VARLEY MCKAY
ART FOUNDATION OF
TOWN OF
Monday, March 1, 2010–
MINUTES
|
Attendance: Members Present: Alan Bryce Patrick Carr Drew Gerrard Anna Hudson Stan Neal Elizabeth Plashkes Terrence Pochmurski Beverly Schaeffer Ernestine Tahedl Regional Councillor Joe Virgilio Bill
Pickering, Chair Other Members of Council: Councillor Don Hamilton Councillor Carolina Moretti |
Regrets: Sammy Lee Patty Loveland Robert McCulloch Staff: John
Ryerson, Director, Culture Francine Perinet, Director, Varley
Art Gallery Steve Andrews, Director, Asset Management Michael Shatil, Manager, Facilities Max Stanford, Project Manager Alex Moore, Manager, Purchasing Francesca Amato-Gauci, Development Officer Judy Kee, Committee Clerk |
The
meeting of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board convened at
1.
CALL TO ORDER AND CHAIR’S OPENING REMARKS
Mr. Howard Back, Chair, welcomed Members in
attendance and introduced Councillors Hamilton and Moretti and additional
members of Town staff, who were in attendance regarding the report of the
Building and Long Range Planning Committee.
The Chair reported that Les Automatiste exhibition
closed last week-end and will be moving to the
2. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO AGENDA
The
Chair advised that the Director of Culture will present a report on cultural
planning later in the meeting.
3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE VARLEY-McKAY
ART FOUNDATION OF
MOVED BY: Drew Gerrard
SECONDED BY: Elizabeth Plashkes
THAT the minutes of the Varley McKay Foundation of
Markham Board meeting held on
CARRIED
4. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Curator Selection – Ms. Francine Perinet, Director,
Strategic
Planning – The Chair advised that
the Director has found a facilitator for the Board’s strategic planning
session. Details would be provided later
in the meeting.
5. SUB-COMMITTEE
REPORTS
a) Building
and
-----------------------------------
MOVED BY: Elizabeth Plashkes
SECONDED BY: Terrence Pochmurski
THAT the meeting move to in-camera session to discuss
a property matter.
CARRIED
MOVED BY: Drew Gerrard
SECONDED BY: Stan Neal
THAT the meeting move out of in-camera session.
CARRIED
-----------------------------------
Members were provided with a verbal update on the status of the Varley
Art Gallery Expansion project, the resignation of Jerome Markson as architect
of record of the project and the advantages and disadvantages of two methods of
acquiring architectural services.
MOVED BY: Stan Neal
SECONDED BY: Anna Hudson
THAT the Members of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board
supports the preferred supplier option as recommended by Town staff for the
completion of the Varley Art Gallery Expansion project.
CARRIED
b) Art
Acquisition Committee
Ms. Anna Hudson, Chair of the Art Acquisition Committee, reported that
Committee had reviewed Kathleen McKay’s Will,
the Collection Policy, and the Memorandum of Understanding in order to
review the mandate of the Permanent Collection.
Members of the Committee had agreed that there is nothing indicating
that the Gallery should be collecting only works by F. H. Varley and his contemporaries.
Members viewed the Fernand Leduc. Sans
titre, 1947, oil on canvas. Ms.
Hudson noted that it is a highly gestural painting with incredible spatial
depth and is in good condition with some minor reservations. Following some discussion, it was generally
agreed that this painting falls within the Gallery’s mandate, and that a
reserve should be placed on it.
It was noted that the Director of the
MOVED BY Stan Neal
SECONDED BY Elizabeth Plashkes
THAT the Director place a reserve purchase price in the amount of
$85,000 on the Fernand Leduc oil on canvas, entitled Sans titre, 1947, subject to authorization of a 50% repatriation
grant from the Department of Heritage
CARRIED
c) Homes
for the Holidays Committee
Ms. Karen Chadwick advised that the final report from the 2009 event
will be emailed to all Members prior to the next Board meeting. A meeting was held with the Mayor with
respect to Town services and sponsorship for 2010.
d) Art
Auction Committee
Mr. Alan Bryce advised that things were going well with respect to the
planning of the 2010 Art Auction.
e) Development
Committee
Ms. Elizabeth Plashkes advised that information will be presented
following the strategic planning session.
f) Volunteer
Committee
No report was presented at this time.
6. FINANCIAL
REPORT
Mr. Drew Gerrard, Treasurer reported that the Annual Financial
Statements of the Foundation for the year ending December 31, 2009 will be
presented at the next meeting for approval.
7. DIRECTOR’S
REPORT
The
Director of the Gallery reported on a recent meeting with a person who could
act as the facilitator for the Board’s upcoming strategic planning. Copies of a package that has been prepared, including
a step by step process and follow-up, will be emailed to all members for their
information. Suggested topics could
include: emphasis on vision, role and mandate of both the Gallery and the McKay
House; establishment of issues; implementation of actions; and planning for the
future.
Members
discussed the proposed fee for the facilitator’s services, and the Director
advised that grant applications could be submitted to the Provincial and the
Federal Governments for a portion of the fee.
Mr.
John Ryerson, Director of Culture, explained the importance of strategic
planning sessions, the benefits to the Gallery, to the skills of the Members of
the Board, and the relationship with the Town and the Mayor and Members of
Council.
After
further discussion, it was agreed that an informal session to discuss the
approach to strategic planning be scheduled first with all Members prior to the
selection of a facilitator. This would
be an opportunity to discuss the topics mentioned and also to establish a “list
of ideas” that could be presented to the facilitator. The meeting would also allow for a discussion
on the approach to the strategic planning process. It was suggested that it would be very
beneficial to provide the facilitator with as much information about the basics
of the Gallery and the Board as possible.
Members
discussed various dates and times and agreed upon the following:
THORNHILL
GOLF CLUB
Ms.
Elisabeth Plashkes will work with the Director of the Gallery regarding the
planning and details of this meeting. It
was agreed that a facilitator would not be selected until after this meeting
has been held.
8. NEW
BUSINESS
Cultural
Planning – Mr. John Ryerson,
Director of Culture, presented information on three major planning initiatives
of the Town, as follows:
1.
Building
2.
Sustainable Green Print Plan – cultural vibrancy
3.
Integrated Leisure Master Plan – including cultural strategy
He
advised that he will send background information on each of these initiatives to
all Members of the Board.
These
initiatives also include the preparation of a cultural plan, and the creation of
an advisory committee to guide the cultural process. Ms. Francine Perinet will be staff support
for this advisory committee, and any Members of the Varley Board would be
welcome to be involved, as all three of the Town’s cultural venues will be
represented on this committee.
Those
wishing further information were requested to contact Mr. Ryerson directly.
9. DATE
OF NEXT MEETING
The
next meeting is scheduled for:
ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting of the Board of the Varley McKay Art Foundation of