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CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
January 15, 2004 | |
Author: |
Bryan Newson | |
Phone No.: |
604.871.6002 | |
RTS No.: |
03882 | |
CC File No.: |
2051 | |
Meeting Date: |
March 9, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director, Office of Cultural Affairs |
SUBJECT: |
2003 Community Public Art Grants |
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve grants totalling $53,000 to the four organizations listed in Table 1, source of funds to be the 2003 Public Art Unallocated Capital Account.
B. THAT funds be released on the authority of the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, after Engineering or other civic staff have resolved any outstanding technical or administrative concerns.
Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.
COUNCIL POLICY
The Community Public Art Program was established in 1994 to support artist/community collaborations on projects that contribute to community development and create lasting art legacies. On July 8, 2003 Council allocated $75,000 to the Program for 2003, on the understanding that recommended grants would be reported back for Council consideration.
SUMMARY
This report recommends grants totalling $53,000 to the four nonprofit project sponsors listed in Table 1. Grants recommended to two projects exceed requests: in one case because staff in consultation with the sponsor determined the project needed additional and specific expertise, and in the other because the sponsor agreed to extend the project scope to meet additional civic objectives. If approved by Council, funds will be released by the Director of Cultural Affairs when any outstanding technical concerns have been resolved.
PURPOSE
This report recommends grants to four Community Public Art projects. The report describes the projects and the evaluation process on which the recommendations are based.
BACKGROUND
The Community Public Art Program supports artist/community collaborations on projects that address community needs and aspirations. Projects are initiated by artists or activists (rather than staff), and generally aim to offer an experience of art in community settings. Since 1994, funds have been granted to 63 projects in neighbourhoods across the City, involving at least as many artists and several hundred community participants.
Due to its general similarity to Park Board's Artist in Residence and Neighbourhood Matching Programs, City and Park staff undertake joint Program advertising, community workshops, technical reviews, and project evaluation.
Program Criteria
The Program emphasizes artistic excellence and community involvement, and favours projects that:
· present a clear and well-developed plan of action and budget;
· identify art legacies that are new or innovative, technically feasible, and respond to a community issue or concern; and
· demonstrate strong community support and involvement in project design and/or implementation.
Project Review
Seven applications, requesting a total of $119,405 were received by the Oct. 31st deadline. Applications were screened for eligibility and reviewed for technical feasibility by staff from Planning, Engineering Services, Cultural Affairs, and Parks. Applicants were given an opportunity to resolve preliminary concerns before the grant allocation meeting.
A four-member advisory panel, drawn from the community and briefed on Program criteria, visited all proposed sites before reviewing the applications. The panel was supported by Public Art Program staff and by Park Board's Arts Co-ordinator. Panellists recommended those projects which, in their opinion, most closely matched Program criteria and goals.
The advisory panellists for 2003 were:
Martin Borden |
artist, Emily Carr Institute instructor |
Barbara Cole |
artist, public art consultant |
Roy Crowe |
community development consultant |
Juliana Torjeck |
civic youth strategy youth outreach coordinator |
Table 1 | |||||
Recommended Community Public Art Projects | |||||
Sponsor |
Project |
Request |
Recommended | ||
Little Mountain Neighbourhood House |
Sidewalk Mosaics |
$2,000 |
$3,000 | ||
Mt. Pleasant Community Centre Assn. |
Windsor Way |
$15,000 |
$15,000 | ||
Stream of Dreams Mural Soc. |
Still Creek Fish Murals |
$18,650 |
$15,000 | ||
Vancouver Skateboard Coalition |
Skateboard Park |
$14,165 |
$20,000 | ||
TOTALS: |
$49,815 |
$53,000 | |||
Projects Not Recommended: |
|||||
Arts in Action |
$17,540 | ||||
Dunbar Community Centre Association |
$32,550 | ||||
(Mid-Main Health Clinic-Unconfirmed) |
$16,000 | ||||
Pacific Cinematheque $3,500
DISCUSSION
Little Mountain Neighbourhood House ($3,000) has sponsored several community recent projects, including "Blooming Boulevards" and the first-ever "Country Lane". This project will place mosaics in prepared sidewalk sites on Fraser Street between 27th and 28th Avenue. After a detailed discussion with proponents, staff recommend additional funds so the sponsor can purchase upgraded materials and hire the expertise needed to install out-door rated tiles on the sidewalks.
Mt. Pleasant Community Centre Association ($15,000) recently completed one of the most successful community public art projects ever, installing metal banners on street lamps along Windsor Street, which was identified as a local Greenway in the Kensington Cedar Cottage Visioning process. The community seeks to continue the Project, this time addressing "Windsor Way/Art Way" from 29th to 41st avenue.
Stream of Dreams Mural Society ($15,000) The Society specializes in community projects that raise awareness about the ecological importance of urban streams, and has been active in many other Lower mainland municipalities. This the Society will partner with Renfrew Park Community Association and with Nootka, Norquay, Renfrew and Thunderbird schools on a project that would see hundreds of small, brightly-painted wood fish attached to chain link fences adjacent schools and Still Creek. Engineering Services is concurrently making efforts to rehabilitate and raise public awareness about Still Creek, and this project will assist that strategy.
Vancouver Skateboard Coalition ($20,000) The Society wants to install a skateboard-inspired sculpture in the dedicated skateboard park now being designed under the Georgia Viaduct at the intersection of Quebec, Union and Expo Boulevard. The project proponents have agreed, after consultations with Park Planners and the Park designer, to extend the scope of their work and provide additional elements. Accordingly, additional funds are recommended to address the expanded scope and to fund a preliminary design phase, which will be reviewed by Park planners and the Park designer before the sculpture proper is begun.
Projects not recommended for funding:
The Dunbar Community Centre Association withdrew its project from competition, citing a change in priorities. The project sponsored by Mid-Main Health Clinic (an unconfirmed sponsor) was unable to secure a site. Arts in Action's I Love My Bike project received serious consideration and the proponents were encouraged to apply next year if technical and artistic challenges can be resolved. Pacific Cinematheque's Documenting Engagement project was deemed excellent but does not, in the opinion of staff, constitute an artist project. Because of its strength as an instructional tool, staff will seek other means to support the project.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
With the allocation of $53,000 to the four organizations, there will be a balance of $22,000 remaining in the Unallocated account. These funds will be reserved for public art allocations in 2004.
CONCLUSION
The grants recommended in this report support four projects which, in the opinion of staff and the selection panel, will make viable contributions to the community/artistic development of the city. Collectively, the projects will involve hundreds of participants in projects which will raise awareness about the environment, contribute to the design of a skateboard park, personalize Little Mountain sidewalks with mosaics and the "Windsor Way" local Greenway with pole-mounted artworks.
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