SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
CS&B AGENDA
NOVEMBER 28, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: November 13,
1996
TO: Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM: Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT: 1996 Community Public Art Grants
RECOMMENDATIONS
A. THAT Council approve grants totalling $ 83,000 to 13
organizations listed in Table 1, source of funds to be $58,000 of City
funds and $ 25,000 of Vancouver Foundation, in the Public Art
Unallocated Capital Account.
B. THAT funds be released on the authority of the Director, Office
of Cultural Affairs after Park Board approval of projects intended for
Park sites, and after civic staff have resolved any outstanding
technical or administrative concerns.
THE GENERAL MANAGER S COMMENTS:
The General Manager of Community Services submits A & B for
CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
On May 28, 1996, Council approved $ 100,000 for the Community Public Art
program. Its objectives are to encourage and assist artists and
communities to collaborate on public art projects which contribute to
community development and create lasting art legacies.
Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.
PURPOSE
The Office of Cultural Affairs received 24 applications for 1996
Community Public Art grants, totalling $ 146,469. This report outlines
the applications, describes the evaluation process, and recommends
grants to 13 community projects.
SUMMARY
Table 1 (following) summarizes the 13 grants recommended by the Director
of the Office of Cultural Affairs. Appendix A provides details of the
recommended projects; Appendix B lists the 11
projects not recommended for funding; and Appendix C provides the
guidelines and criteria of the Community Public Art program.
Table 1 - Projects Recommended
Grants are recommended to the following non-profit societies which are
the organizational partners in the community public art projects
described in Appendix A.
Community Organizations Requested Recommended
Mount Pleasant Community Assoc. 10,000 6,000
Britannia Community Services Centre 10,085 2,000
Hastings Community Centre Association 7,810 4,500
Vancouver Art Forum Society 5,523 5,000
Strathcona Community Centre Assoc. 25,000 11,250
Reach for the Arts Society 9,576 6,500
Fraserlands Riverside Residents Assoc. 20,000 13,000
L Association des Parents de
L Ecole Bilangue 2,498 2,000
Stanley Park Ecology Society 22,372 15,000
Mid-Main Comm.Health Centre Society 18,750 2,000
Thunderbird Community Centre Assoc. 5,750 5,750
Tradeworks Training Centre Soc. 13,300 7,000
Queen Elizabeth Elementary Annex 5,890 3,000
Total $146,469 $83,000
Approval of the recommendations in Table 1 leaves no unallocated
funds in the 1996 Community Public Art budget.
BACKGROUND
On May 28,1996, City Council approved a 1996 allocation of
$100,000 to the Civic Public Art Program and a draft budget
outlining expenditures. The draft budget was based on the
assumption that the Vancouver Foundation would also participate
in the program. The Foundation's contribution is now confirmed
as $25,000 toward projects recommended in this Report.
BUDGET
1996 Community Public Art Program
City funding approved $ 100,000
Vancouver Foundation $ 25,000
$ 125,000
Costs:
Program expenses $ 7,200
Facilitator $ 13,500
$ 20,700
*Maintenance Reserve $ 9,300
Insurance $ 2,000
Materials costs for Artist-in-Residence Program $ 10,000
$ 21,300
Recommended for projects $ 83,000
* Approved by Council on Oct. 8, 1996
DISCUSSION
The 24 applications received were first reviewed by the staff
Public Art Technical Team to identify departmental jurisdictions
and requirements (risk management, permit needs, engineering
implications, and Park Board approval requirements). Applications
were then evaluated by a review panel consisting of four
community representatives familiar with the program goals, plus
the program facilitator and a Cultural Planner. The four
community panellists rated the applications for the best fit with
the program goals, with staff providing support and comments.
The panellists were:
Marg Meikle, Public Art Committee
Karen Stanley, artist, community volunteer
Sheila Hall, artist
Karen Parker, youth representative
Grants were recommended to thirteen 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.
A detailed description of Program guidelines and criteria is
contained in Appendix C.
* * * * *
APPENDIX A
1 of 4
DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDED PROJECTS
Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association
Title: Banners on Broadway
This project will create neighbourhood street banners extending
along East Broadway from Guelph Street to Victoria Drive. The
project will be led by an artist/co-ordinator and banners will be
created through an extensive series of workshops involving Mount
Pleasant residents of all ages.
Requested: $ 10,000
Recommended: $ 6,000
Britannia Community Services Centre
Title: Children s Animal Pathway
Creation of a stepping stone pathway with animal designs for
the children's play area of Victoria Park. Area residents have
done extensive preparation for the project and will offer
workshops where children and adults can make artwork contributing
to the pathway.
Requested: $ 10,085
Recommended: $ 2,000
Hastings Community Centre Association ( for Clinton
Neighbourhood Committee)
Title: Clinton Park Kiosk
The community at Clinton Park proposes the building of a kiosk to
serve as both a meeting place and a public notice board. The
Committee has developed a preliminary design with an artist, and
is seeking support for further community involvement to
finalizing its appearance, and for the cost of materials and
fabrication.
Requested: $ 7,810
Recommended: $ 4,500
Vancouver Art Forum Society
Title: December 6th Discussions
Residents of the downtown eastside, in collaboration with an
artist familiar with placing works in public venues, will produce
artwork for a set of bus shelter posters. The posters will deal
with the theme of violence against women and will be displayed in
bus shelters for a 4 week period to coincide with the Dec. 6
commemoration of women victims of violence. In addition, the
posters will be displayed in downtown eastside service
organizations and the Central Library.
