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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 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 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. Page 1 of 8 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 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. Page 2 of 8 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 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 Page 3 of 8 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 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. Page 4 of 8 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 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 Page 5 of 8 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 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. Page 6 of 8 Item/ Ref # 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 Page 7 of 8 Item/ Ref # 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 Page 8 of 8