HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 16, 2020CtJ 4-
PICKERING
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Cultural Advisory Committee
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
7:00 pm
Virtual Meeting — Webex Platform
Attendees: J. St. Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services (Chair)
T. Ryce, Supervisor, Cultural Services
L. Gibbs, Supervisor, Museum Services
J. Currie, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
D. Davis, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
P. DeWilde, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
E. Forde, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
N. Holland, Cultural Advisory Committee Member (arrived at 8:00 pm)
C. Sabean, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
J. Sabean, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
A. Sardar, Cultural Advisory Committee Member
D. Poole, Clerk -Typist (Recording Secretary)
Absent: C. Cooper, Cultural Advisory Committee Member
M. Francis, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
V. Raees, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
B. Sopher, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
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Action Items/Status
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1.
Welcome and Disclosure of Interest
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm. Due to
a lack of quorum the meeting is deemed to be
conducted for informational purposes only.
City Policy ADM 040, Section 14. No disclosure of
interest was brought forward by any of the
committee members.
2.
Review of Minutes
committee reviewed the minutes from the
meeting held on Tuesday, February 25th, 2020. It
was the consensus of the committee to adopt the
minutes adding in a request on a report back from
DRPS on Body Worn Cameras.
St. Amant to contact the
JThe
DRPS and request that
they do a presentation on
the body worn camera
project.
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
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3.
Public Art
Attending members reviewed the draft Terms of
Reference for the Public Art Committee noting that
it will be a standing sub -committee of the City's
Cultural Advisory Committee.
Update by staff re online Artfest provided. The
even offered direct access to artists, artisans and
authors. This virtual event was free for the 70
registered artists and attracted 2,000 attendees, all
of whom spent an average of 2 1/2 hours reviewing
content.
The event reached 17,000 people through social
media.
Staff built an online artists market as part of the
event, and plan to include the listing in the Place
for Arts program, to assist businesses to connect
with local artists. The work will be available for
viewing on the City of Pickering website at
pickering.ca/artfest until the end of the month at
which time it will be moved to the cultural portal.
Recommendation received "Artists Talks" program
as a means for additional exposure.
Discussion re online arts and virtual studio tours
and virtual art show.
J. St. Amant to develop
virtual artists talk program
and budget for testing in
2020 and implementation
in 2021.
4.
Pickering Museum Village
Attending members reviewed the museum
deaccession report, which recommends moving
furniture and household items from the core artifact
collection into the education collection for active use
in the heritage buildings.
Staff advised that the museum received a
$44,400.00 grant from the Province to rehabilitate
the blacksmith shop and upgrade it to a usable
maker space with a wood shop and a paint shop.
Work has begun on the combination barn
rehabilitation project, which is scheduled to be
completed in 2021.
The virtual museum was launched in May and has
received a lot of hits. With the Region of Durham
moving into phase 2 of the Provincial reopening
Committee members to
vote on the deaccession of
these artifacts by email.
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plan as of Friday, June 19th, the museum can
reopen to small groups.
The museum will be offering drive-thru storytelling
tours every Friday in July and August as well as
haunted ghost drive-thru tours every Thursday night
from July 16th to October 29th. Partnership funding
for these tours was received from Central Counties
Tourism to help promoted this program.
In partnership with Cultural Services, the Pickering
Public Library and Sustainability, the museum is
launching a community-curated exhibit called
Un/Making our Shores.
Staff noted that there won't be any school bookings
over the summer however the possibility exists to
offer remote programming.
5.
City Centre Review
Staff advised that the public art installation entitled
"Spirit of Pickering" has arrived in Esplanade Park.
The work, created by Artist Geordie Lishman,
includes four stainless steel statues named Live,
Work, Gather, and Inspire, which celebrates the
theme of Pickering's City Centre. This installation
completes phase one of the Community Art
Program through the Main Street Revitalization
Fund. An official unveiling with the artists will occur
in the fall.
Staff updated the committee regarding a meeting
with artist Edward Falkenberg and staff from the
planning and engineering departments to discuss
the commissioning of a public art piece on the
theme "Nest" at the Treasure Hill development
located on the parcel of land at Brock Road and
Pure Springs Boulevard. The available budget of
$20K is not sufficient for this work, and will impact
the budge put forward for the Zents fire hall piece.
Staff will invite the next artist on the list to consider
this work.
Staff provided an overview of the "Stay Home Make
Memories" social media campaign, which has
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resulted in a 50% increase in followers on the City
of Pickering Great Events social media accounts.
The committee discussed the virtual Canada Day
activities, which will consist of a Regional
component and a municipal component. The
Regional portion, entitled Canada Day, the Durham
Way, will run from 2:00 pm — 5:00 pm in
collaboration with all eight local -area municipalities.
Staff provided an update on the upcoming summer
concert series; which has moved online and will
comprise of 27 live and pre-recorded performances.
6.
Cultural Climate Questionnaire
Staff reviewed the questionnaire that was provided
in advance of the meeting, noting that the questions
are part of the cultural plan and will assist in
steering the City in the right direction.
Committee comments received included that
particular organizations are not served or set up to
offer virtual services.
