HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts & Culture - 2015-02-17
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
FEBRUARY 17, 2015CITY OF KITCHENER
PRESENT:Wayne Addison
Judy Allred
Mark Derro
Danielle Deveau
Dave Schnider
Shirley Madill
Shantal Myers
Eric Rumble
Kristy Smith
Kate Swift
Sam Varteniuk
Dayna Walls
Linda Zensner
REGRETS:Alana Bell
D. Morton
STAFF:Silvia DiDonato, Manager, Arts/Culture
Krista Blake, Coordinator, Arts/Culture
Janette MacDonald, Economic Development Technical Analyst
Carrie Kozlowski, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER: Danielle Deveau
1.0Acceptance of agenda
Agenda accepted as circulated
2.0Declaration of conflict of interest
None
INFORMATION ITEMS
3.0Kitchener Economic Development Strategy update: Janette MacDonald
Development of KEDS took place in 2011. Will be refreshed in 2015.
New KEDS will provide an opportunity to engage a new city Council in the economic
development strategy and allow valuable 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 KEDS 2011: startup city, leading edge cluster building,
talent magnet, dynamic downtown, innovation district.
Like last time, both internal and external stakeholder consultation will contribute to the
development of new KEDS. Goal is to engage new participants by asking currently engaged
stakeholders to identify others who should participate in the conversation about KEDS.
Community consultation will be important part of strategy, as it helps build support.
Ideas for consultation:
Another symposium where 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 then share 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 Advisory Committees and Council.
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February 2015-ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
FEBRUARY 17, 2015CITY OF KITCHENER
ACAC comments on KEDS refresh:
Involve arts/culture sector in economic development discussions. Bring arts/cultural
workers to the table. Need a better understanding of arts/culture scenes and their economic
impact.
Suggested model for support for arts organizations:
Facilitate grassroots activity. Provide in-kind support and facilities. Give arts groups the
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tools to succeed (an incubator model)—provide a framework. Leave ownership with the
community, and let the community direct their own outcomes.
Provide low-cost studio spaces where artists can be creative, collaborate and be
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entrepreneurial. This will incubate creativity.
To encourage activity and attract people, make insurance available for groups holding
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events, and/or provide low-cost rehearsal space. Take informed,reasonable risks.
Audience Development:
Find ways to make arts activities accessible to all socio-economic groups.
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Attract students (high school and post-secondary) to arts events to build audiences long-
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term (also serves as ‘talent attraction’ in that the arts scene could convince students to
stay in our community). Must find creative ways to reach these audiences.
Need to promote and build awareness of arts activities.
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Creative Enterprise Initiative(CEI):
Integrate CEI into the community; consider a location in Kitchener.
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Find ways to make Grand Social a more accessible tool to raise awareness of events.
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Opportunities:
Sponsorship:help arts organizations partner with for profit organizations for
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sponsorship.
Collaboration:explore win/win partnerships that can successfully attract audiences.
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Vacant spaces for arts activities: activate vacant storefronts and provide opportunities
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for artists by facilitating temporary gallery spaces. Could Kitchener Downtown Business
Improvement Area (KDBIA) help?
Community Centres:can their arts uses be increased? This would activate the spaces,
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bring art to the community, engage newcomers, and engage youth.
Challenges:
Competition:Competing with bigger centres (Toronto) that can offer discounted tickets,
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bigger acts.
Collaboration:can be challenging to facilitate. The community is insular how to nurture
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sharing and collaboration for mutual benefit?
Conundrum:cultural producers feel that there’s a lack of audiences in our community,
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and audiences feel there’s a lack of activities. The ‘there’s nothing going on here’ vs.
the ‘there’s so much going on here’ debate.
Promotion:How to make it easier for people to know what’s going on?
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Rent: what is ‘affordable’ studio space? What does it mean to provide it?
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ACTION: Staff to share information about how to hold a community-led conversation about the
Kitchener Economic Development Strategy when details are available.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
4.0Reports to Council: Silvia DiDonato
On a motion made by Linda Zensner:
“That 2014 Artist in Residence Dwight Storring’s commission proposal for the legacy of
“Neighbourhood Voices” be accepted, consisting of a publicly accessible, travelling,
interactive exhibit of portraits and video stories, and further, that opportunities for the
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February 2015-ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
FEBRUARY 17, 2015CITY OF KITCHENER
exhibit to visit sites in addition to Community Centres, including the Auditorium, the
Market, Library branches and schools be explored.”
MOTION CARRIED
Discussion:
The Public Art Working Group supported the acquisition of Dwight Storring’s commissioned
work at its meeting on February 9, 2015.
The mobile story station will be composed of a poster display including portraits, a map of
the city showing community centres, and a secure ipad containing an e-book which visitors
can read.
