HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 16, 2021 Minutes/Meeting Summary
Cultural Advisory Committee
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
7:00 pm
Electronic Meeting – Webex Platform
Attendees: J. St. Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services
T. Ryce, Supervisor, Cultural Services
K. Williams, Director Public Services, Pickering Public Library
L. Gibbs, Supervisor, Museum Services
E. Tayles, Conservator
C. Cooper, Cultural Advisory Committee Member
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
A. Moscote Freire, Cultural Advisory Committee Member
V. Raees, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
C. Sabean, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
J. Sabean, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
A. Sardar, Cultural Advisory Committee Member
B. Sopher, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
D. Poole, Clerk-Typist (Recording Secretary)
Absent: M. Francis, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
Guests: K. Roberts, Coordinator, Community Partnerships
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Welcome and Disclosure of Interest
J. St. Amant welcomed everyone in attendance and
called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.
J. St. Amant reviewed City Policy ADM 040, Section
14. No disclosure of interest was brought forward by
any of the committee members.
2. Approval of Agenda and Review of Minutes
T. Ryce requested to include a discussion point
pertaining to the Cultural Background document for
Page 1 of 6
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
a piece of public art at the museum under item 6 of
the agenda.
K. Williams requested to include an update from the
library as a discussion point under item 6 of the
agenda. The committee reviewed the revised
agenda and the minutes from the meeting held on
Tuesday, January 19th , 2021. It was the consensus
of the committee to approve the revised agenda and
adopt the minutes as received.
3. Community Outreach Presentation – Artfest 2021
K. Roberts, Coordinator, Community Partnerships,
provided an overview of the virtual Artfest event,
which will begin on May 1st and be celebrated
throughout the month. The theme is The Roots of
Art.
K. Roberts noted that she is currently reaching out
to groups to see if there’s any content they wish to
be shared on the virtual platform. There is also a
callout for artists and performers to provide some
content for the virtual arts market, which will be part
of the event.
4. Pickering Museum Village Update
L. Gibbs provided the following updates:
The 2020 annual report has been finalized.
Last year the museum received funding from
the Government of Canada to do a cultural
tourism initiative. The first initiative with this is
the 1920’s theme program, which includes a
drive thru starting in April, a guided walking
tour, and an escape room. These programs
are in partnership with nine local breweries,
the Canadian Automotive Museum and
Parkwood Estates.
An application will be put forth for funding to do
a Regional Cultural Tourism Strategy and
Recovery Fund with 10 local partners (sectoral
initiatives fund) from Employment & Social
Development Canada. If funding is received a
consultant will be hired to help do the research
and guide the consultation.
D. Poole to provide a copy
of the report.
Page 2 of 6
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
E. Tayles advised that staff are reimaging the
487.5 square foot paint shop, which is situated on
the second floor of the Blacksmith shop. The idea
around the area is to make it a space for families
to learn and play through a hands on experience.
Some of the themes that are being explored
include modern metal artistry and sculpture,
interactive artwork, historic wagon painting
process as well as blacksmith lore and legend.
The floor was opened up for discussion in relation
to hands on activities or participatory elements
that can be incorporated into the interior and
exterior space.
Suggestions brought forward were soft metal
stamping, culturally themed art workshops,
connecting with the artist from Dog Bite Steel to
potentially run a workshop and connecting with
staff at the Peterborough Canadian Canoe
Museum, as their beading workshops are very
popular and they may be able to provide contacts.
T. Ryce to provide E.
Tayles with the contact
information for Dog Bite
Steel.
Additional suggestions
to be provided to
J. St. Amant or D. Poole.
5. Sub-Committee Updates
ABRT Preparatory Sub-committee
E. Forde advised that the hand over meeting from
the Sub-committee to the taskforce has been set for
Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00 pm. The event
will be livestreamed and will include introductions
from the taskforce members as well as
entertainment.
T. Ryce advised that this will be a formal meeting of
the Cultural Advisory Committee and will be the last
meeting of the PABRT Sub-committee prior to the
taskforce starting their official work. The first
meeting of the taskforce is scheduled to occur in
March.
Indigenous Relationship Building Circle
J. Currie advised that there have been some
engagement challenges within the City of Pickering
resulting in outreach to other groups and
D. Poole to provide the
meeting details and the
link to the committee.
Page 3 of 6
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
communities who are already engaging with
Indigenous Peoples to understand how they’re
approaching it and to see who they’re approaching.
There is an understanding that the members need
to raise the education of the committee itself
therefore the Sub-committee members will be
attending an education event on the 27th .
J. Currie noted that Duke Redbird will be helping to
host an event on March 8th at 3:00 pm, where he
can help to answer questions about Indigenous
People, culture and an assortment of other topics.
T. Ryce indicated that the session, which will be
recorded and streamed to YouTube, will be
conducted through Webex and will be open to city
staff and members of the community. Opportunities
exist for future showings via drive-thru or a showing
in a park.
Public Art Sub-committee
J. St. Amant advised that the current Sub-
committee members are collecting names of locally
known professional artists. Work is ongoing to
determine how to fill the four non Cultural Advisory
Committee member seats on the committee.
T. Ryce provided an overview of the projected
works coming in 2021 and 2022, which includes
seven major public art pieces, five community and
temporary art exhibits for the spring, summer and
fall of this year as well as the community banner
program. Additionally, there is a restoration of
Dorsey James work put forward in the budget and a
restoration plan to have an expert take a look at the
work in the collection to make recommendations on
care and maintenance, developing the RFP for the
consultant for the public art program and plan as
well as any procedures that may need to be
developed.
Budgets are being presented to Council in the next
three weeks therefore staff will know at the end of
March what works will be proceeding.
E. Forde nominated herself to join the Sub-committee.
T. Ryce to provide an
update at the next
meeting.
Page 4 of 6
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
Given the volume and the scope of the work, T.
Ryce recommended that B. Sopher also join the
Sub-committee based on her previous expression of
interest.
6. Other Business
T. Ryce provided an overview of the new Museum
Heritage and Community Centre, noting that it is
appropriate to have a landmark scale public work at
the site that would be an extra draw for members of
the public. The proposed positioning of the piece is
close to Highway 7 near the western side of the
property.
T. Ryce reviewed the components of the cultural
background document related to proposed public art
piece and made revisions/updates based on the
feedback presented by the committee members.
T. Ryce indicated that the proposed maximum
height of the piece is at 40 feet, the width and depth
at 50 feet, the weight is to be determined. The
seating would feature natural or native plantings
with paved pathways and interpretive displays. Age
friendly seating would be situated around the
perimeter of the viewing area and feature lighting
from within.
Library Update
K. Williams advised that the library has partnered
with the Congress of Black Women to show the film
Harriet this Sunday at 1:00 pm. March break
activities have moved to April and the Children’s
Services staff have been busy moving around these
activities. A Children’s author named Naseem Hrab
will be hosting a session on Zoom during the
afternoon of Friday, April 16th from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
J. St. Amant congratulated Daniel Davis on the first
phase of his exhibition having launched on social
media and the City website.
T. Ryce noted that the City’s partners have been
advised that the City will not be hosting large scale
Page 5 of 6
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
events this summer however applications drive thru
and drive in events are welcomed. The community
events committee is working to come up with a plan
that community organizations can fit their model into
and have a successful application.
No other business was conducted resulting in the
adjournment of the meeting at 8:05 pm.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:05 pm
Copy: (Acting) Director, Community Services
City Clerk
Page 6 of 6