VARLEY MCKAY
ART FOUNDATION OF
TOWN OF
MINUTES
|
Attendance: Members Present: Patrick Carr Mahesh Chokshi Anna Hudson Sammy Lee Patty Loveland Edward Mariani Robert McCulloch Stan Neal Elizabeth Plashkes Terrence
Pochmurksi Beverly Schaeffer Ernestine Tahedl Councillor Staff: John Ryerson,
Director Francesca
Amato-Gauci, Development Officer Kitty |
Absent: Lana Champion |
The meeting
of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board convened at
1.
OPENING REMARKS
The Chair, Howard Back, advised that in
light of the comprehensive duties of Francesca Amato-Gauci, her title is being
revised to “Development Officer”.
The Chair reiterated the importance of
promoting ticket sales for the upcoming Art Auction.
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE
VARLEY-McKAY ART FOUNDATION OF
An
amendment was made to item # 4, the Financial Report, revising the resolution
to read as follows:
“That the Board of the Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham
approve in principal, the draft Statement of Financial Position and Statement
of Operations and Changes in Fund Balances for the year ending December 31,
2008;
And that the draft Business Plan, 2009-2011, be approved.”
A further
amendment was made to the second line of the fourth paragraph of item # 3 e),
Development Committee, to delete the words “and Simon”.
MOVED BY: Drew
Gerard
SECONDED BY: Elizabeth Plashkes
THAT the minutes of
the Varley McKay Foundation of
CARRIED
3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE
MINUTES
The Chair
advised that an agreement had been reached with the Church to extend the use of
the parking lot until December, 2009.
4. REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR
John
Ryerson, Director, advised that his appointment as Director of Culture is
official. The search for replacements for the two positions - Art Gallery
Director and Curator – is underway. At this time, the Director read the
following statement he had prepared to help everyone understand the Gallery’s
profile.
Looking back –
It is always good to remember our roots to better understand how we got
here and who we are, whether it is our own family or organizations we are
involved with. In our situation we have a lot of corporate memory both at the
board and staff and with our many friends. The historical founding of Markham,
through a little girl that grew up in Unionville to her relationship with FH
Varley, her gift of cash and art to Markham and now new roots being grown
with Wally Joyce's gift of cash and art.
It takes people with vision and commitment to build that story -
Kathleen McKay had a dream to see a gallery built and Wally sees a dream to
have a wing added to the gallery. Both gave art to
We have honed our collection policy to keep our focus on Varley and the
evolving nature of Canadian art, and we have provided a relatively rare linkage
between a gallery and its community by having a public art collection to ensure
the gallery and art are part of our community's public spaces. There is much
more to do of course as we develop policies for public art and how we can
influence the development of a strong public art program across
Through the generosity of many individual donors we have built a good
starting collection for our young gallery and through our endowment proceeds
and the generosity of the Gordon Foundation, twice selecting us for
gifts, we have been able to purchase works for the collection. There are few
galleries that have an income stream for art collecting funds. Highlight some
of the gifts we have received:
John Reeves photographs - three major cultural property gifts
Three major Cassons
3 AY
50 works by
Molly Bobak
Bruno Bobak
Our greatest cash acquisition was Alice (Massey) in 2003 at what was then
the highest price ever paid for a Varley - but it shows the foresight of the
Board in acquiring works for the collection - which is essentially forever and
not just driven by contemporary market factors. The good news is that there
still are Varley art works in private hands and we reviewed that list just last
week.
Where we are today -
One of the most frequent complaints about galleries is that all the art
in the vaults. One of our great advantages is that as a smaller gallery and a
smaller collection we can offer much more access to works than large
institutions. We have a reputation built on values and vision.
We have earned a reputation for creativity, for value-based decisions -
doing the right thing for the right reasons, for being responsive to
opportunities, for innovation, for our capacity and learning being inclusive
and equal. We have consistently broken barriers on historical women's art, new
Canadian artists, spirituality in art (Varley's own spiritual influences),
abstraction, persons with disabilities, and poverty.
Spiritual - humanity has explored the spiritual through art since cave
paintings. We have used that bridge to explore art from many perspectives in
our pursuit of being inclusive of the ever changing nature of Canadian art.