Goal is to offer an intimate experience to hear the individual stories.
Will include instructions so that staff will be able to set it up easily.
The exhibit will visit each of the 14 community centres for one month. ACAC recommends it
also visit other sites.
Additional Reports to Council:
Above report going forward to committee of council on March 9.
Report recommending the appointment of the 2015 Artist in Residence (ACAC approved at its
last meeting) alsogoing forward on March 9.
5.0Centre in the Square Consultation: Silvia DiDonato
The city is currently reviewing the mission and mandate of the Centre in the Square (CITS) to
see how it should play a role in the future of arts and culture in our community, as
recommended in a report to Councilin 2014and a study by Webb Management Services(a
consultant engagedby CITS, the City and KW Symphonytoreview operations of both CITS
and KWS to identify options for futureoperating models).
Community consultation (survey) is part of the review. Survey closes February 18. 6,000
responses received so far; 3,000 respondents wrote comments.
Staff will present a report to council with the results of the consultation and
recommendations in March(March 9 preview, March 30 report).
6.0Music Works & Media update: Silvia DiDonato
In partnership with the City of Kitchener andThe Jazz Room and funded by Creative
Enterprise Initiative and the Province of Ontario's Cultural Development Fund,Industry
Insights is a series of workshops for music industry artists and professionals in Waterloo
Region at the Small Business Centre, Kitchener city hall. This five-part workshop series aims
to help Waterloo Region artists alreadyusing music as a form of income to transform their
music into a business that can realize its full potential.
7.0Public Art Working Group update: Shirley Madill
Committee received a presentation about Public Art and the Light Trail Transit Project. 8of
22 stops will have artworks(Conestoga mall (Waterloo), RIM Park (Waterloo), Grand River
Hospital, Cedar Street, Borden and Ottawa, Mill Street, Blockline and Fairview Park Mall).
Received a presentation about Cube programming, upcoming arts/culture events in the
Downtown, and Night\Shift 2015.
Considered and endorsed Dwight Storring’s (2014 Artist in Residence) proposal for a
commissioned work of art.
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February 2015-ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
FEBRUARY 17, 2015CITY OF KITCHENER
8.0Downtown Action and Advisory Committee update: Linda Zensner
Committeeconsidered the Downtown Kitchener Action Plan (2012-2016). Areas of focus of
the plan: Amazing King Street Experience, New Urban Neighbourhoods, Innovation District,
Collaborative Community.
Linda Jutzi of Kitchener Downtown Business Improvement Area (KDBIA) came to present on
its priorities, which include building a positive image, growth, governance).
Committee considered what members love about downtown: diversity/the people,
community, events, dining/coffee/foodtrucks, the Market, independentbookstores, the
LRT, that it’s walkable, has bike lanes, that you can live, work and play without a car.
Also considered things to change: the perceptionof the downtown, people don’t know about
all the activities going on, parking challenges, the Market should be open more,there’s a
disconnect between King Street East and the downtown, need for increased retail
opportunities and a grocery store.
9.0Economic Development Advisory Committee update: Shantal Myers
Committee talked about KEDS. Considered ways to attract talent, the perception of
Kitchener’s downtown, and the downtown marketing strategy.
10.0Council Report: Councillor Dave Schnider
February 23 is final budget day.
Waterloo Region Economic Development Strategy is a topic citizens are questioning.
Many councilors recognize that arts/culture an important part of KEDS.
The work of ACAC and all the Advisory Committees has impact at Council.
11.0Members’ news
KPL Parking Garage: Centre in the Square and Registry Theatre patrons parking in there are
having difficulty accessing their cars after the garage closes at 10pm. Situation needs to be
addressed before to becomes a deterrent to attending events. City of Kitchener Security
and Parking Directors are working on it.
THEMUSEUM:Unwrapping Egyptexhibit closes soon. Studio 54 party coming up on February
28.
Homer Watson House and Gallery: Meet Todd Manuel and Richard McDonald, whose artwork
is currently on exhibit on February 21 from 1-3pm.
Registry Theatre:Joni Nehrita performs jazz on February 20. Betty and the Beast, a good
March Break activity also coming up.
Night\Shift and KW Art Gallery: hosting a free event at the gallery on February 27 featuring
five short films by 12 Angry Filmmakers, including one filmed at Night\Shift last November.
Arcade games and a beer bar available.
KW Comedy Fest:March 5-7, now includes venues in Kitchener.
ADJOURNMENT: The chair adjourned the meeting at 5:25pm
NEXT MEETING:Tuesday, March 17, 4-6pm, Conestoga Room, ground floor, Kitchener city hall
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February 2015-ACAC Minutes