Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutA&C 2006-02-14ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday February 14, 2006 - 4:00 p.m. CITY OF KITCHENER PRESENT: Peter Hinchcliffe (Chair), Sheila McMath, Martin de Groot, Isabel Cisterna, Annalee Moore, Cheryl York, Denis Pellerin, Ron Green, Councillor John Gazzola (Co-Chair), Don Chapman, Erina Harris, Brian Scott REGRETS: Sivakumar Somasundram, Jennifer Breithaupt GUESTS: Ann Pappert DELEGATION 1.1 Ann Pappert, General Manager Community Services Department, City of Kitchener Ann introduced herself and presented an overview of the initiatives proposed/under discussion for support of CulturePlan II implementation, through the Department and in the Corporation. Ann noted the three proposed "Focus Projects" (see handout) that are proposed by staff as a method to apply the feedback from community input sessions during the creation of the CulturePlan II, as based in community values, needs and investments. As per handout: A -Community Investment Strategy - a comprehensive review of the funding process and systems currently in place to support community culture/sports organizations, as compared to a study of current needs. This will provide the opportunity to customize and streamline support systems according to need, innovating funding opportunities, towards the sustainability of cultural organizations. B -Artscape - A joint endeavour between the Community Services Department and the Economic Development Division: the possibility to hire "Artscape" (only not-for-profit cultural developer in Canada) to do a study of the City of Kitchener, in response to CulturePlan II input re: possible need for a new cultural facility/opportunity for development of Arts and Culture Cluster. Findings will be applied to the further development of an Arts and Cluster Strategy for the City of Kitchener through Economic Development, alongside Culture staff. C -Cultural Capitals of Canada: This program through the Ministry of Heritage awards a designation "Cultural Capital" as well as up to 2 million dollars (up to 75% of overall project budget) to the winning municipalities for programming to foster cultural development, to include "legacy" and "celebratory" components. The deadline is October 2006 for programming in 2009. A further public information session for all participants in the CulturePlan II process will be held in the Rotunda on March 22, 7 pm, for info and input. The input represented and project updates will be brought to a meeting of the Community Services Committee on March 27tH ACAC will send representation to both meetings. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND REVIEW OF AGENDA No motion was made. \February 2006 -ACAC Minutes ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday February 10, 2006 - 4:00 p.m. 3. BUSINESS ARISING 3.1 KOR Update - Erina ACAC had historically supported the principle to maintain the public art currently at the KOR location in the public realm, if at all possible, as a result of the closing of KOR. The past request from the KOR Board (that the City forgive the utilities bill owed by KOR and in turn receive a donation of the artwork, to enable it to remain in the public realm) had been supported in principle by ACAC however no list of creditors had been provided by KOR nor appraisals of the artwork or costs for its maintenance, therefore ACAC had been unable to determine the cost of this possible donation. The City currently has no budget for relocation/maintenance/purchasing artwork outside of the current public programs and committee practices. On Monday February 6, Council deferred the staff recommendation to forgive the utilities loan and accept the donation of artwork -requesting that information regarding the assets and artwork be brought back for further discussion. In the interim, KOR established that they were unable to commit to any donation of the artwork (as they had proposed earlier) until the results of the sale of assets were determined. The sale of the assets will be determined the week of March 3 and KOR representatives will continue any discussions regarding assets, utilities bill and the artwork at that time. 3.2 Grants Sub-Committee Up-Date -Cheryl/Annalee 3.2.1 The Grants Subcommittee met on January 31, 2006 at 4 p.m., Graham Room, City Hall. Two applications were presented for review: (1) Canadian University Women's Federation (CUWF K- W), and (2) Neruda Productions "Tapestry Project". As Isabel Cisterna authored the Neruda application, Annalee Moore asked Peter Hinchcliff to join the sub-committee for its deliberations. Isabel left the room while the Neruda application was considered. The subcommittee supported CUWF's request for $5,000. The publication project that would benefit from the grant is titled: "Proudly She Marched: Training WW II Women in Waterloo County". Training facilities in Kitchener played an important role in the war effort and this record now forms an essential part of Kitchener's written history. The $5,000 grant request represents approximately 10% of the total project budget. The subcommittee supported Neruda Production's application in the amount of $4,400. The amount represents half of the $8,800 project budget. The budget enables project co- ordination, documentation, exhibit and promotion of "Arpillera: Tapestry of Life". The project's objectives are to expand the program, generate awareness and build community, and create a foundation for an ongoing program. The subcommittee also supported the in-kind donation of facility rental at the Market, an amount noted in the budget at $500. Motion: The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee unanimously supports the request by CUWF K-W fora $5,000 City of Kitchener Provisional Grant; and, the request by Neruda Productions fora $4,400 Provisional grant with an in-kind donation of exhibit space at the Kitchener Market at a value of $500. 3.2.2 Membership of Grants Subcommittee Sheila McMath joined the subcommittee. Current membership is now: Annalee Moore, Chair, Isabel Cisterna, Sheila McMath, and Sivakumar Somasundram. \February 2006 -ACAC Minutes ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday February 10, 2006 - 4:00 p.m. