Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

0:02the Indigenous territorial acknowledgement.

0:08As we gather, let us take time to reflect

0:10on our privilege to live and work in Guelph,

0:13a city built over rich Indigenous histories.

0:16We are guests here and we should reflect

0:18upon the responsibility to care for this land,

0:21the people who live here today and the generations to come.

0:24If our actions today can move us towards reconciliation,

0:27we should take pause and make those decisions

0:30with intention and gratitude.

0:32This place we call Guelph has served as traditional lands

0:35and a place of refuge for many peoples over time,

0:38but more specifically the Atawandurank

0:40and the Haudenosaunee.

0:42This land is held as the treaty lands and territory

0:44with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

0:47Guelph lies directly adjacent to the Haldeman tract

0:50and is part of a long-established traditional hunting ground

0:53for the six nations of the Grand River.

0:55Many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people

0:58who have come from across Turtle Island

1:00call Guelph home today.

1:05All right, moving on to the next item.

1:09I haven't received any disclosure of pecuniary interests

1:12or general nature thereof,

1:13but I'll ask if anyone has any at this time

1:16to bring that forward.

1:19I'm hearing none.

1:20Not seeing anything.

1:22We'll move on to the approval of the minutes.

1:25So you have all been shared last meeting's minutes.

1:28So the recommendation is that minutes

1:30from the May 28th, 2026 meetings,

1:33meeting of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

1:35be approved.

1:37Does anyone have any comments or concerns

1:39about the contents of the minutes?

1:44Not seeing any.

1:46Do I have a mover and a seconder?

1:51Okay, I think I see hands.

1:53Oh yeah, sure you do.

1:54We'll have that, sorry,

1:55Member Saunders, Katie for a mover

1:58and then Scarlett seconds.

1:59Great, thanks.

2:01I'll assume all in favor, so any opposed?

2:07No, I didn't.

2:10All right, so then we'll move on to our items for discussion.

2:13So we have two items and I know we have some delegates

2:16with us here today.

2:18So I believe the order of procedures

2:20that we'll first start with the presentation

2:23for the item and then if a delegate would like to present

2:28they can do so.

2:29So I think Jeanette is speaking to the first item.

2:39We should hear.

2:40Here we go.

2:41Okay, so welcome everybody and welcome delegates.

2:45So this is an exciting day to present

2:48new exciting opportunities.

2:50So we have two proposals for us

2:52and the first one is from the Friends of the Welcome Public

2:55Library.

2:56So we have a donation proposal.

2:58So I'm showing you here an artist rendering

3:03of the new Central Library branch.

3:05We're looking, I think this is the West of Assad.

3:09We're looking Northeast if I'm correct.

3:12Okay, next slide.

3:17So I've organized these in terms of the sections

3:20of the staff report.

3:21I'm just giving a summary of the staff report

3:23that's been circulated.

3:24So I'm not gonna be adding any new information.

3:26So for those of you who are wondering who the Friends are,

3:30the Friends are a volunteer organization

3:32that supports and promotes the Guelph Public Library

3:34through fundraising, advocacy and community engagement.

3:38So the Friends were founded 19 years ago

3:41to advocate for the creation of a new library.

3:43And since then they've raised over a million,

3:45$300,000 primary through their annual book sales.

3:49That's quite impressive.

3:51So next slide.

3:55So they are proposing to commission a public artwork

3:59for the new Central Library

4:01that's children-friendly and interactive.

4:05Next slide.

4:07The where is the children's lounge?

4:09So I'm showing you the same artists rendering

4:12and we're just circling right here

4:14the location that's proposed from the outside.

4:17And then if we click on the next slide,

4:19we can see an image from the inside and a floor plan.

4:24So this is the space that we're looking at.

4:26So for the children's lounge.

4:29Okay, next slide.

4:32So here's the how, the when and the why.

4:35How it was funded by community donations

4:37raised through the annual book sale.

4:40The proposed budget is $250,000.

4:43And the process is that the artist would be selected

4:46through a two-phase open call to artists

4:49guided by the City of Guelph's public art policy

4:51and supported by museums and culture staff.

