Attendance

Councillor J. Virgilio (11:30 a.m.)

Councillor A. Chiu

Councillor K. Usman

Linda Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open Space Development

Sharon Gaum-Kuchar, Director/Curator, Varley Art Gallery

Karen Boniface, Parks Planner

Marjorie Rebane, Manager, Corporate Communications

Jane Perdue, Consultant

Judy Kee, Committee Clerk

Regrets

Councillor E. Shapero

The meeting convened at the hour of 11:20 a.m.

1. MINUTES OF PUBLIC ART POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING - NOVEMBER 18, 2002

It was noted that the last paragraph on Page 2 of the November 18, 2002 minutes should read:

"this name has been changed to "John Daniels Park".

Moved by Councillor K. Usman

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

That the minutes of the Public Art Policy Steering Committee meeting held

on November 18, 2002, be adopted, as amended.

CARRIED

2. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS RELATING TO DRAFT ART POLICY

At the last meeting of Committee held on November 18, 2002, Ms. Jane Perdue, Public Art Consultant, distributed copies of the draft Public Art Policy. Following some discussion, Members of Committee were asked to forward, electronically to Linda Irvine, any comments or suggestions they might have in advance of the December meeting.

In response to a query regarding the presentation of the draft public art policy to Council, Linda Irvine advised that once the public art policy study is finalized, she would prepare a report to Council requesting receipt and endorsement of the recommendations.

Members offered the following additional comments/suggestions on the draft public art policy:

- because of concerns with process relating to International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Members agreed that the draft policy should include wording/clarification regarding the role of the Public Art Committee relative to outside groups and juried exhibitions;

- it was suggested that the Varley Art Gallery be excluded from the policy, but Members agreed that this should be explored further with the Director/Curator of the Gallery; it was agreed that this policy would not preclude acquisitions by and for the Art Gallery

The policy's effect relative to the Town's other advisory boards, such as the Library Board or the Museum Board, was raised, and it was agreed that this should not be a concern, as the Committee would not have authority over such boards.

Committee discussed the appropriate time that the future Public Art Committee should become involved in consideration of a piece of art, and their other major responsibilities, including: whether or not a piece of art should be acquired; and to determine where the piece would be placed. It was noted that community input would also be very important, but that the Committee would still have the authority to make the final recommendations to Council, based on their good judgment. However, concern was expressed regarding possible situations in the future where members of the public voiced displeasure at the acquisition of a particular piece of art.

3. NEXT STEPS

Linda Irvine advised that she would meet with the Consultant to discuss all of the comments that have been received from Committee, including those of the Director/Curator of the Varley Art Gallery. It was suggested that visuals be incorporated into the draft policy. Once the final draft has been completed, it will be presented to the Public Art Policy Steering Committee. (Meeting date to be arranged in late January.)

Following endorsement of the final draft by Committee, Linda Irvine will prepare a preliminary report for the Development Services Committee, which will include the final draft, and a recommendation to hold a second Public Information Meeting.

4. INTERNATIONAL STONE SCULPTURE
SYMPOSIUM (ISSS) IN MARKHAM 2004

Committee had before it the resolution passed by Council at its meeting held on December 10, 2002, with respect to the proposal for an International Stone Sculpture Symposium (ISSS) to be held in Markham in 2004 at Toogood Pond in Unionville for a period of three weeks.

Sharon Gaum-Kuchar, Director/Curator of the Varley Art Gallery, was in attendance, and presented some background information on the event and the organizers, ECHO Research Institute. She reported that the Town was being requested to provide services in kind in the preparation of the site, but that ECHO, a non-profit organization, will bear all costs. Members were advised that the organizers would be accepting up to 50 maquettes, which are small-scale models of the pieces of stone art to be submitted, from which 8-10 will be chosen, and will be fabricated on site.

In response to a query regarding how the artwork was to be juried, and by whom, it was agreed that the Town's Public Art Committee should be involved. It was also agreed that the Public Art Policy Steering Committee, now, and the Public Art Committee, in the future, should ensure that outside groups adhere to the Town's criteria, as laid out in the Policy.

Concern had been expressed previously with respect to the disposition of the sculptures at the end of the event, and Council at its meeting on December 10 had directed that approval of the event was to be subject to a Memorandum of Understanding being drawn up with the organizers for removal of the sculptures should they not fall within the Town's Public Art Policy.

Again, concern was expressed regarding possible complaints from the public of displeasure with a piece of artwork. It was agreed that if the process and Policy were followed to the letter, then Committee had done its job. Recommendations of the Committee would be presented to Council for their approval, and it would be Council's prerogative to consider any public outcry.

With respect to preparation for the event, Linda Irvine offered the services of the Urban Design Department, and the architectural staff in the design of the sculpture park. Ms. Kuchar noted that the organizers are not planning a specific "theme" for the event, but it is expected that the pieces would have to fit into the ambiance of Toogood Pond Park.

The possibility of relating the ISSS event to the mandate of the Varley Art Gallery, Group of Seven, and the natural environment was enthusiastically discussed.

Possible consultation with or involvement of the Heritage Planning staff and/or Heritage Markham Committee was raised, and this would be followed up.

Ms. Kuchar was requested to forward to ECHO preliminary selection criteria from the draft policy, and to also prepare a draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Town and ECHO which would be considered at the next meeting of Committee in early January, 2003, and reported at Council Committee of the Whole shortly thereafter.

Committee agreed that the following items and practical concerns raised this date should be included in the MOU: 1) that ECHO's process must follow our policy; involvement of Heritage Planning Department, if applicable; involvement of the Urban Design Group; involvement of Parks Department; access; disposition of artwork; options available; costs involved; logistics of moving the stone, and areas of responsibility. Ms. Kuchar will request ECHO to forward a copy of the draft entries list to her, and she would include this information in the MOU.

Ms. Kuchar advised that she would prepare a full report, with background information and appendices and forward to Linda Irvine.

Possible dates for the next meeting of the Public Art Policy Steering Committee to deal with the ISSS event, were briefly discussed. The Committee Clerk will contact Members regarding dates and availability.

5. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Members will also be contacted regarding the date of the next meeting of the Committee to further discuss the draft policy.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.