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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. May 16, 2023 ACAC Minutes ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES MAY 16, 2023 CITY OF KITCHENER The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee met at city hall on May 16, 2023, commencing at 4:15 p.m. PRESENT: All members present, except C. Altinkas, A. McWebb, and M. Waddell STAFF: E. Robson, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries K. Varin, Program Administrator, Arts & Creative Industries GUESTS: none 1. Acceptance of agenda Carried 2. Approval of minutes Carried 3. Declaration of conflict of interest None DELEGATION/PRESENTATIONS: 4. None 5. Comments from Chair: Compass Kitchener: M. Lam The Compass meeting on May 3 was a gathering of all the committee chairs to provide feedback on City of Kitchener’s top five strategic priorities as part of their strategic planning process. M. Lam and I. Bhattacharya attended. The chair passed on many of the thoughts that were expressed by ACAC members during the March meeting that focused on feedback for the Charles St. Station and Downtown Kitchener development. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 6. Culture Plan update: E. Robson In June, staff will be taking an information report to Council with preliminary findings from the Environics engagement. The engagement process began with ten one-on-one interviews and ten focus groups with leaders from arts organizations, arts practitioners, and youth. An online engagement platform was also launched to gather feedback from all residents and cultural practitioners across the community. The interim results of the engagement process will inform the next phase of the development of the Plan, which will be presented to Council in November 2023. So far, the preliminary findings have shown that there is a need to: Integrate arts and culture more successfully as part of the City’s identity Improve awareness and access to cultural offerings Develop central hubs to access resources and networks To build on the work that Environics is doing and as part of seeking feedback from advisory bodies on the above identified needs, staff was interested to hear from ACAC members about: How might we integrate arts and culture better into the City’s identity? What have we learned from past efforts at shared promotion/events calendars/resource inventories? How might we do this better? What is meant by a ‘central hub’? What does this look like? How might they offer access to resources and networks? Key points shared by members were: What is the path to encouraging live/workspaces and funding for programming with developers? May 2023 - ACAC Minutes 1 ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES MAY 16, 2023 CITY OF KITCHENER Need to create branding of creative industries in our region with consideration given to individuals who may not necessarily be in tune with specialized arts programming Rather than asking stakeholders what they want the hub to look like, ask instead what needs would a creative hub fulfill. Summarize those needs, and ask the community to rank them 7. 44 Gaukel update: E. Robson The 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace is nearing the end of its five-year pilot period. A decision needs to be made on its use as a creative workspace. The hub has become a dynamic and active focal point for the local arts community during its 2019-2023 pilot period. Over fifty artists and organizations use the facility to pursue their entrepreneurial goals and share diverse arts-based experiences with the public. The project has provided flexible options for artists to establish, develop, and sustain their businesses and has created an innovative operating model for below- market-rate studios and in-kind skills trade arrangements. It has also brought new vibrancy and interest to downtown Kitchener. At the same time, for the building to continue to be operational, significant investment would need to be made to address critical building improvements. A&CI staff will be taking a report in early June to Council with the following recommendations: Later this year, staff will prepare a budget issue paper requesting $234,000 for the ongoing operations of the creative hub to keep it operational; in the meantime, staff will Assess options for ongoing affordable creative production space Assess condition and approach to building ACAC members discussed if the recommendations made sense. There was consensus that the project should continue as it is a model that has already seen some success. Allowing it to operate for a few more years will offer a chance for explore different ways to make it financially sustainable. There was differing opinions on the most financially sustainable way forward. Recommendations include developing a business model that would not depend entirely on city funding in the long term, leverage access to other provincial and federal arts funding, and finding ways to engage local arts organizations to be involved in the operation and management of the space and programs. 8. Motion to Council - artist fees, city programs: I. Stefanescu Following last month’s introduction and conversation, I. Stefanescu presented members with the rationale and a draft motion to support payment of at least the minimum fee for services provided to the city by artists, as recommended by various artists' professional associations such as CARFAC. This motion would be included in a report taken by ACAC to present to Council. After discussion, members determined that the motion needs to be further clarified and more detailed. Members also need to determine if the motion should address: 1. A new policy that would be a guide for activity across all city departments, or 2. Just a request for funding from Council to establish a budget for the Berlin Tower Artspace that would support paying artists exhibiting in that space, an honorarium To decide on the best pathway to bring a report to Council, and what the final motion should state, a motion was put forth by J. Paquette: May 2023 - ACAC Minutes 2 ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES MAY 16, 2023 CITY OF KITCHENER Prior to the June meeting, members will submit 2-3 bullet points to the ACAC chair addressing what to consider when advocating for fair fee for services for artists hired by the city. Seconded by I. Stefanescu, approved by all. Staff can support with any information needed. INFORMATION ITEMS: 9. Standing items city updates: none. 10. Downtown Action and Advisory Committee: minutes shared. 11. Economic Development Advisory Committee: minutes shared. 12. Public Art Working Group: no meeting was held in May. 13. Council report: none. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m. th NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 20 at 4 p.m., Pipe Room, 6floor, city hall. May 2023 - ACAC Minutes 3