4:55The timeline is yet to be determined

4:57as part of the process.

4:59And the piece is intended to recognize

5:01the community's ongoing support of the library

5:04and the dedicated work of the Friends

5:05of the Guelph Public Library.

5:09And next slide.

5:11And that's basically it.

5:13It's just starting up in the barricades, but you know,

5:16yes.

5:24So we'll look to...

5:26That's amazing.

5:28I think we've all read about it.

5:29A little bit of something like Guelph Today, right?

5:31It's amazing.

5:33It really is amazing.

5:35I love that it's like kid-focused

5:37and planned on the main floor space,

5:41visible from the outside.

5:43I'm curious about maybe process for the calls.

5:48Is that like the work then, like of staff?

5:51Like are there any concerns that you have around?

5:55So is that...

5:56We can answer this?

5:57Yeah, just confirming that we did have one registered

6:01delegate, Joanne.

6:02Did you hope to speak to something or offer any feedback

6:05or are you here to just answer questions?

6:07The application proposal is pretty straightforward.

6:13But I'm here to answer any questions.

6:15And the board of the friends have struck a committee.

6:21I'm chairing that committee to lead this process.

6:26It includes four of our board members, Dan,

6:31who's the library representative,

6:34and now it's St. Dawn.

6:37I'm more than welcome to join.

6:39So we have this core committee

6:41that will be led through the process by staff

6:45and will probably strike a committee of the advisors

6:50when it comes to choosing the art,

6:52because we all like art,

6:53but it's a different matter when you have to say,

6:57this is good or this is bad.

6:58I know what I like, but I don't know why I like it.

7:02So we're starting this process.

7:05We already have the money in the bank.

7:07Our sales are very successful.

7:10And when we asked Dan,

7:14after we gave the first million to the library,

7:17then the both sales just keep getting more and more

7:20popular and successful.

7:22And I think St. Lawrence, what are we doing with it?

7:25And when we asked Dan,

7:26what he needed, he suggested a piece of art.

7:29And our focus is on the children's section of the library.

7:35So marriage and having them.

7:42Yeah, we can encourage discussion questions.

7:47Just as an answer to Julia's question about process.

7:51So city staff are supporting the friends

7:56to craft their vision into a call.

7:58So we've held an initial visioning session.

8:00We're gonna continue to work with them

8:02and really kind of tease out what it is

8:05that they're looking for

8:06and help them through the call process.

8:10Yeah.

8:19Thanks.

8:20I made through you, chair.

8:29There is, so there's two motions to this item one

8:33that is to support the staff report.

8:37And then the second is to provide the following comments

8:40to staff regarding the proposed public art commission

8:43by the friends of the public library.

8:45So I don't know if there is any feedback

8:49that members would like to include,

8:51but I'm here to capture that in a motion if you'd like.

9:01I do a couple of things.

9:02I think let's make sure that the call

9:05just has like a long enough duration

9:07to like adequately engage.

9:12That's my name.

9:17Don't think we should just order something on Amazon.

9:20I know you will.

9:22This one right here.

9:24But sometimes I think people like,

9:26especially with the two phase,

9:27like just making sure that there's enough lead time.

9:30So we can, this is big news.

9:33This is a major piece of public art.

9:35It's amazing.

9:35I'm assuming it's a two year process.

9:37By the time we select the artist,

9:40we have budget money to give an honorary.

9:44Once we have a short list of artists,

9:46then we support them through an honorary to create something.

9:51And then the time it takes to build whatever it is.

9:55So it won't be ready.

9:58I don't think for when the library opens.

10:00Yeah.

10:01Okay.

10:02Yeah, sounds great.

10:09Do you know if there's an industry standard for that,

10:12for the call for proposals by the time?

10:15Yeah, that's a good question.

10:18Look at Janette or Dominan.

10:20Yeah, it feels like the six month lead.

10:27Like at least three months.

10:30It's all to do with scope and scale.

10:32The scope and scale of the project

10:34really dictates how much time is built into the process itself.

