MINUTES

MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE

September 9, 2009

Meeting No. 7

 

PRESENT                                                               REGRETS                   

 

Members

Salim Manji

Judi McIntyre

Stefania Pflugbeil

Alina Tarbhai

Linda Irvine, Manager, Parks & Open Spaces
John Ryerson, Director of Culture

 

 

Staff

Laura Gold, Committee Clerk

Regrets

Joanne Olson

Matthew Korchinski

 

 

 

The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:10 pm with Judi McIntyre presiding as Chair.

 

1.   CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

 

The Agenda was accepted as distributed.

 

2.         ADOPTION OF MINUTES

 

Moved by Alina Tarbhai

Seconded by Salim Manji

 

That the Minutes of the March 11, April 8, May 13, and June 10, 2009 Markham Public Art Advisory Committee be received.

 

CARRIED

 

3.         BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

3. A.    LIBERTY DEVELOPMENTS

 

Ms. Linda Irvine, Parks & Open Space Development, provided the Committee with an update with respect to the Liberty Developments donation of a cast bronze sculpture portraying three flying geese. She advised that the project was still active and that Staff were continuing to work with Liberty Developments to resolve issues regarding landownership.

 

The Committee Clerk was requested to email a picture of the cast bronze sculpture portraying three flying geese to the Committee.

 

The Committee discussed having public art at the entrances/gateways to Markham.  Mr. John Ryerson, Director of Culture, suggested that the Committee review the plans for the future development of Highway 7, to look for opportunities to have public art at entrances/gateways to Markham.  This item was requested to be included on the next meeting agenda.

 

Mr. Ryerson advised that the City of Toronto devotes 1 % of its capital operating budget to public art, noting other municipalities have similar programs that devote funding to public art.

 

Ms. Irvine advised that Section 37 of the Planning Act provides municipalities with the ability to negotiate with developers on certain matters, referring to this process as bonusing.  She provided the example of the City of Toronto allowing a developer to add additional height to a building in exchange for the developer incorporating public art into its building plans.  She believed that the Town would have more opportunities to negotiate with developers in the future, as the development of Markham becomes increasingly intensified.

 

The Committee discussed the importance of the Town having a Public Art Policy.  The Members agreed that this would provide the Planning Department with the tools they need to work with developers to incorporate public art into their plans early on in planning process.

 

3. B.    COMMITTEE PLANNING INITIATIVES

 

Mr. Ryerson suggested that the Committee have an open house where interested residents can obtain more information with respect to the roles and responsibilities of a Member of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee.  Laura Gold, Committee Clerk, will discuss this matter with the Clerks Department.

 

Ms. Judi McIntyre suggested combining the open house with a Markham Art Council mixer.  She advised that she was in the process of planning an art mixer at Markham Theatre, noting this may be an opportunity to host the open house. Ms. McIntyre will report back at the next meeting with the date and time of the art mixer/open house.

 

 

4.         NEW BUSINESS

 

4. A.    POLICY REVIEW

 

The Committee reviewed the Draft Public Art Plan and the Town of Markham’s Public Art Framework.  Mr. Ryerson and Ms. Irvine discussed the possibility of having a shorter Public Art Policy (2 or 3 pages), rather than having a lengthy plan.  The short policy would include specific actions/ measures that could be used as a tool by the Planning Department.  The Committee was advised that creating shorter more concise policies was a common trend amongst municipalities. 

 

The Committee was requested to pick out the main points from the Draft Public Art Plan and the Town of Markham’s Public Art Policy Framework.  Mr. Ryerson and Ms. Irvine agreed to take out the recommendations from the Plan and email them to the Committee.  The Committee shall then advise which points they believe are important and should be included in the policy.

 

Ms. Stefania Pflugbeil displayed Hamilton’s Public Art Policy.  The Committee particularly liked the visual examples that were included in the policy.  The Committee agreed that similar visual examples could be created to support a shorter Public Art Policy for the Town.  This would allow for the Town to build up its knowledge and add supporting material over time.

 

The Committee was requested to research other Public Art Policies.  It was agreed that a proposed precise Public Art Policy should go to Council for approval this fall.  The Committee agreed that lots of visual examples should be presented to Council when presenting the policy.

 

There was a short discussion about the Committees composition. The Committee Clerk was requested to email the Committee’s Terms of Reference to the Committee.  There was some discussion about the possibility of having a developer interested in public art sit on the Committee.

 

There was a brief discussion with respect to the cost of public art.  Mr. Ryerson advised that a major public art piece could cost from $50,000 -$200,000.  There was also discussion how public art could be incorporated into public works projects, for example adding a pattern to the side of a cement bridge. 

 

Mr. Ryerson was going to discuss with Ms. Irvine the specific references to planning in the Town’s proposed Public Art Policy.

 

4. B.    REVIEW OF TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

The Committee discussed the possibility of having bimonthly rather than monthly meetings.  This item was deferred until after Christmas.

 

4. C.    DISCUSSION OF FUTURE ITEM – MARKHAM EAST PROJECT

 

Mr. Ryerson and Ms. Irvine will invite the following Town staff to come to the next meeting to provide a presentation on the Markham East Project:

 

  • Francine Perinet, Director of Varley Art Gallery
  • Ronji Borooah, Town Architect
  • Henry Tse, Project Engineer

 

 

4. D.    ART ON ICE DISCUSSION

 

The Committee had a brief discussion whether they should host the Art on Ice event next year or do something else instead.  Ms. Irvine advised that the Committee had traditionally hosted an annual event that had a budget of approximately $20,000 per annum.  She advised that the Committee had hosted both summer and winter events.  She suggested the idea of having a competition focusing on making the ordinary extraordinary.  She liked the idea of changing the way people look at ordinary things.

 

The Committee agreed it was important to have an event, and felt that although the Art on Ice event was well attended and enjoyed, the cost of the event was quite high considering it was somewhat temporary in nature.  The Committee agreed that it should host an event that would leave more of a lasting impression of public art.  There was also discussion about hosting an event that would require greater community involvement.  Some of the ideas discussed included art in the park, a public art competition, and an outdoor display of sculptures.

 

The Committee Clerk was requested to add ideas for a public art event to the next meeting agenda.  Members were encouraged to do some research and come up with some ideas to share at the next meeting.

 

4. E.     REPORT ON PUBLIC ART IN CARY, NC

 

Ms. McIntyre advised the Committee about a public art event in Cary, North Carolina that consisted of a display of outdoor sculptures.  She displayed a handout of the event to the Committee.  The Committee liked the idea of having sculptures for sale placed around the grounds of Markham Civic Centre or along highway 7 for a period of 4 months. They discussed providing the artist with honorarium. Ms. McIntyre advised that she would provide the Committee with more detailed information with respect to the public art event held in Cary at the next meeting.   Mr. Ryerson believed that funding could possibly be obtained from the Ontario Arts Council to host an event consisting of a display of outdoor sculptures.

 

5.         NEXT MEETING DATE

 

The next meeting of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee will be held on October 14, 2009 at 5:00 PM in the Ontario Room.

 

6.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.