Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 4:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Pipe Room - 6th Floor City Hall

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407

Present:

• M. Melo, Member
• M. Lam, Chair
• A. Girard, Vice Chair
• I. Stefanescu, Member
• E. Wainaina, Member
• Councillor D. Schnider, Member
• O. Ajibade, Member
• J. Hall, Member

Staff:

• K. Varin, Committee Administrator
• E. Rumble, Coordinator, Arts & Creative Industries
• Andrea 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 J. Hall, seconded by A. Girard

1.2

Acceptance of July minutes

Accepted on motion by J. Hall, seconded by A. Girard.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

3.

Delegations

3.1

Proposal for Kitchener Arts, Culture & Heritage Neighbourhood "Work Table": Martin de Groot

Mr. de Groot has been an engaged citizen within the local arts community for over thirty years. More recently he was part of the city of Kitchener Community Working Group engaged in work around downtown revitalization plan. During this work, he felt that establishing an art district/zone within the downtown could be beneficial in supporting arts, culture and heritage, and in engaging the constellation of neighbourhoods around downtown. With this in mind he applied for the Community Builder Grant through the Kitchener Downtown BIA. He is proposing creating a work table and inviting other applicants who applied to the grant to discuss ideas, and possibly consider applying together in the future. Staff recommended that he connect with the city's Downtown team within Economic Development and Compass Committee.

4.

Discussion Items

4.1

2024 Artist in Residence selection: Karoline Varin, Program Administrator, Arts & Creative Industries

Ms. Varin refreshed the goal, theme, budget, selection criteria and timeline of the 2024 Artist in Residence. She informed members that the Public Art Working Group chose a local writer and visual artist, Ellie Anglin, as the recommended 2024 Artist in Residence. She introduced Ms. Anglin's proposal and presented examples of past work. 

On a motion made by J. Hall, seconded by A. Girard, members voted unanimously:

'That Ellie Anglin be appointed as the 2024 city of Kitchener Artist in Residence with their proposal, the "Ribbon"'.

4.2

End of Term report: Margaret Lam, ACAC chair

M. Lam presented a proposed outline of the committee's end of term report. It begins with an overview of the term, outlines areas of focus during this term, summarizes information shared by delegations, the Public Art Working Group's activities around public art and ends with a section of future plans.

Action: M. Lam will send the draft for members to review. 

4.3

Final draft ACAC Terms of Reference review: Margaret Lam, ACAC chair

Members reviewed in detail the corrections and additions made since the last review. A&CI staff suggested reconsidering the current structure of the Public Art Working Group as a permanent sub-committee: they asked ACAC to consider absorbing the responsibilities of PAWG, with an option to strike a high expertise committee on a per need basis for the programs that PAWG presently administers. Current PAWG members could apply to serve on ACAC or volunteer as ad hoc committees are struck by ACAC on a need-to basis. Staff feels that this option would resolve on-going PAWG member recruitment challenges, workload burnout, more clarity around ACAC responsibilities, and inclusion of all members under the Honorarium and Reimbursement for Advisory and Quasi-Judicial Committees of Council policy. Currently PAWG was excluded from that policy. ACAC members reacted positively to the proposed change with a request for staff to discuss further with PAWG and include more clarity in the ACAC Terms of Reference around jury processes and the possibility of creating a jurors roster.

5.

Information Items

5.1

Standing items city updates: staff

E. Rumble updated the committee that jurors selected four artist proposals to move to stage two for the Mill Courtland Community Centre (MCCC) public art competition. The chosen proposals are a good mix of ideas and backgrounds. He informed the chosen artists of expectations for presenting to jurors on November 2. At that time, the jury will select up to three proposals to be ranked by the community. Community centre staff and other city staff will help to facilitate that public input. E. Rumble reminded members that the budget for the artwork is $30,000 stemming from the 1% public art policy allocation from the planned expansion of the centre. Final decision selection is planned for first half of 2025, with construction scheduled to start in May or June 2025, and the installation of the selected artwork sometime in 2026.

The call for expressions of interest for the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex (KIRC) public art competition is open with a deadline of November 4. Staff held an information session earlier this month. The facility has three potential options for artists to consider locating an artwork, with a budget of $300,000. The jury will need to select up to five proposals to move to stage two in early 2025. The aim is to select a winning proposal by spring 2025, with a goal to smoothly integrate the installation into the facility's construction timeline. Just as in the case of MCCC, artists will be paid for preparing and presenting more detailed stage two proposals. E. Rumble is seeking an ACAC representative to sit on the jury. He briefly outlined the responsibilities.

Action: E. Rumble will email details of jury obligations to all members with an ask for representation.

The creation of artwork for the KPL Southwest branch is progressing well with installation planned for mid-December, 2024. The library branch should open in early 2025. E. Rumble is currently working with the artist team, library and city accessibility staff, to produce interpretive signage and video to compliment the artwork. This artwork would also lend itself well to ongoing programing at the library. 

K. Varin reminded members that the current committee term ends this November, and interested members can re-apply by September 27.

5.2

Downtown Advisory Committee: Annabelle Girard

No updates.

5.3

Economic Development Advisory Committee: Margaret Lam

No updates.

5.4

Public Art Working Group: Karoline Varin

Members juried proposals submitted to the  2024 Artist in Residence program. ACAC member B. Reid resigned as the PAWG representative and ACAC member.

5.5

Council report: Councillor Dave Schnider

Councillor Schnider acknowledged the success of summer music events such as the Endless Summer Festival, Roos Island Music Series, and music at Vogelsang Green and at the Kitchener Market. 

5.6

Member updates

I. Stefanescu, J. Hall and B. Reid shared updates.

6.

Adjournment

On motion by M. Melo, seconded by J. Hall, this meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Karoline Varin
Committee Administrator