Requested: $ 5,523
Recommended: $ 5,000
APPENDIX A
2 of 4
Strathcona Community Centre Association
Title: The Glass Hand Project
Working with students at Seymour School and youth at Strathcona
Community Centre, two artists working with glass and having the
appropriate equipment will create cast-glass hands and other
object to be embedded in concrete benches set out in the
Strathcona area.
Requested: $ 25,000
Recommended: $ 11,250
Reach for the Arts Society
Title: Hands Across the Heights
The project proposes to build a number of concrete refuse
containers surfaced with artwork made from pottery fragments,
hand prints, and found objects. The containers will be created
by residents and installed in the Champlain Heights area .
Requested: $ 9,576
Recommended: $ 6,500
Fraserlands Riverside Residents Association
Title: Historical Markers
The organizers are proposing to display small plaques marking
historic events or places in the memory of South-East Vancouver
residents. In order to obtain these events, the project will
train local youth in oral history techniques so that they may
interview long-time residents of the area. A number of
locations important to residents have already been "mapped"
during an earlier phase of the program. Approximately 150
stainless steel markers will be mounted on civic lamp standards
or other appropriate street furnishings.
Requested: $ 20,000
Recommended: $ 13,000
L Association des Parents de L'Ecole Bilangue
Title: Peopling the Playground
Located on west 15th avenue between Alder and Spruce streets,
the organizers propose to decorate portions of a 330 foot
concrete wall adjacent to the school's playground. With input
from the surrounding neighbours, the artist and students will
produce a mural that reflects the variety of activity and
diversity of people using the school grounds. This project
furthers the greening program initiated by the parents of
L Ecole Bilingue.
Requested $ 2,498
Recommended: $ 2,000
APPENDIX A
3 OF 4
Stanley Park Ecology Society
Title: Earth Maze
In close consultation with Parks staff, and working with
students from two West End schools, the organizers will produce
a maze made of rammed earth decorated with images from the
ecology of Stanley Park. Rammed earth is compressed soil mixed
with 10% cement, earthen in appearance and reasonably durable.
The proposed location is near the old zoo area. Funds are
recommended for the project's development costs, to ensure the
maze is well designed, and for a high level of community
participation. The grant is subject to Park Board approval and
evidence that additional funds to complete the project are in
place.
Requested: $ 22,372 Recommended: $ 15,000
Mid-Main Community Health Society
Title: Riley Park Bus Stop Project
Design and development funds are recommended toward the creation
of up to four bus shelters or bench/shelter combinations at the
intersection of 25th and Main. The volunteers and organizations
involved in the project have selected this major intersection
as a key place to identify the entrance to the neighbourhood.
Requested: $ 18,750
Recommended: $ 2,000
Thunderbird Community Centre Association
Title: Community Mural
With little or no arts opportunities in the surrounding area, the
Thunderbird Community Centre will work with residents and an
artist to produce a mural for the outside of the centre which
reflects the interests of residents and users of the facility.
Requested: $ 5,750
Recommended: $ 5,750
Tradeworks Youth Training Society
Title: Downtown Vertical Garden and Mural
The Society proposes to create a combination of planting and
murals that would be designed and constructed by street youth .
Funds are recommended for the design and development stage in
order to ensure a well-executed garden/mural project once a site
has been finalized.
Requested: $ 13,300
Recommended: $ 7,000
APPENDIX A
4 OF 4
Queen Elizabeth Elementary School Annex
Title: Woodland Circles
Students and parents of Queen Elizabeth Annex will work with a
local artist to produce stepping stones with images of plant
life to enhance the play area of the school.
Requested $ 5,890
Recommended: $ 3,000
APPENDIX B
1 OF 2
PROJECTS NOT RECOMMENDED
Contemporary Art Gallery
Title: An Interactive approach to Community Art.
Documentation and CD ROM based on existing and "virtual"
Community Art projects.
Requested: $9,600
Neighbour to Neighbour
Titles: Community Garden Art
Creation of art markes made of organic materials for community
gardens.
Requested: $8,268 and $19,454.
Tradeworks Youth Training Society
Title: Community Totem Project
Creation of a sculpture reflecting the diversity of the downtown
eastside. To be located in Portside park.
Requested: $17,300
Grunt Gallery
Title: Mattering Map Project
Placing art-works in small working-class diners in the Mount
Pleasant area and providing a map for walking tours.
Requested: $4,844
Britannia Neighbours
Title: The Post Project
Adorning existing posts in Mosaic Creek Park with art works.
Requested: $10,220
Helen Pitt Gallery
Title: Sign Language
Outdoor art installation using colour photography for the back of
parking signs in the Central Library precinct.
Requested: $5,177
Trout Lake Community Centre
Title: Kinetic Wind Sculpture
Artists project for wind sculpture in John Hendry Park.
Requested: $28,034
Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre
Title: Wall of Dreams
Wall mural for the interior of the gym.
Requested: $10,097
Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce
Title: Welcome to Kitsilano
Sign at Cornwall and Burrard.
Requested: $11,950
APPENDIX B
2 OF 2
PROJECTS NOT MEETING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Capilano College Foundation
Title: the Women's Monument
To add tiles recognizing financial donors around the monument.
Program funds are for new work, this project is already well
under way. Additionally, a condition of its acceptance for a
civic site was that no City funds be required for its
fabrication, installation or maintenance.
Requested: $ 6,840
Neighbour to Neighbour
Title: Community Garden Catalogue
Documentation of community gardens was proposed, however, program
criteria do not extend to documentation projects.
Requested: $ 8,268