Arts and Culture Advisory Committee Minutes

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

11:00 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Virtual

Present:

• Mayor Danny Breen
• Councillor Debbie Hanlon
• Daniel Rumbolt, Visual Artists of Newfoundland and Labrador-CARFAC
• Jen Winsor, Writers’ Alliance NL
• Sarah Mackinnon, Canadian Heritage
• Rhonda Tulk-Lane, MusicNL
• Pete Soucy, Citizen Representative (Business)
• Lynn Panting, Untellable Movement Theatre
• Lloydetta Quaicoe, Sharing Our Cultures Inc.
• Elizabeth Lawrence, Director of Economic Development, Culture and Partnerships
• Thea Morash, Arts & Culture Development Coordinator
• Shanna Fitzgerald, Legislative Assistant

Regrets:

• Jenelle Duval, First Light NL
• Tim Matson, Best Kind Productions
• Nicole Rousseau, RCA Theatre Company

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

2.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

2.1

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved By Lloydetta Quaicoe
  Seconded By Debbie Hanlon

  That the agenda be adopted as presented.

  MOTION CARRIED

3.

ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

3.1

Adoption of Minutes - February 5, 2020

• Moved By Daniel Rumbolt
  Seconded By Debbie Hanlon

  That the minutes of the meeting held on February 5, 2020 be adopted as presented.

  MOTION CARRIED

4.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

4.1

Municipal Arts Plan Update

The Arts & Culture Development Coordinator provided an update about the Municipal Arts Plan as discussed at the meeting of February 5, 2020. Adopted by St. John's City Council in 2010, the Municipal Arts Plan is a policy document that serves as the City’s reference for arts and cultural planning. Created based on consultations, primarily with the arts community, the plan outlines five strategic directions for developing the arts in St. John’s:

1. Financial support of the arts: funding the future;
2. Cultural space: working and living;
3. Collaboration with business and the arts;
4. Engagement with the arts;
5. Artist as entrepreneur.

A subcommittee of members will review the Municipal Arts Plan and make recommendations towards a new arts and cultural plan. As the membership to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee has changed, the subcommittee should be renewed with new members. Members Rhonda Tulk-Lane, Daniel Rumbolt, Lynn Panting, and Councillor Debbie Hanlon volunteered to participate. 

The link to Municipal Arts Plan was sent out by email to the Committee members as part of the Overview Package. The Municipal Arts Plan can be found on the City of St. John's website at the following link.

5.

OTHER BUSINESS

5.1

Introduction of New Members

Mayor Danny Breen addressed the Committee and thanked them for their continued work throughout the pandemic and for providing feedback to Council on important City matters. He provided an update regarding the City's current financial position in 2020. Members were invited to contact him with concerns or suggestions.

The new members are noted to be:

• Lloydetta Quaicoe - Sharing Our Cultures
• Lynn Panting - Untellable Movement Theatre
• Rhonda Tulk-Lane - MusicNL
• Nicole Rousseau - RCA Theatre Company
• Tim Matson - Best Kind Productions

5.2

Orientation to/Overview of the Committee

The Arts and Culture Development Coordinator presented an overview presentation which will be distributed to the Committee after the meeting and attached to the agenda. The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee provides information and advice to the Committee of the Whole on matters related to arts, culture, indigenous and intangible cultural heritage that intersect City policies, programs, and services as referred to it by committees of council. The Panel was advised of the list of City plans where Arts and Culture has the opportunity to be incorporated. Links to the City plans were provided to members in the overview document. Members were advised that the Economic Plan will be adjusted as there has been a shift due to the pandemic. 

City Arts and Culture Development was discussed with reference to:

City Grants

• Grants to Artists and Arts Organizations - During the 2020 grant cycle, the City distributed $276,500 in grants between individual artists and arts organizations not including special events and festivals, community, or capital. 
• Special Events and Festival Grants
• Community Grants

Poet Laureate

• Poet Laureate Mary Dalton has partnered with 93.5 CHMR-FM to create and produce a poetry podcast called Flahoolic. Several episodes are currently available, with more scheduled for release in the coming weeks. They feature Dalton’s poems along with those of a few other St. John’s poets, past and present. Additional episodes are in production and focus on particular themes in Dalton’s poetry such as nature, the city and gender relations. More information on the Flahoolic Podcast can be found at http://www.stjohns.ca/media-release/podcast-st-john-s-poet-laureate.

Call for Performers

• Submissions are used in a lot of different ways: 
  • "Music @" Concert Series
  • Cruise Performances (dockside welcomes)
  • Other City Special Events (St. John's Days, Canada Day, Festival of Music and Lights, etc.)

Infrastructure

• The City is involved with the development and maintenance of cultural infrastructure. The 4 below buildings are owned by and maintained with the support of the City but are not operated by the City. The City has lease arrangements with organizations to manage the programming. 
  • Quidi Vidi Village Plantation
  • Anna Templeton Centre
  • Railway Coastal Museum
  • Community Market

Art Procurement

• The City is currently actively seeking submissions for the 2020 art procurement program to complement its civic art collection. The City has put out a call for submissions from commercial galleries and individual artists to submit work for consideration. The art procurement program has an annual budget of $20,000. The deadline for entries is Friday, November 6.

Public Art

• Members viewed images of murals at Solomon's Lane created by artist Jessica Waterman in partnership with Craft Council of NL; and Rawlins Cross, created by artist Jordan Bennett in partnership with Eastern Edge Art Gallery.
• The main priorities of the Solomon's Lane project were to increase lighting in the area, generally enliven and introduce public art to the area, and contribute to a safe and welcoming environment.
• Through partnerships, the City has leveraged annual public art programming, engaged community organizations, and developed projects that will help in creating interest, activity, and vibrancy in the City.

During discussion, members suggested there be consideration of an opportunity for space to create a community arts and culture hub in St. John's. The MUN extension building was previously used as an arts hub and was referenced as "the hub" for all disciplines for arts. There was a demand and needs analysis funded in 2012 that is available on the City website. Arts Space: Demand and Needs Analysis. It contained investigative work in terms of determining what may be needed to serve the space needs of the arts community at that time.  

Members were advised of the City Public Art Projects in Development:

• Enlivening Downtown with Live Art Creation
  • Artists "live paint" downtown on pole banner "blanks" for future display throughout downtown.
• Community Engagement: Neighbourhood Art
  • Engage with community via neighbourhood associations and community centres.
  • Residents work with artists to develop and carry out public art projects for their communities. 

Question was raised about ethnic minority representation in the projects mentioned. The City has done some work with the Association for New Canadians and visuals were displayed at City Hall. Due to procurement policies, projects are obligated to go out for public call and are reviewed by a selection committee. Staff advised that there has been conversation around social procurement and involving criteria beyond the financial aspect. Members felt there should be a specific initiative for ethnic minority representation and proposed that the Committee draft wording about appropriate equity in selection processes.

5.3

Election of Committee Chair

Advisory committees are chaired by members of the public. One advisory committee member will be elected as chair by the committee every two years. The public member chairing a committee will have responsibility for ensuring the committee carries out its work as per the terms of reference. The chair conducts the committee meeting and guides the committee through the agenda items ensuring that meeting is conducted in accordance with formal meeting protocols. Excellent facilitation skills and previous experience as chair are beneficial for this role. Members were invited to submit their interest to the City Clerks Department. 

6.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee is scheduled for January 19, 2021 - 2:00 - 4:00 pm. 

7.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:24 pm.