10:39So, but we wouldn't raise through that process.

10:44It's actually the most critical process.

10:46And in the journey to making the artwork

10:49is making sure that the call articulates

10:54exactly what is expressed and desired for the piece.

10:59And then allowing time for artists

11:01to thoroughly interpret what that means

11:03and prepare proposals.

11:05And then in phase two, we get to work one to one

11:09with the artists to really help them to craft their vision.

11:12And to meet the questions and because they're always concerns,

11:17it's fair, it's a complicated process

11:19that might come up in the first phase preview.

11:22So yeah.

11:26So I have one more question.

11:26But feel free, like Katie or Bonji or anyone to jump in.

11:32Once the call proposal is in draft,

11:36will it come back to this committee?

11:38Like what does that process look like?

11:44Well, the Tammy Thane guest, she's young.

11:47If I may, that has been our practice

11:49to have the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee review

11:53and give feedback on the call before it goes out.

11:57And I think that the rationale for that

11:59is that this is a panel of experts

12:01who do this work all the time and have relationships

12:04with artists, not to say the artists themselves

12:06that are applying that understand the process

12:09and understand creative production

12:13and would have, I think, a unique lens

12:16to offer on the call itself.

12:18Yeah.

12:33I don't have any specific questions,

12:35but I just got back from a trip to Winnipeg

12:41where they have such an incredible amount of public art.

12:45And so it's super exciting to see these two proposals

12:48coming across that are going to really stand out

12:51and enhance the public art in the city.

12:55Really exciting.

13:12All right.

13:13Are we ready to move to the motion

13:15or is there something else anyone would like to add?

13:24Okay, happy to share my screen.

13:29So there's two motions.

13:31Through your chair, we can pass both,

13:35but just one mover and a second.

13:56So the first motion being that the Arts and Culture Advisory

14:00Committee support the staff report titled

14:02Friends of the Guelph Public Library Public Art

14:05Donation Proposal.

14:07And the second motion being that the Arts and Culture

14:15Advisory Committee provide the following comments to staff

14:17regarding a proposed public artwork commission

14:19by the Friends of the Guelph Public Library

14:21for the new Central Library.

14:23So consider timelines for the call, for proposals,

14:25and providing enough time for our disengagement

14:28is what I captured, but I'm happy to edit the language

14:32as you see fit.

14:39For you.

14:42After we're doing this here, do we

14:44need to just clarify that the draft call will come back

14:49to committee through this?

14:50Yeah.

14:51Again, we can add something to say that staff return

14:58to the ACAC, providing an update on the call

15:06for proposals.

15:07Is that OK?

15:07Yeah, because I think it all comes up into the call.

15:10I'm kind of sure.

15:11Like, I have a lot of confidence and process already

15:14that I think the art of crafting the call

15:17is going to help us engage the art,

15:22like the right type of art, and et cetera, et cetera.

15:26And then the last thing I thought of it

15:28was, obviously, this would then get brought into the city's

15:32public art collection.

15:33So then there's the factor of long-term maintenance and such.

15:37But that would come down the road, correct?

15:41Let's understand what the proposals are.

15:44Can I ask a question?

15:47So if the proposal that we're directing

15:51comes back to this committee, but this committee doesn't meet

15:54now or again until when do you meet again?

16:00So through the chair, our next meeting

16:01is scheduled for July 23.

16:05I want to say.

16:06So it'll be in July?

16:07Yeah, there is one in July.

16:08And then because of the election, we

16:12are trying to pause just because Clark's office

16:16is a bit busy.

16:17But if need be, we can always hold a meeting in September

16:20and October as well.

16:22But as of right now, the next meeting is scheduled for July.

16:26And then there are tentative spots for September and October

16:33if need be.

16:34But yeah.

16:36You're OK.

16:45I have one last thing maybe to add,

16:47just like a tremendous thanks to the friends

16:52of the Gulf Public Library for continuing to push this forward

16:58and that one of the outcomes was public art.

17:02It really is amazing.

17:03So I think there's like a celebration piece of it

17:06that probably in the process will also build into.

