Arts and Culture Advisory Committee Minutes

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Conference Room A, 4th Floor City Hall
Present:
  • Suzanne Mullett, Resource Centre for the Arts, Chair
  • Debbie Hanlon, Councillor
  • Sherri Breen, Music NL
  • Patrick Foran, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland Inc.
  • Jen Winsor, Writers’ Alliance NL
  • Terri Andrews, TaDa! Events
  • Jenelle Duvall, Cultural, Indigenous and Intangible Cultural Heritage
  • Pete Soucy, Business and Arts NL
  • Sarah Mackinnon, Canadian Heritage
Regrets:
  • Cheryl Hickman, Opera on the Avalon
  • Daniel Rumbolt, Visual Artists of Newfoundland and Labrador-CARFAC
  • Richard Stoker, DanceNL
  • Ruth Lawrence, Citizen Representative
Staff:
  • Elizabeth Lawrence, Director of Economic Development, Culture and Partnerships
  • Thea Morash, Arts & Culture Development Coordinator
  • Shanna Fitzgerald, Legislative Assistant

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  • Recommendation
    Moved ByDebbie Hanlon
    Seconded ByPatrick Foran

    That the agenda be adopted as presented.

    MOTION CARRIED
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByJen Winsor
    Seconded ByJenelle Duvall

    That the minutes of November 5, 2018 be adopted as presented.

    MOTION CARRIED

The City of St. John’s and the Craft Council of NL partnered to carry out a laneway public art animation project in Solomon’s Lane in downtown St. John’s (which runs between Water St. and Duckworth St., and contains entrances to both the Craft Council Shop and Gallery, and the Ship Pub). It is a well-travelled laneway and was a prime candidate for a public art project. The main priorities of the 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 this partnership, the City has leveraged annual public art programming, engaged community organizations, and developed a project that will help in creating interest, activity, and vibrancy in downtown. The Arts & Cultural Development Coordinator noted that the artwork was designed by Jessica Waterman. Once the additional lighting and projection elements are put in place, the project will be complete and there will be a launch unveiling event.

The Arts & Cultural Development Coordinator provided an update to the Welcome Centre Public Art Project located on the main floor of the Welcome Centre at 348 Water Street. This project was made possible by the remaining funds in the public art budget. The Visitor Centre has undergone a renovation to be more welcoming of the public and reflect the diversity of the City. An RFP was circulated earlier this month for an artist or group to create a world map installation/mural on a blank wall at the Centre. It is intended to be interactive and welcoming to everyone. The RFP is available on the Bids and Tenders section of the City's website.

It was stated that graffiti has been an ongoing issue with some of the existing murals throughout the downtown. Councillor Hanlon noted there is currently a graffiti task force being put in place within the City of St. John's. The Committee suggested that the graffiti task consider the installation of a legal wall to give people space to be creative. The new Mary Browns mural on the corner of Water Street and Adelaide and the Purity factories mural on Blackmarsh Road were discussed at length. The Committee considered encouraging more public art with a possible case study to investigate the motivating factor behind the murals from a business perspective.

In 2016, a new Policy on Grants to Artists and Arts Organizations (04-04-09) was approved and adopted by Council. Subsequently, beginning with the 2019 grant cycle, an additional modification was made to improve the program and its administration, and to increase consistency with the City’s other grant programs (Community, Special Events and Festivals, etc.): the assessment of arts organizations was separated from the peer-jury assessment of individual artists, and placed with the Grants Review Committee (which had already been assessing all other organizational grant applications). This shift has been a successful move toward greater consistency. Several new changes to improve the consistency and administration of the grants program are detailed in the above noted information note.

An update was provided about the current activities of Poet Laureate Mary Dalton. Cornucopia: Poets and Poetry of St. John's, a successful evening of poetry consisting of local poets, was held in celebration of World Poetry Day and was hosted by Mary Dalton at the St. John's Welcome Centre (348 Water Street). She also attended poetry readings at Council for World Poetry Day and National Poetry Month in Council Chambers. Mary has also started a podcast called Flahoolic produced in partnership with the City and by CHMR-FM. These podcast episodes are published online on the City's website. Funding has been retained for a second series of the Flahoolic podcasts.

The Panel listened to Mary Dalton's Flahoolic Podcast episode 7 - Merrybegot Poems.

The next meeting of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee is scheduled for February 5, 2020.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:23 pm.