HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2021-89 - Temporary Artwork AgreementsREPORT TO:Finance & Corporate ServicesCommittee
DATE OF MEETING:September 13, 2021
SUBMITTED BY:Bluhm, Cory, Executive Director, Economic Development, 519-741-
2200 ext.7065
PREPARED BY:Rumble, Eric, Coordinator, Arts & Creative Industries, 519-741-2200
ext. 7424
WARD(S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:July 10, 2021
REPORT NO.:DSD-2021-89
SUBJECT:Temporary Artwork Agreements
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Executive Director of Economic Development be authorized to execute
agreements with artists & property owners for the creation, installation &
presentation of temporary artworks valued at less than $10,000 on private or City
property; said agreements to be developed to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to support staff in facilitating temporary artworks, like
murals, for placemaking and passive attractions.
The key finding of this report is that city staff are not administratively equipped to
produce temporary artworks, as each project requires its own, unique legal agreement.
By authorizing senior staff to review and execute temporary artworks agreements, staff
will be able to effectively engage artists to produce temporary artworks.
There are no financial implications.
Community engagement includeddiscussion at the Public Art Working Group.
This report supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
On multiple occasions in 2020 & 2021, Arts & Creative Industries staff were enlisted by other
City teams to advise & assist with commissioning murals or other temporary artworks as
meaningful, low-risk ways to connect with residents. This increased interest in temporary
artwork in public spaces as a safe, passive way to engage anduplift citizens has resulted in
a variety of projects, including:
A mural painted by Trisha Abe at the Centreville-Chicopee Community Centre;
A mural painted by Alanah Jewel & vinyl pieces created from digital artworks by Tee
Kundu, Racquel Rowe & Brubey Hu, all installed in Halls Lane downtown;
A variety of installations by Allie Brenner, Agnes Niewiadomski, Trevor Waurechen &
Benoit Maubrey, created & sited on City property during Reimagine Winter;
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
An exhibit by Catherine Mellinger pivoting from City Hall to downtown windows;
Multiple murals currently in developmentby various artists at community centres.
These projects are all steered and/or produced by Arts & Creative Industries staff without
well-suited administrative agreement documents to organize and complete them smoothly.
Anticipating that passive attractions in public spaces such as temporary artworks will remain
a focal point beyond the pandemic, the arts and creative industries team proposes to
assemble a set of temporary artwork agreement templates that will allow staff to collaborate
more effectively.
An important distinction to note is that the City’s established processes & policies for
acquiring public art under the Public Art Policy remain unchanged by this recommendation.
The agreement templates will allow staff to develop and create installations meant for limited
time periods within limited budgets, improving staff capacity to support the less elaborate
requirements of temporary artworks that are not eligible under the Public Art Policy.
REPORT:
Agreement templates for producing temporary artworks on either City or private property will
be developed by Arts & Creative Industries staff in collaboration with the City solicitor, risk
analyst and procurement specialist to achieve the following:
1.A streamlined, standardized contract that sets out terms & conditions for artists to create
temporary artwork projects of different scopes, sizes, materials, durations, and locations,
including contractor safety protocol requirements that are specific to artist contractors.
2.A standardized licence agreement for temporary artworks on private property to address
liability responsibilities, maintenance, promotional rights, term limits and other clauses.
3.These paperwork tools would also be paired with simple, accessible insurance coverage
options for installing artists that adhere to the City’s liability considerations.
Once fully developed, these tools will allow staff throughout the organization to create
temporary art projects without also creating a deterrent internal workflow. This will make
temporary public art more cost-efficient to produce, allow for more engagement with arts
professionals on shorter-term work, and support Kitchener residents’ access to more art.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget–The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget–The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM –This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance
of the council / committee meeting.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
There are no previous reports/authoritiesrelated to this matter
APPROVEDBY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services Department