17:10I was reading on like, well today

17:12has a lot of negative comments around,

17:14why do we need public art?

17:17And so I do think there's like this moment here where we just

17:20need to reinforce that public art is like an expression

17:24of our culture and humanity.

17:25And we need that.

17:27And I don't know that we like so it might be nice to have

17:30that we're like ultimately grateful for all the citizens

17:33who put everything into moving that forward.

17:56You can tell me I'm just copying kind of what's in the title

17:59or in the initial recommendation.

18:01But if you would like to add more to support or I'm just

18:06going to say that the AC support.

18:10I don't know how to I don't know how to verb

18:13they have to be pretty.

18:14SCAC provides like immense gratitude to the community

18:22for to the friends of the both.

18:26Expresses.

18:27Expresses, yeah.

18:29Those projects are for the work.

18:54For the donation of this public art.

19:21Well with that, if there's anything else I can edit.

19:25But the motion reads as follows that the Arts and Culture

19:30Advisory Committee provide the following comments to staff

19:32regarding the proposed public art work commission by the friends

19:36of the Guelph Public Library for the new Central Library.

19:39So consider timelines for the call for proposals

19:41and providing enough time for artist engagement.

19:44Staff return to the ACAC to provide an update on the call

19:47for proposals.

19:48And then the ACAC express immense gratitude

19:50to the friends of the Guelph Public Library

19:52for the donation of this public artwork.

19:58Do we have a mover and a seconder?

20:02Julia.

20:03Julia has her in-depth to move.

20:06I will second.

20:07Garland person.

20:08Great.

20:09I'll assume in favor.

20:11So any opposed?

20:15I'm going to assume no.

20:18So I can't really see when the screen's up.

20:23I know.

20:23Sorry.

20:24Oh, sorry.

20:25I'm like squinting.

20:28All right.

20:28So then we'll move on to the next item, which

20:33is the Guelph Public Library Board public art donation

20:37proposal.

20:38And I believe, Jeanette, you're speaking to that as well.

20:43OK.

20:45So we have a second proposal for work of Public Art

20:48for the new Central Library branch.

20:51You can advance to the next slide.

20:56So this proposal is being presented by the Guelph Public

20:58Library Board, So Governing Board Independent Corporation

21:01with the sole authority and responsibility

21:03for establishing policy at the Guelph Public Library.

21:06Next slide.

21:09So what they're looking for is a permanent three-dimensional

21:12public artwork that is imaginative, joyful,

21:15and reflects the library as a place of inspiration

21:18and community.

21:19The piece should celebrate creativity,

21:21evoke curiosity, and resonate with the energy of the library

21:24as a space where people come together to learn, connect,

21:27and explore.

21:28And interactivity will be encouraged.

21:31Next slide.

21:34So for this proposal, we're looking

21:36at four potential sites, two outside and two inside.

21:42So we have here in order alphabetical order A is the A

21:46train.

21:47We can see that's the first floor entrance on the north side

21:50of the building.

21:51B is the terrace.

21:53So this is the third floor terrace.

21:57C is the library square.

22:00So this is the courtyard on the north side of the building,

22:02kind of in the direction where the parking lot would be

22:05if you were looking to the north now while it's

22:07under construction, a former parking lot.

22:10And D is the community living room.

22:12So this is a two-story space.

22:16We'll have a little detail of that in a second.

22:19But this is on the second floor to third floor.

22:23So we can go to the next slide.

22:25So this is the atrium in the artist's rendering.

22:30So it's a large space.

22:31It's a space that would greet people upon entry.

22:34It has a staircase, large windows, lots of light.

22:38Next slide.

22:41Second slide.

22:42This is the terrace.

22:44This is an under construction view

22:46compared with artist rendering.

22:48Can imagine people standing around there.

22:50Next slide.

22:56Here we have the artist rendering of library square.

23:01So this would also be an outdoor space.

23:05And this would be to be completed later in the future.

23:09Next slide.

23:11This is the community living room.

23:13So this is an indoor space.

23:15And it's second.

23:16So this view is from the third floor looking down

23:19into the second floor.

