HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-16-025 - Arts & Creative Hub Community Engagement Status Update
REPORT TO:Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:October 3, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Rod Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development, 519-741-2200
x 7506
PREPARED BY:Silvia Di Donato, Manager, Arts & Culture, Economic Development,
519-741-2200 x7392
WARD (S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:September 19, 2016
REPORT NO.:CAO-16-025
SUBJECT:
Community Engagement for Creative Hub – Status Update
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION: For Information
BACKGROUND:
At City Councilregular meeting held on Monday, June 6, 2016 a resolution was passed:
“That staff be directed to proceed with community and stakeholder engagement ona range of
options for a catalyst location for arts and creative industries (i.e., anarts hub) and the
potential of 48 Ontario Street North as its home, as discussed in Chief Administrator’s Office
report CAO-16-015, including, but not limited to:
Option #1 – development of criteria for a Request for Proposal (RFP) to sell the property
“as is” or with minimal improvements, with consideration during public consultation as to
whether the proceeds of said sale should be held in reserve for an Arts Hub at an
alternative location; and,
Option #2 – development of criteria for an RFP to lease the property primarily as an Arts
Hub; and,
Option #3 – development of criteria for an RFP to sell the property with a portion to be
reserved or leased back to the City for use primarily as an Arts Hub; and further;
That the results of community and stakeholder engagement inform a future report or report(s)
to Councilrecommending a suitable site for an arts hub and the potential use or sale of 48
Ontario Street North.”
On May 30, the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee requested that the community
engagement process be compressed to “allow the final report to be presented to Councilprior
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to the end of 2016.” Committee also asked that staff provide “an email update to Councilat
the end of September, outlining the results of community engagement and the option preferred
by the public.”
On June 6, Councilasked for further detail on the “definition and associated costs of an Arts
Hub prior to undertaking community engagement as to whether 48 Ontario Street Northshould
be used for this purpose.”
Based on direction from Counciland from the Corporate Leadership Team, staff has:
Condensed the proposed timeline to produce a final report before the end of 2016;
Designed a stakeholder engagement process that builds on previous findings and
articulates a definition of the arts/creative hub; and
Developed a process that explores a variety of options regarding potential spaces for an
arts/creative hub, and the future of 48 Ontario Street North.
REPORT:
This report is an interim status update report to Committee for information. It outlines how the
community defines an arts/creative hub. The “Make it Start” direction described in the
economic development strategy, MakeIt Kitchener, includes three objectives: be agile in the
provision of services for startups; continue to attract entrepreneurs; and become a magnet for
investment. To deliver against these objectives, Make it Kitcheneridentifies the establishment
of a creative hub for artists—in music, film, theatre, digital media and other disciplines—that
offers rehearsal spaces, entrepreneurial and promotional services, skills development, and
event programming. This report and project is based on this strategic direction.
This report shares findings from a stakeholder event focusing on the definition of the
arts/creative hub. Imagining a Creative Hub: A Stakeholder Labtook place on Tuesday,
rd
August 23at the Victoria Park Pavilion. Approximately 80 stakeholders participated in the
session and represented a variety of creative industries and practitioners. The report also
outlines next steps scheduled in order to meet the compressed timeline for a report of
community engagement for the RFP process on 48 Ontario Street North to Council by the end
of 2016.
It is important to note that this stakeholder engagement process is intended to consult with the
community on which option Councilshould select, if any, for the use of 48 Ontario Street North
at the end of 2016. Should Option # 2 or #3 be recommended, Council asked that staff define
the concept of an arts/creative hub, in order to develop the criteria by which potential RFP
responses could be evaluated.
On August 23, 2016, stakeholders in the creative community including: artists, members of the
arts and culture, economic development and downtown advisory committees, arts
organizations, creative practitioners, and businesses engaged in creative industries, were
invited to participate in an event to further define the meaning of an arts/creative hub.
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Publicized online, by email and through social media, more than 80 participants invested
multiple hours in the evening at Victoria Park Pavilion. Led by community facilitation expertise,
city staff and peer facilitators, the following provides a summary of outcomes from the event:
Working Mission:
The arts/creative hub exists to facilitate the career success of those
engaged in the creative industries by expanding the capacity for entrepreneurship, creation,
networking and collaboration.
Distinctions:
The arts/creative hub is a centrally located gathering place that offers artists and
creative practitioners space to find solutions, make connections, take risks, share knowledge,
build dialogue, integrate, grow careers and collaborate. The arts/creative hub will operate on a
cost-recovery model.
Shared Values:
Adaptable, collaborative space that is flexible, creative, inclusive, accepting,
open and fun.
Audience / Community / Users:
Creative practitioners:
Visual artists and craftspeople, literary artists, writers
o
Musicians, industry professionals, technologists
o
Performing arts and related professionals including music, theatre, dance
o
Digital media developers, filmmakers, animators, photographers, user-
o
experience designers)
Architects, curators, designers (industrial, graphic, textile, fashion, interior)
o
Investors, arts organizations, professional associations, educators
Activities and Space-Use Examples:
Entrepreneurship & Professional Development
Administrative space(s) (entrepreneurial servicesi.e. agents, digital marketing,
o
digital monetization, intellectual property rights, grants, etc.)
Shared resources/toolsworkshop
o
Space Rental:
Flexible rental for rehearsal, event or performance space
o
Specialized studio spaces (visual arts, sound/ video recording, multi-media)
o
Formal performance space
o
Soundstage
o
Compatible Commercial Uses:
Tenants such as retail music store, games startup, coffee bar, or other
o
compatible uses
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Next Steps:
As indicated in Councilreport CAO-16-015, next steps include community engagement to
consider how the needs for an arts/creative hub could be met by multiple locations as
suggested by the community, including 48 Ontario Street North.Final summary report will be
brought forward in December 2016.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Arts, cultureand the creative industriesmake important contributions to “Quality of Life”
through creativity, heritage and diversity. Developmentgoals are also served through arts and
culture, and adding to urban vitality.
The Kitchener Economic Development Strategy (MakeIt Kitchener)adopted in 2016
recognizes arts, cultural workers and content creators (including music, media, film and
design) as a vibrant economic cluster in-and-of-itself, comprising a significant segment of the
labour force. Creative industriesleverage innovation throughout businesses as diverse as
digital media and advanced manufacturing design. Strengtheningarts and culture activities
helps to develop Kitchener’s distinct identity as a desirable place to live and to visit. And it is a
critical component to talent attraction, retention and development.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None at this time.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Engagement forthis report includedthe August 23, 2016 “Imagining a Creative Hub Event,”
Make It Kitchener consultation (2015), Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, meetings with
Downtown Advisory Action Committee, Heritage Kitchener, the Public Art Working Group; the
summary of consultation from “Background, Inventory, and Consultation for the Arts and
Culture Strategy, 2015,” and numerous inquiries from the private and not-for-profit sectors
regarding affordable space. This report is posted on the City’s website as part of the Council
agenda.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Jeff Willmer, CAO
APPENDIX 1
“Imagining a Creative Hub” Stakeholder Lab, August 23, 2016
APPENDIX 2
Sample Creative Hub Activities & Uses
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CAO-16-025APPENDIX 1
“Imagining a Creative Hub” Stakeholder Lab, August 23, 2016
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CAO-16-025APPENDIX 2
Sample Creative Hub Activities & Uses
Summary community engagement (2012-2016)
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