HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-20 ACAC Minutes
Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
May 20, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Schmalz Room - Second Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON, N2G 4G7
Present: J. Hall, Chair
R. Labrie, Vice Chair
A. Mehta, Member
N. Stretch, Member
S. Florence, Member
W. Rahimi, Member
I. Stefanescu, Member
M. Lam, Member
Staff: K. Varin, Committee Administrator, Arts & Creative Industries
E. Rumble, Coordinator, Arts & Creative Industries
A. Hallam, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries
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1. Commencement
The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee held a meeting this date commencing
at 4:00 p.m.
1.1 Acceptance of agenda
Accepted on motion by I. Stefanescu, seconded by N. Stretch.
1.2 Acceptance of March minutes
Accepted on motion by M. Lam, seconded by N. Stretch.
1.3 Acceptance of April minutes
Accepted on motion by M. Lam, seconded by A. Mehta.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
3.Delegations
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None.
4. Discussion Items
4.12025 Artist in Residence proposal: K. Varin
K. Varin refreshed the juried selection process and criteria for selecting the 2025
Artist in Residence. She shared jury feedback, and introduced the career, the
proposed residency activities and the preliminary design of the public art
installation of the artist selected: Tara Cooper.
On a motion made by J. Hall, seconded by N. Stretch, members voted
unanimously:
'That Tara Cooper be appointed as the 2025 city of Kitchener Artist in Residence
with her proposal.'
4.2 Committee Terms of Reference: staff
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Staff brought forward the 15 draft of the Terms of Reference to the committee
for discussion. Staff appreciate the committee’s feedback.
5. Information Items
5.1 Program updates: K. Varin
The 2024 Artist in Residence, Ellie Anglin, will be concluding her term at the end
of June. There may be a closing or zine launch, but only if a partnership with
another organization comes to fruition. Ellie's publication, the zine entitled
'Ribbon', has been published. There are several special edition copies which
have been hand embellished with ribbons. Staff and Ellie have a tentative
distribution plan which when finalized, will be published on the city's website.
Staff is working on finalizing the draft of the 2026 Rotunda Gallery call for
proposals. It will be shared with ACAC, advertised, shared with artists and posted
on the city’s website in late June or early July.
5.2 Upper Canada Park public art call for proposals: E. Rumble
E. Rumble is working with the Parks Department on an invitational call for
proposals for an artwork installation in the Upper Canada Park located in the
Doon area. Most of the park is home to baseball fields and the call seeks ideas
around a reinvented, non-literal baseball motif. The invitation to submit was sent
out to targeted artists. It included artists working with various materials, both local
and outside of the region. The installation is part of the 1% public art policy: the
space will be renovated this fall with the inclusion of a raised, green space at the
entryway of the park, where an artwork installation can be sited. The commission
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is $67,000. Three artists will be paid to develop their proposals as decided by
Parks and Arts & Creative Industries staff. A jury composed of two staff and an
ACAC member will make the final selection in August. The installation will be
coordinated in the spring of 2026.
A&CI staff seeks a volunteer from ACAC to serve as a jury member for the final
selection. N. Stretch volunteered his time.
5.3 Member updates
A. Mehta, S. Florence, J. Hall and N. Stretch provided updates.
6. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:52 p.m.
Karoline Varin
Committee Administrator
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