We have a strong reputation for quality and an awareness with our
professional colleagues through CMA (Canadian Museum Association), CAMDO
(Canadian Art Directors Organization) and many other contacts that
have made it possible for us to borrow from any gallery in Canada - it wasn't
always so.
We have been at the forefront of art trends on portraiture for the last
five years, abstraction for the last two years and now photography, by leading
not following what other galleries do. We have done touring that few galleries
our size (and some larger) have been able to achieve. This has taken us
to other cities across
We have not pursued conceptual art - its passé, not interesting to most
people, and does not contribute to our identity i.e. we look like every
other gallery. The challenge is overcoming the granting bias in the system. The
opportunity is that people that share my view have helped us raise $80,000 for Automatistes.
Our art programs are full with waiting lists and we generate more earned
income that most galleries in
We have the support of our Council and staff - we are not a small
gallery - when it all works as it does now, we have finance, purchasing,
human resources, communications, parks and grounds support, and so on. Think
about an independent gallery having to look after all of that in-house. Their
budget may look bigger but the meat and potatoes are what counts.
We are valued across
We have a strong reputation for supporting students and to our research
links with York in particular through the Presidents Task Force on Community
Engagement, Knowledge Mobilization Department of the Research Office, to link
researchers organizations like the Varley, Shulich Business School, Department
of Fine Arts and Geography and Immigrant studies and the post grad museum
studies program at U of T.
We contribute to the
The opportunities –
Strengthening the visual arts mandate and experience of the Varley
through:
Public art -
Unionville collaboration on events and moving towards a cultural hub -
not unlike what the Barns project has done - distillery district etc., cultural
density enhances participation, volunteerism and tourism. Programming and
public art at Toogood Pond.
Building social capital -
Even stronger networks of people connected to us and us to them.
It's a two-way street, as I presented at the CMA conference. The museum
landscape is littered with the carcasses of projects that were charitable but
not advancing equality - it's a two-way street.
Even greater participation in our gallery - not just a numbers game of
bodies through the door but real participation and ownership. British research
on cultural tourism and building real sustainability illustrates the point.
Taking advantage of the 400 corporate head offices here and the high level of
individual income levels
Strategic Considerations for our Gallery and Foundation -
Our link to the creative city economic plan and our link to the culture
and recreation master plan
(former plan had one line it), a 10 year plan for cultural development
in
Here are the kind of strategic questions the Board and staff
will work on in the coming year as we look to our second decade and
building on the foundations we have all contributed to building.
Sustainability of our operations and long term strategies to achieve
greater sustainability. This includes:
Strong fundraising -
Building research funds to explore other major areas of Canadian art. We
have followed a pretty consistent pattern within the gallery world, of mounting
important shows about every two to three years in large measure because we have
been able to raise funds to support that work and made the lender connections
to get access to the art.
Grant funding and its implications.
Collection -
Where does collection development go beyond the Varley and related
works? Where is there both opportunity and a place to strengthen our
uniqueness in the firmament of visual arts experiences in
Life long learning -
Greater community engagement to increase capacity of the gallery -
attendance, memberships, volunteers, participation in programs, donations.
Building the collection to support our exhibition programs and our namesake
Fred Varley. Strengthening the brand of the Varley from our web presence to the
arrival experience. Contributing to a strong and vibrant
Trends -
Interpretation, presentation, new standards for accessibility - asked
recently for an article to CMA magazine; cross disciplinary trends like
Automatiste Francoise Sullivan and dance and schools wanting cross disciplinary
trips like geog and art, French language and art and so on, and the trend
towards the role of museums in building social capital, e.g. AGO atrium
space as one example and their program of citizenship ceremonies in the gallery
that we are not tied into also through Adrienne Clarkson's Citizenship
organization.
How we can continue to contribute to knowledge - knowledge of
effective and leading museum management, best practises (like our multimuseum
partnership project with Vancouver and Montreal), public and education
programming and of course our exhibitions, artists and art works.
Using the evolving means of communication to make knowledge available
and to increase our engagement with the public on art.
The Chair expressed
appreciation for the Director’s comments and recognized that the Gallery had
made many achievements during John Ryerson’s tenure as Director of the Varley
Gallery. These included improved
relationships between the Town and the former Advisory Committee and the
current Board, attendance at Gallery educational and exhibition programs, the
relationship with Wally Joyce as a major benefactor of the
Gallery/Foundation.
