update: Mark Derro
EDAC received an informative presentation about Regional Waste Management. About
garbage. Informative facts:
Blue Box program launched in our community
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It’s cheaper to ship garbage to the US than to create the infrastructure to handle it.
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It costs approximately $110per year per household for garbagecollection
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A local economic update was received. Our region has the second highest employment
th
growth in the province for the 5consecutive month.
13.0Council report: Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock: no report in Councillor Sealock’s absence
14.0Members’ news
Earl: Kevin Ramessar will release his second Christmas recording at the Registry Theatre on
November 21 and 22.
ADJOURNMENT: The chair adjourned the meeting at 5:44pm.
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November2014-ACAC Minutes