Report to: General Committee                                    Date Report Authored: January 11, 2010

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Delegation of Authority

PREPARED BY:               John Ryerson, Director of Culture

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

1)      THAT the report entitled “Delegation of Authority” be received; and,

 

2)      THAT the Gallery Manager be authorized to execute and be granted signing authority for contracts relating to the Varley Art Gallery collection in accordance with the Varley Art Gallery Collection Policy and Procedures and in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor.  Contracts include:  art and archives loan agreements; agreements to acquire art and archives materials; gift agreements; agreements to exchange art and archives with other galleries and archives; and agreements granting permission to third parties to use and/or reproduce art images or archival materials owned by the Town; and,

3)      That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

PURPOSE:

 

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for the delegation of authority to the Gallery Director/Manager to execute contracts relating to the Varley Art Gallery collection in accordance with the Varley Art Gallery Collection Policy and Procedures.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

This recommendation is in compliance with Markham’s Purchasing By-Laws for financial approvals.  The recommendation is similar to the request that Council approved for the Markham Museum in 2006.

 

The Varley Art Gallery Collection Policy and Procedures was approved by the Board of Directors of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham and by the Town of Markham Council on November 15, 2005.  This policy and procedure allows for on going activity of loans, acquisitions and copyright regarding the Varley Art Galley collection (Policy attached).  The Varley Art Gallery currently has possession of over 350 art work loans (individually or through exhibitions annually).

 

The contracts between galleries, lenders and donors are standard within the art and museum sector. The Varley Art Gallery contracts for out going loans are based on the model used by the National Gallery of Canada, and have been reviewed by Markham’s Legal Services. 

 

In accordance with Section 1.9 of  Varley Art Gallery Collection Policy and Procedures, “art acquisitions must be approved by the Board of Directors of the Foundation, and art acquisitions with a fair market value greater than $100,000 must be approved first by the Foundation Board  and then by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Markham”.

 

Allowing the Gallery Manager the ability to execute and have signing authority on contracts relating to the Varley Art Gallery collection will allow for a more efficient process for acquisitions.

 

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Legal Services

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      John Ryerson                                      Brenda Librecz

                                      Director of Culture                              Commissioner of Community

                                                                                                and Fire Services

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A: Varley Art Gallery Collection Policy and Procedures  PO 16.01

 

http://checkmark/policies/documents/art%20gallery/policies/collections%20policy.doc