The Chair expressed
the Board’s desire to ensure that these successes continue. To do so requires
that the strongest possible candidate for Gallery director be found to replace
John Ryerson as he moves into his new role.
The position should be expanded to encompass director and curatorial
responsibilities and attract a candidate who has a strong curatorial background
in the visual arts. The Chair also
expressed the Board’s view that strong representation should be included in the
search committee. To that end, Anna
Hudson and Beverly Schaeffer have indicated their agreement to serve on the Town’s
search committee along with the Chair.
The Chair went on to
say that the appointment of a new director provides the opportunity for a
complete review of the direction and vision of the Varley Gallery. He reiterated that discussion with Board
members indicate their view that the emphasis going forward must be on Canadian
historical art, involving the Group of Seven, their contemporaries and expanded
into contemporary art. This vision needs
to be developed with the new director.
The process of that review needs to be determined and will likely
involve a strategic planning session.
The Chair concluded
by saying that the
A discussion then
concentrated on the hiring process for the new director/curator. Efforts are being made to accelerate the
hiring process, and the job description has been drafted. John Ryerson will
ensure the selection committee is involved in the job description process.
Caution was noted that speed not replace quality in the selection process.
5. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Building and
b) Art
Acquisition Committee
Anna Hudson
identified the two watercolours on display as the recent acquisitions by Philip
Surrey, a student of Fred Varley.
The
Sub-committee is currently reviewing the spring catalogues.
c) Auction
Committee
Patrick Carr provided an update on the 2009 Auction event, advising
that the preparations are on schedule and under budget. All of the art has been
obtained but they are still looking for a few silent auction items over $100
value – preferably tickets to a sporting or similar event. The catalogue is
ready to be printed, and Patrick provided a draft catalogue for review. Sponsorships
have reached just over $10,000.
Patrick Carr noted that following the discussion at the last
meeting regarding the buyer’s premium, it was decided that this fee would not
be charged.
Members were requested to continue to promote ticket sales.
A free preview evening will be held on May 13, from
d) Nominations
Committee
Howard Back advised that five of the six Board Members who’s
terms are expiring, have agreed to stand for another term. Patrick Carr made a
recommendation for an additional member.
e) Development
Committee
Elizabeth
Plashkes provided an update on the activities of the Development Committee.
Web Site Development
-
Francesca
Amato-Gauci, Cheryl Rego and
Next steps:
Christopher will fine-tune the proposal and provide a general direction for the
web site, followed by two design concepts. The target launch date is the end of
July, 2009.
Gallery Signage
-
Brian
Barnes is working on a new sign for the front of the Gallery. Patty Loveland
and Elizabeth will work with him on the design, location and permit process.
Investment Group
-
On May
28th, the York Angels Investor Group will be hosted by the Gallery. After their
meeting, a group of twenty investors will be given a Gallery tour and wine and
cheese will be served in the lobby. It is possible there could be regular
meetings in the Gallery for this investor group. Materials about the Foundation
and donation and sponsorship opportunities will be available.
Courtyard Development
-
It is proposed
that a project be launched to acquire artwork for the courtyard, and possibly
the redesign of courtyard furniture. A donor element for named benches could be
considered.
Gala
October 2010 -
Thought
should be given to the opening of the new addition, and a possible fundraising
program around the new building.
f) Volunteer Committee
Francesca Amato-Gauci provided an information package and
briefly outlined current and upcoming projects. The Committee requested that
the 12-month plan be reviewed at the next Board meeting.
6. FINANCIAL REPORT
The annual financial statements of the Foundation, along
with the auditor’s report, for the year ending
The suggestion was made that the value of the permanent
collection should be indicated in the financial statements. However, since the permanent collection is
owned by and is an asset of the Town of
MOVED BY: Drew
Gerrard
SECONDED BY: Patty
Loveland
THAT the Board
of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of
And that Howard Back, Chair, and
Drew Gerrard, Treasurer, be authorized to sign the Statement.
CARRIED
7. NEXT
MEETING
The AGM
with Council is scheduled for
The regular
meeting of the Board will be held following the AGM on May 25, at
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting
of the Board of the Varley McKay Art Foundation of