HomeMy WebLinkAbout10. October 17, 2023 ACAC Minutes
ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
OCTOBER 17, 2023 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee met at city hall on October 17, 2023, commencing at 4:00 p.m.
PRESENT: All members present, except M. Lam, I. Bhattacharjee, M. Melo, B. Egan, Councillor
Schnider; E. Wainaina joined virtually.
STAFF: E. Rumble, Coordinator, 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
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
5. Accessibility in public art: E. Wainaina
Under the leadership of ACAC member E. Wainaina, members considered:
How accessibility could be considered in public art processes that the city runs, including
design of calls for proposals, exhibition spaces and sharing of content?
How is accessibility defined?
How would people with various disabilities access a work of art?
Whose responsibility would it be to provide tools to support accessibility of an artwork?
How would capacity factor into the City’s ability to administer the spaces and the processes
with a more complex accessibility framework?
Would any accessibility framework around public art calls impact the ability of an artist’s
delivery of a successful proposal?
Members had the opportunity to reference an Accessibility Toolkit developed by Tangled Art +
Disability, a Canadian not-for-profit organization. Various pathways were considered, such as
workshops, toolkit, wider methodology and statement of intentionality. E. Wainaina, seconded by J.
Paquette, proposed the following motion:
“ACAC recommends that accessibility should be considered as part of diversity, equity, and
inclusion considerations in art selection processes, seeking to include rather than exclude as many
people as possible. We recommend that staff help to define the process of accessibility inclusion
for calls for proposals, exhibitions, and public art installations.” Carried
INFORMATION ITEMS:
6. Standing items city updates: E. Rumble
Staff is awaiting the final report from Environics, to continue working on the Culture Plan.
The new Director of Culture and Entertainment will have better input into how the operating
models of the cultural venues will better align as recommended in a recent comprehensive
review of city-owned performing arts and entertainment venues.
Action: staff to email members the press release announcing the new director role.
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ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACAC) MINUTES
OCTOBER 17, 2023 CITY OF KITCHENER
7. Downtown Action and Advisory Committee: A. Girard
Postponed till next meeting.
8. Economic Development Advisory Committee: M. Lam
Postponed till next meeting.
9. Public Art Working Group: K. Varin
E. Rumble presented the proposed details for the public art selection and commission process
for the Mill Courtland Community Centre public artwork.
10. Council report: Councillor D. Schnider
None.
11. Member updates: none.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:33 p.m.
th
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, November 21 at 4 p.m., city hall, Pipe Room, 6 floor.
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