Public Art Advisory Committee

Committee Type

Advisory Committee or Task Force.

Purpose

The purpose of the Public Art Advisory Committee is to advise Council and staff on the implementation of the Public Art Policy and guidelines.

Their work includes making recommendations to Council and City staff for exhibits and public art projects, evaluating potential new acquisitions for the Civic Art Collection, and providing advice to staff on the procedures, promotion, maintenance and removal of art and cultural property within the collection.

Vision

The following vision statement is from the Public Art Policy as approved by Council in 2003:

Visually beautiful cities stimulate a sense of pride and commitment. Through its Public Art Policy the City of St. Catharines strives to create vibrant public spaces that reflect the diversity of our community, and engage its residents and visitors with quality works of public art.

The City of St. Catharines seeks to encourage all those who care about the community to participate in making art, collecting it and commissioning it.

Goals

The City's public art projects and acquisitions will be assessed and developed according to the following goals:

1. Provide access to art in public places for all of St. Catharines' citizens. 
2.  Enhance St. Catharines' desirability as a community by creating appealing environments in which to live, work and play.
3. Honour, preserve and encourage our cultural heritage and artistic diversity.
4. Promote civic identity through awareness and preservation of the community's history, cultures and living arts.
5. Support effective urban planning, economic development and cultural tourism opportunities.

Membership

Membership is open to citizens who reside in and/or are property owners in the City of St. Catharines and who are 18 years of age or older. The Public Art Advisory Committee will be composed of five core members as follows:

• one member of City Council;
• one member of the Culture Committee;
• one staff person - the Cultural Services Supervisor;
• one working visual artist or craftsperson resident in St. Catharines;
• one person from the visual arts community.

In addition, when applicable, the following individuals are to be included:

• one staff person from Parks Division, and/or
• one staff person from other municipal departments, boards, commissions, committees, and /or
• one person from a relevant community organization or neighbourhood.

Voting Membership

All non-City of St. Catharines employees are eligible to vote on the Public Art Advisory Committee.

Membership Responsibility

The Public Art Advisory Committee is currently developing a Public Art Procurement Process and reviewing the committee's Terms of Reference. The committee is excited to have Kernel Memory by artist Laura Moore installed as part of the City Hall Sculpture Program on the James Street Lawn. The 2013 juried exhibit Beyond the Wall: Unpacking the Layers of St. Catharines’ Walls is now on display at City Hall.

Membership Term

The Public Art Advisory Committee's term is as per City Council's four-year term. The current term began with the 2010 election and will end in conjunction with the 2014 election.

Membership List

• Coun. Mark Elliott 

• Lesley Bell (Co-Chair) 

• Marcie Bronson 

• Sandra Merk

• Stephen Remus (Co-Chair) 

• Peter Vietgen (Culture Committee) 

• Michael Zuberec 

• Rebecca Cann, Cultural Planning Supervisor

• Scott Ritchie, Urban Design Planner

• Jennifer Tupling, Culture Co-ordinator

Meeting Schedule & Location(s)

The Public Art Advisory Committee typically meets on the third Thursday of each month at City Hall.

View the Meetings Calendar.