VARLEY MCKAY
ART FOUNDATION OF
TOWN OF
MINUTES
|
Attendance: Members Present: Brian Ayer Karen Chadwick Lana Champion Drew Gerrard Sammy Lee Patty Loveland Elizabeth Plashkes Terrance Pochmurksi Beverly Schaeffer Ernestine Tahedl Councillor Staff: John Ryerson, Director |
Absent: Mahesh Chokshi Robert McCulloch Stan Neal Michael Rothe Anna Hudson |
The fifth meeting of 2008 of
the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board convened at
1.
OPENING REMARKS
Mr.
Howard Back, Chair, advised the Board that Ms. Brenda Librecz has been
appointed as the Commissioner of Community Services for the Town of
Mr.
Back introduced Kitty Bavington, the new Committee Clerk for the Varley McKay Art
Foundation Board.
The
members discussed recent Federal funding cut-backs on Arts and Culture. Mr.
Back presented a draft letter of objection on behalf of the Board, addressed to
the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women. The draft letter and
attached news clipping will be e-mailed to the Board members, and they were
asked to provide comments by the end of the week.
2.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE VARLEY-McKAY ART
FOUNDATION OF
Typos were noted for “April”
on page 3, and “Terra Restaurant” on page 5.
MOVED BY: Bryan Ayer
SECONDED BY: Beverley Schaeffer
That the minutes of the Varley McKay
Foundation of
CARRIED
3.
ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
3. a. Election of Officers
The
Board considered appointments of officers for the 2008/2009 term.
MOVED BY: Bryan Ayer
SECONDED BY: Beverley Schaeffer
That the Board elect:
-
Howard Back as Chair;
-
Nancy Coxford as Vice Chair;
-
Drew Gerrard as Treasurer; and
-
Terrance Pochmurski as
Secretary;
of the Varley McKay Art Foundation of
CARRIED
4.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
4. a. Appointment to Public Art Advisory Committee
Mr.
John Ryerson provided a brief review of the Markham Public Art Committee and
the related policies and implementation plan that will be considered by Council
in the fall.
The
Chair suggested that a member of the Board should be involved in the Public Art
Committee, and Lana Champion’s offer to volunteer was accepted.
4. b. Appointment
of New Member to Varley McKay Art Foundation
Mr.
Howard Back advised the Board that Mr. Edward Mariani, a store owner on
MOVED BY: Drew
Gerrard
SECONDED BY: Karen Chadwick
That the Board of the Varley McKay Art
Foundation of Markham agrees to a variance of paragraph 4(c) of the Memorandum
of Understanding between the Town of Markham and the Foundation, dated March
27, 2006, whereby the number of Board members from the community at large is
temporarily increased from 16 to 17 members until the next Annual General
Meeting;
And that Mr. Edward Mariani, a member
of the Unionville Business Improvement Area, be nominated by the Varley McKay
Art Foundation to be appointed to the Board by
CARRIED
5. FINANCIAL
REPORT
Mr. Drew Gerrard distributed
to the Board, the Statement of Financial Position,
The members discussed the
management by the Town, of the investments of the Gallery’s endowment.
6. DIRECTOR’S
REPORT
6. a. John
Ryerson, Director, provided attendance figures and reported that they had
experienced a great summer with high attendance, due in large measure to word
of mouth.
6. b. The
Director presented a new publication, “ Independent Spirit” by A.K. Prakash, a
book about early Canadian women artists. The book acknowledges the contribution
by Katerina Atanassova, and is anticipated to be a great success. The book will
be featured at the Art Gallery of Ontario during the opening of the Thompson
show. It was suggested that the
6. c. The
Director advised that the Gorden Foundation acknowledged a $15,000 contribution
to the Varley McKay Art Foundation in it’s recent annual report.
6. d. The
Director presented a newspaper article announcing the upcoming exhibit “Face
Forward”, opening September 12. Representation at the opening by members of the
Board was encouraged.
6. e. The
Director advised that a collection by Charlotte Price, gifted to the
7. SUB-COMMITTEE
REPORTS
7. a. Development Committee - deferred
7. b. Art Acquisition Committee
Mr. Brian Ayer reported on
the success of the Sacred Image of the Icon show this summer, with attendance
exceeding the previous year’s.
Mr. Ayer advised that Katerina
Atanassova is preparing a standard template for acquisitions, in line with the
new donation policy.
An offered gift of two J.W. Beatty portraits was declined, largely because
of the significant cost of restoration that would be required, and a potential
purchase of a Varley watercolour was declined as it was the committee’s view
that the asking price was at a level that exceeded its value.
The work plan and collection catalog relating to the art inventory will
be initiated by Katerina in October. Ash
Prakash, a member of the committee, generously volunteered to underwrite the
expense of this project subject to receipt of a satisfactory business plan.
The Board discussed the
difficulty in manoeuvring in the Town’s website and agreed that the Gallery
needed its own website.
The Board discussed the
cultural property donation process, with respect to tax receipts, the amount of
work involved, and the importance of maintaining credibility with the Review
Board. It was agreed that donations of less than $10,000 value should not be
accepted as Cultural Property gifts.
Moved by: Brian Ayer
Seconded by: Elizabeth Plashkes
That the Board of Directors of the Varley McKay Art
Foundation recommend to the Town that receipts not be issued for cultural
property donations with a value of less than $10,000.
CARRIED
7. c. Building and
Mr. Howard Back gave an
update on the soil tests and discussions with TRCA and the architect. The
Engineers recommend a caisson wall for the foundation, which will add $100 -
$150,000 to the cost. More accurate estimates are being obtained. A re-design
of the entire project is not required, just the foundation and the slope. Ken Hoyle
has been contracted to assist with the site conditions. A report is anticipated
to be going to Council in October, with the feasibility study.
7. d. Volunteer Report
Ms.
Lana Champion reported that a “Varley Volunteer Appreciation” event was held on
June 26, during which The Foundation presented outgoing Volunteer Coordinator
Marjorie Bielawski with a token of appreciation.
A
committee has been formed to search for a new Volunteer Coordinator, and
interviews will be held this week with a short list of applicants. An update
will be given at the next meeting. Sue Fisker is Acting Volunteer Coordinator,
and Cheryl Rego is coordinating volunteers for the Homes for the Holidays
event, and both are doing a wonderful job.
The
volunteer kick-off event for this year’s Homes For The Holidays will take place
on
7. e. Homes for the
Ms. Karen Chadwick advised
that all the sponsors from last year were returning, but some designers are not
and would have to be replaced. Tickets will be finalized next week and are on
sale through the Town of
8. EVENTS
8. a) Homes for the
8. b) Curators Choice Opening – September 12,
8. c) Judy Livingston Opening – September 21,
8. d)
9. NEW
BUSINESS
There was no new business
brought forward.
10. NEXT
MEETING
The next meeting of the
Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board will be held on
11. ADJOURNMENT
That the fifth meeting of
the Varley McKay Art Foundation of