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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