Some groups could use assistance with online
services, meetings and meeting requirements for
AGM and communications in the current covid-19
climate.
Committee members agreed that not all of our
residents can be reached using online services, and
that large portions of our community are not
connected or interacting with the City through the
web in any way.
A stakeholder inquired about the possibility of
opening up temporary computer centres for use of
residents while the library remains closed.
It was identified that with partial lifting of restrictions
some groups are now finding ways to offer online
and revised initiatives.
A stakeholder indicated that the Welcome Centre is
closed to the public however they have been able to
offer online programming and information sessions.
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Some groups are thriving in the digital realm.
Artists and Arts groups are leading social
engagements in the virtual realm.
T. Ryce to request
Summer events and meetings are cancelled, some
information from the
activities do not lend themselves to a virtual format,
and groups could use assistance modeling jurying
Library and Clerks
Department regarding
and fundraising in a virtual format.
training in the operation of
online meetings, agm's
A stakeholder indicated that some voting members
vote collection, online
may not be technically knowledgeable on how to
utilize online voting tools whereas some members
don't have a computer making phone conferencing
a viable option.
support for organizations.
Staff advised that the finance department has set up
a grant to support organizations who would like to
undertake community work in response to COVID-
19.
Stakeholders raised the point that in some instance
fundraising monies set aside for program delivery or
awards will be difficult to spend in absence of in
person programming and services.
Staff advised that low contact art and cultural
exhibitions will be permitted as of Friday, June 19th
A stakeholder advised that Bob Hinves has finished
the first of the heritage building art pieces of the
northern buildings.
A stakeholder mentioned that Durham West Arts
Council had recently sent a letter to stakeholders
announcing that they disbanded, as they no longer
had an active role with the community.
Committee discussion that there needed to be more
support for virtual arts in the community. The
committee agreed that this needs to be addressed
in future.
Stakeholders discussed the murder of George Floyd
and noted that the black community is hurting and
experiencing a wide array of emotions. At some
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point a discussion needs to occur to make sure the
community feels more inclusive.
Staff noted that the City of Pickering has budgeted
to develop a Diversity and Inclusion strategy in
2021, that the CAC would be a part of this work;
however immediate actions related to Anti -black
racism are a priority and would build a stronger
foundation and engagement for the needed
community conversations to build a strong diversity
and inclusion plan in 2021.
Discussion ensued pertaining to Anti -Racism,
Diversity and Inclusion and the role of the City, the
community and the committee in addressing these
topics. Comments and discussion points were
received as follows:
• The community is in pain and feels
traumatized.
• There are a multitude of variables resulting in
difficulty providing suggestions.
• It is hard to listen to the media on the topic of
anti -black racism and George Floyd.
• At some point we need to have a discussion
to make sure the community feels more
inclusive.
• Committee members have attended many
focus groups and sessions led by many
organizations, but follow-through is lacking.
• If we do anything, the City needs to be
committed and be prepared to follow-
through.
• There are other racialized communities,
outside of the black community, that the
committee and City should work with to
create change.
• Often times the only people attending
sessions on racism are people from the black
community; it is the same people all the time.
• New residents are feeling isolated, and some
arrived just as the COVID-19 lockdown took
place.
• Technology is a barrier for many
organizations and members of our
community.
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Item/
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
• We need to engage all audiences, ensure we
include the missing voices, address youth
and work with the schools on improving
mental health for our youngest residents.
• There is a disconnect because people
outside of the black community do not
understand the sensitive issues.
• Silence on behalf of the City would be
damning.
• Action is being requested by the committee.
• Many people can't access platforms where
engagement opportunities are offered. Phone
options are helpful.
• The Committee invites a discussion on how
we can work together to make sure the
community feels more inclusive and to
Committee members to
ensure nothing like this happens here.
provide J. St. Amant with
examples of what steps we
The committee felt strongly that they were the right
can take now to build
group to address this issue to support the City in
taking a lead within the community in racism and
diversity initiatives.
awareness.
The committee indicated that the city should be
open to working with other partners, and indicated
they would be willing to bring on additional
stakeholders when outside expertise is needed.
The group agreed that actions in advance of the
larger Diversity and Inclusion strategy will engage
the collective community to make great change.
The committee supported the idea of smaller
programs, a series of posts, educational
opportunities, or programming additions.
The group supported smaller group reconciliation
circles offered in new forums to reach all community
residents.
The group noted that we must reach children, teens
and young adults through these conversations, that
youth are the most misrepresented demographic
with regard to decisions impacting their future.
The committee agreed that grant money would be
useful to inspire the community to organize diversity
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Item/
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
and anti -black racism initiatives, reconciliation
events or other events to get the conversation
started.
The committee noted that they are open to bringing
on additional committee members to provide
expertise on the subject.
The committee will look for dates to meet in July to
put together plans/recommendations on how to
advance anti -racism efforts.
7.
Adjournment
The next virtual meeting is scheduled to occur in
July on the Webex platform. Information will be
provided on the timing of the meeting.
J. St. Amant to provide the
meeting details.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:00 pm
Copy: (Acting) Director, Community Services
City Clerk
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