Agenda Index City of Vancouver

TO:

City Council

FROM:

Director, Office of Cultural Affairs

SUBJECT:

Community Public Art Grant Recommendations from 2000 Capital Budget

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

The Community Public Art program was established by Council in 1994. Its objectives are to encourage and assist artists and communities to collaborate on public art projects which contribute to community development and create art legacies. On Sept. 26, 2000, Council approved $ 75,000 for the 2000 Community Public Art program.

Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

This report recommends grants for 5 Community Public Art projects, discusses the selection process used, lists the results of the allocation process, and appends a description of the recommended projects and the program guidelines.

BACKGROUND

Since 1994, funds have gone to 53 projects, in most of the City's neighbourhoods, from Hastings-Sunrise to Point Grey, Fraserview, mid-Main and Marpole, Strathcona, and the Downtown Eastside. The program mandate of making the arts available to the public in every-day settings has been welcomed by the many community organizations who have served as sponsors, and by the large number of participants involved in bringing the arts into their neighbourhood.

There was no program in the 2000-2001 cycle due to the civic labour dispute. The source of funds for the Community Public Art is the 2000-2002 Capital Program, which allows for funds to be committed within that three-year cycle. Council approval for this expenditure having been given in 2000, this report is identified as "2000 Community Public Art Grant Allocations".

The deadline for the applications in this report was October 29, 2001; nine applications with requests totalling $ 135,000 were received. The applications were first reviewed by the staff to ensure that risk management, permits, engineering implications, and Park Board requirements have been addressed. Applicants have an opportunity to resolve technical issues before the grant allocation meeting. The applications were then evaluated by an advisory committee of three community representatives familiar with the program goals, supported by one Cultural Planner and the Park Board's Arts Co-ordinator. The panellists rated the applications for the best fit between applications and the program goals. This report reflects the consensus of the committee members. The three advisory committee members were:

Elizabeth Roy Artist, Emily Carr Fine Arts instructor, former Public Art Committee member

Diane Thorpe Community/neighbourhood representative, past president Britannia Community Services Centre Association, Surrey Art Gallery staff

DISCUSSION

Grants were recommended to 5 applicants, with preference given to projects that:

· presented a clear and well-developed plan of action and budget;
· identified lasting art legacies which are technically feasible, new or innovative, and respond to a community issue or concern; and
· demonstrated strong community support and involvement in the design and implementation of the project.

Grants are recommended to the non-profit societies listed in Table 1 acting as the organizational partners for the projects described in more detail in Appendix A. A detailed description of Program guidelines and criteria is contained in Appendix B (on file in City Clerk's Office).

Table 1: Recommended Projects

Community Organization

Requested

Recommended

Gathering Place

$ 20,000

$ 19,000

Native Education Centre Society

20,000

18,000

Mt. Pleasant Community Centre

20,000

15,000

Collingwood Neighbourhood House

20,000

20,000

Champlain Heights Annex School
Parent Advisory Committee

3,030

3,000

TOTALS

$ 83,030

$ 75,000

The following requests were not recommended:

Best Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST)

$ 15,450

Britannia Community Centre/Grandview Elementary School

11,556

Arts in Action Society

5,000

Dunbar Residents Association

20,000

TOTALS

$ 52,006

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Approval of the recommendations in Table 1 leaves no remaining funds in the Public Art Unallocated budget for Community Public Art for 2000.

CONCLUSION

The Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs recommends 5 grants be approved as detailed in Appendix A. Appendix B provides the guidelines and criteria of the Community Public Art program.

- - - - -

DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDED PROJECTS

Gathering Place
Title: Watch yOUR step

The project will create tile mosaics for the new Downtown South park located at Davie and Richards streets. The intent is to have the art-making process serve as a bridge between street-involved youth and new residents of the area by actively involving both groups. The project is led by an experienced artist, and is supported by the Gathering Place, the Roundhouse Community Centre, and Park Board planning staff.

Requested $ 20,000
Recommended $ 19,000

Native Education Centre Society
Title: Community wall, community voices

The project will create a very large mural on a concrete retaining wall at Commercial Drive and 16th Avenue, below Clark Park. Residents of Cedar Cottage/Kensington and first nations youth will be involved in choosing the theme and contributing their sketches and drawings. A comprehensive design integrating these contributions will then be created for review and approval by neighbours and City staff prior to painting. The process is led by two artists with extensive mural experience and good knowledge of ways to encourage community participation. The project has the support of the Trout Lake Community Centre and Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House. The Native Education Centre will provide administrative support, staff time, and use of a large workshop space for the project.

Requested $ 20,000
Recommended $ 18,000

Mount Pleasant Community Centre
Title: Windsor way, Art way

Neighbourhood residents along Windsor St. have requested that an artist work with them on envisioning and creating public art that marks entrances to the community and celebrates specific character features. Windsor St. connects three parks and four schools, and is active in the "Blooming Boulevards" program. Art works are to be sited between 12th and 41st Avenues, an area identified by residents as a priority in the CityPlan Visions Statement. Cultural Affairs will support residents in the artist selection process, and Planning and Engineering staff will provide technical support and advice on specific options emerging from the design process.

Requested $ 20,000
Recommended $ 15,000

Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Title: Renfrew Ravine sanctuary

Artists and neighbourhood residents will collaborate to create a gateway garden and meditative labyrinth at the Renfrew Ravine. Both features will be at street level and enhance residents' ability to use the Ravine for walking and relaxation. The project is part of a larger strategy by the community to create amenities and foster neighbourhood interaction and identity. The project is supported by Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Windermere Secondary, the Evergreen Foundation, and Park Board.

Requested $ 20,200
Recommended $ 20,000

Champlain Heights Elementary Annex Parent Advisory Committee
Title: New sights in the Heights

A number of parents participating in the CityPlan Visioning process noted that the area lacked depictions of families, children and seniors. The PAC will sponsor a collaboration with an artist, students, and neighbourhood residents to create a set of colourful, life-size human silhouettes. These will be painted at the Champlain Recreation Centre and then attached to a mesh fence fronting the school playground.

Requested $ 3,030
Recommended $ 3,000

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