VARLEY MCKAY
ART FOUNDATION OF
TOWN OF
MINUTES
|
Attendance: Members Present: Alan Bryce Patrick Carr Sammy Lee Patty Loveland Robert McCulloch Terrence
Pochmurksi Staff: John Ryerson,
Director Bill Pickering Kitty |
Absent: Mahesh Chokshi Anna Hudson Edward Mariani Stan Neal Beverly Schaeffer Ernestine Tahedl Councillor |
The meeting
of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board convened at
1.
OPENING REMARKS
The Chair, Howard Back, advised that Michael
Chan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, had presented a mock cheque in the
amount of $920,000 to the Town for infrastructure funding.
An update was provided on the hiring process
for a Director and Curator. Thirty-five applications have been received and
circulated to the selection panel, consisting of Commissioner Brenda Librecz,
John Ryerson, Mona Nazif (Human Resources) Howard Back,
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE
VARLEY-McKAY ART FOUNDATION OF
MOVED BY: Sammy
Lee
SECONDED BY: Patrick Carr
THAT the minutes of
the Varley McKay Foundation of
CARRIED
3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
- None
4. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Building and
Bill Pickering reported on a meeting with Town staff today,
and advised that the project may be delayed. Max Stanford, Project Manager, had
been reassigned to another project, and Pheobe Fu is interim Manager while an
RFP for a new Project Manager is sent out. The project was temporarily halted,
but is now reactivated. Town staff still remain very committed to this project,
and hope to meet the fall deadlines, however, it may be set back to the spring.
While the addition itself could still be completed in late 2010, the
renovations and retrofitting of the existing building could extend into 2011.
The good news is that sufficient LEED information has been
provided for the analysis, and that a Green Roof is no longer required.
The Board discussed the time lines, and the importance of
ensuring that a quality job is done, without compromising in order to save
time. The impact to the exhibition schedule was discussed. The schedule won’t
be determined until the new Director is in place to participate in the
decisions.
b) Art
Acquisition Committee
An update was not provided.
c) Development
Committee
A new sign for the front of the Gallery is being considered and
it is hoped that it will be located where the kiosk is currently sited. The
criteria has been identified and the design will include the Varley logo and
the website address.
The courtyard project is ongoing. A proposal and suggested
budget will be presented in September. The Town’s public art policy is to be
considered in conjunction with this project.
A review of the McKay gardens is being done. The cost of
replacing the fence would be $18,000.
Another project being considered is volunteer training, and they
are looking for funds for this.
d) Volunteer
Committee
e) Art Auction Committee
Patrick Carr provided
a post-auction review and report for the successful Art Auction held May 14.
The budget, achievements, and proceeds were reviewed, and several ideas for
next year were discussed.
The Board expressed appreciation for the great effort and
success of Patrick and his team. The staff had been taken out to lunch by
Howard Back and Elizabeth Plashkes, in appreciation for their assistance. The
Chair requested that a letter of appreciation be prepared for his signature, to
Michel Bigue, for his significant contribution. It was suggested that Mr. Bigue
be identified as the lead contributor for next year’s event, and that
recognition of the contributors become a factor to draw them to the event.
Other ideas for next year included:
- dropping non-productive contributors
- emphasizing local artists
- reducing the number of live items
- change the model to specify
percentages/donations by the contributors
- include preview night again
- tentative date is a Thursday evening
in mid-May, not just before the long weekend
5. FINANCIAL REPORT
A report was not provided.
6. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
John Ryerson, Director provided the following report to the
Board:
“A great
and busy summer ahead with our big Carnival show, a great kick-off opening and
Unionville Festival weekend. Our next big push will be July 1st.
This year, by keeping the summer show open through early October, we have a
good opportunity for increased school attendance. The Carnival of the Arts on
the Sunday of the Unionville Festival was a feast of arts programming. The
response was very positive and we hope to build on the program with our
partners in future. Thanks to Unionville Festival for their investment in the
artist fees and the efforts of Cheryl Rego in coordination.
I met with
the Ontario Arts Council about future funding and our needs so that we can
better work together to support us. Their lack of support in 905 is such that
they assigned a senior staff person to specifically work with our 905. Bushra
Junaid also attended our Carnival opening.
The Wallace
Joyce award from the Varley McKay Art Foundation to a graduating student in
Fine Arts from Unionville High has been awarded by the School to Kelly Eng.
Kelly will be coming in to the gallery to plan an exhibition of her work in our
lobby. I will let you know when that is set up and we will try and get Mr Joyce
out to see her work. The quality of the UHS graduating student work is
outstanding. To see the students move beyond curriculum and discover the joy of
their new skills is inspiring.
The
Foundation website development will significantly enhance our ability to
communicate the opportunities to support our gallery. The next generation being
implemented now, called web 3.0, is all about targeting messages and information
based on interests. We have already been moving in this direction and look
forward to building databases of contacts that can help us use these tools
effectively.
The
Automatiste Revolution planning is now into the home stretch. I provided you
with a report on my weekend in
The archive
material and labels have been done, thanks in particular to Ray Ellenwood and
his extensive collection of material.
One of the
spinoffs of the
I will be
attending another of the Mayor’s networking meetings with consul generals – the
one coming up is from
We need to
find additional financial support of $5000 for the opening events for
Automatiste to ensure it provides the recognition it deserves with so many
supporters and our guests from
The book
promotion material is out with Duncan & McIntyre and we are now on the
Albright Knox’s Facebook site. Please circulate Roald Nasgaard’s YouTube clip
to interested persons.
Financial
planning for 2010 is well underway within a framework of zero tax increase
again. Our capital request has gone in for HVAC pump replacements and front
benches replacement. It is also a tight year on capital reserves. I am still hopeful we can attract some funds
for energy saving upgrades notably for the lobby and community room lighting.
The
expansion planning got a nice boost of attention with a cheque presentation
from the Hon Michael Chan with the Mayor and Howard Back participating. I
expect a local follow-up in the newspaper. All the tourism agencies know we are
expanding. I am particularly pleased that we can achieve LEED equivalent
standard for the addition – possibly silver level. We will be one of the first
galleries in the country to achieve this standard (not on the whole building as
we would have to redo all of our HVAC systems to achieve that standard.).
An
excellent article on our hospital pilot project coordinated by Sue Firkser is provided.
(
The
Director also reported on his attendance at the Canadian Art Museum
Association’s reception at the McMichael Gallery, and their discussions on
strategic directions.
A letter
from the Ministry of Culture, in response to an invitation to the opening of
the Automatiste exhibit, indicated that they had no interest.
7. NEW BUSINESS
In response to questions from the Board, the Director
advised that staff have been assigned to surveying the clients of the McKay
House over the summer, regarding hours of operation and fees.
The Chair advised that there will be an opportunity for
Board members to meet the final two candidates for the Director’s position,
during a visit to the gallery in early July. Details will follow when
available.
8. DATE OF
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting of the Board
of the Varley McKay Art Foundation of