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1 Culture Capitals -Cheryl York The Culture Plan II Team, ACAC (as per today's discussion), the Public Art Working Group and members of the arts community at large have expressed profound interest in this program as a possibility to advance CulturePLan II Recommendations and to present acommunity-wide vision. Senior Management at the City is investigating the levels of support in the political arena at the City of Waterloo and at the region. The City of Kitchener is prepared to lead on this application. Cheryl York is the contact for the next stages of the discussion. If an application is to go forward it would be presented to Council (with budget) in June 2006 Members of ACAC discussed the Cultural Capitals of Canada project. Denis noted that Larry Blondell, Executive Director of Oktoberfest, should be included in future program discussions. 4.2 CulturePlan II Teams -please see handout -Terms of reference and membership The CulturePlan II teams, internal and external, have met separately and will now meet monthly for joint meetings. This group will report to ACAC and will serve as ambassadors to champion the Plan, with involvement in Focus Projects and related development. The membership is dynamic and the leadership is strong. The commitment to retain the spirit and diversity of CulturePlan II input is at the forefront of the Teams' Agenda. 4.3 Bullas Sculptures Update The sculpture owned by the City created by artist Helen Waimel Robertson was removed from Downtown Kitchener years ago due to damage. The City committed to replace and repair the sculpture and it has been in storage for several years due to Downtown redevelopment. Larry Lynch in the Building Department is working to incorporate its return to the Gaukel/Charles street area as part of streetscaping. The fountain sculptures are beautiful and require repair - this could also include recasting in bronze or other materials. Cheryl York will work with PAWG to determine possibilities, costs and copyright issues for any required reproduction. Updates to ACAC will be ongoing. Photos are available of the artwork in storage and also in its previous location. Victoria Park Public Art: Artist Ernest Daetwyler is completing the public art piece "Luggage" for the fountain and surrounding area, for the Victoria Park Entrance Feature. 4.4 ACAC Membership ACAC reviewed the applicants for the two vacant positions and forwarded comments to Councillor John Gazzola who will present this feedback to Council for final deliberation and appointment to the Committee. 5. REPORTS 5.1 PAWG Report A. Phil Irish is the new Artist In residence for 2006 and his curriculum will be announced shortly. B. Staff has presented various future projects including a possible review of the public art program and the AIR program -aimed for 2007. C. Two public art competitions underway -Chandler and Victoria Hills Community Centres- juries to meet in March. D. Tony Urquhart's Public Commission (2005 10th Anniversary AIR) is a beautiful sculpture and may be installed in the CAO's office -confirmation and unveiling date to be announced. \February 2006 -ACAC Minutes 3 ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday February 10, 2006 - 4:00 p.m. 5.2 DAC Report - Denis provided an update regarding lighting in the Downtown and ongoing efforts to use lighting to enhance safety, beautification towards increased vitality. - The ASAP project has been very well received in its efforts to adorn Downtown storefronts with original artwork created by local artists. The project is adding additional assistance to its fleet of volunteers and part-time staff. 5.3 CDC Report - The joint meeting of ACAC and CDC will be held on February 28th, 4 pm at the Button Factory - a shared agenda is being created by staff links and committee Chairs. - ACAC discussed the content for this agenda and agreed that the three Focus Projects are issues as the topics for discussion, as well as a general discussion of any areas for collaboration, though the CulturePlan II is agreed to be a good starting point since it contained input from representatives from both Cities. - CDC had indicated that it wished to also discuss the subject of the role of WRAC -what additional needs the community may need from WRAC as services and how to build capacity and additional resources into WRAC. 5.4 Arts Council Report -Martin - In discussion on the aforementioned community projects - In addition, the Waterloo Regional Arts Council will be celebrating its 25th anniversary - Hooray! 5.5 Staff Reports Isabel Cisterna added a final item from ACAC as aligning with staff reports, as follows: • Isabel presented her current initiative - to approach the City to endorse the Academia De Musica project. • The City's Tapestry Event (community cultural events in multicultural development) is presented with the opportunity to work with Isabel on an exchange project between a musical academy from Chile, dedicated to children and youth (the majority of whom come from disadvantaged circumstances). • Tapestry would like to begin by funding the airfare of one of the students as part of a cultural exchange to Kitchener, along with 3 others from the Academia. Partners such as the KW Symphony will be invited to participate. • Brian Scott has requested a statement from ACAC supporting the significance of the exchange project. This will be presented to Council for their endorsement and possible future/further support. ACAC made a motion: "That the City of Kitchener Arts and Culture Advisory Committee supports the cultural and educational significance of the proposed Academia de Musica exchange project and recommends that City Council also endorse/support this project as required, in order to develop a meaningful cultural learning experience for all parties and a celebration of diversity and the arts." All were in favour; carried. 6.0 OTHER n/a 7.0 ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING The next ACAC meeting will take place on March 14 at 4:00 p.m. in the Schmaltz Room at Kitchener City Hall. \February 2006 -ACAC Minutes