23:20And another view of the site under construction as well,

23:24just to show the height of the ceilings

23:27and the clear story windows there.

23:30Just a nice architectural detail that

23:31brings in a lot of light.

23:35Those are the four spaces under consideration.

23:37So next slide.

23:38Yeah.

23:38Thanks.

23:40So how this work proposal is also

23:42funded through community donations raised

23:44by the Guelph Public Library Board.

23:46So the board engaged in a lot of community engagement

23:50activities as part of the new library building process

23:52and found that Public Art was something

23:55that the community wanted in the new library.

23:57So it is community supported.

23:59The proposed budget is $200,000 to $300,000.

24:03And artists would be selected through a two-phase open call

24:06to artist competition guided by the City of Guelph's Public

24:09Art Policy and supported by museums and culture staff.

24:12The completion date is projected for fall 2027.

24:17And this piece would also recognize the community's

24:20ongoing support of the library and the dedicated work

24:22of the Guelph Public Library Board.

24:27We can move to the next slide.

24:28We can discuss.

24:33I think I've already said.

24:34So sorry.

24:35Yeah, I'm sorry.

24:38I'm excited.

24:39Did you use delegates?

24:41Sorry, did we have delegates for this as well?

24:44We do, yes.

24:45We do have a Vivienne Web here.

24:48I know we spoke earlier.

24:49You weren't sure.

24:50We didn't want to say anything.

24:52But if you do want to speak to the item,

24:55you are more than welcome to do so.

24:57We also have library staff here as well.

25:02Anonymous library staff.

25:03I mean, Dan Atkins, who's the CEO, and Michelle Tomby,

25:10who's the deputy CEO.

25:13I think we're all interested, of course,

25:16in the advancement of this proposal

25:19and any questions you have or clarification you

25:22want on any of these issues or things

25:26that we put in our application.

25:29That's what we're here for, except for Kate.

25:34Because she has insight.

25:35Sorry?

25:36None.

25:39So I assume that it will be the artist who

25:43will decide where their particular piece of art

25:47would be best suited to the four places.

25:51That decision will be made once the artist is chosen.

25:55Is that's how that works?

25:57Well, I think before we get to that place,

25:59we'll work with the board to understand

26:05what are the parameters around each space.

26:08Because right now there's four potential spaces in the proposal.

26:12As Jeanette mentioned in her presentation,

26:18one of the spaces is scheduled later in construction.

26:21And so that does change them that I'm like,

26:22by significantly.

26:24And then we also have to reflect on uses of the space

26:28and how the uses of the space marry with the proposed

26:31that being a proposed site for the artwork itself.

26:34So it could be that when we go to call,

26:36there's all four spaces.

26:37But we would want to fully understand the potential

26:40of each of those spaces before we get there.

26:42Whatever spaces are offered in the call,

26:44we would invite artists to designate a specific space

26:47for them to use their visioning.

26:49And then they would work to those specifications.

26:51Yeah.

26:53Thank you.

27:06Does Vivian, Jan, and Michelle,

27:08do you have any questions for the group, I guess?

27:11Well, so when the proposal from the friends came,

27:18you mentioned that you wanted to make sure there was enough time.

27:21So of course, we needed there to be enough time for people.

27:28But it's a lot of them.

27:29And that's why I asked about industry standards,

27:32that sort of thing.

27:34There's two parts to this, one to any activity like this.

27:39I mean, part of this is like asking how long

27:42is the piece of string, right?

27:44Sure.

27:45We can wait until inspiration starts to strike someone.

27:49Or we can offer a proposed installation date

27:56and be prepared to move it.

27:59It should, because we want to get the best person we can,

28:04but we also want to move this project along.

28:07We'd also like to celebrate the first year's opening

28:12of the library, the city's 200th birthday.

28:18And so there are lots of, and there's

28:19lots of communications opportunities around that.

28:25So, yeah, we just want to make sure

28:32that we connect with the right people.

28:36We give people the right kind of information.

28:39And I think we're very open.

28:40I think our application has a lot of concepts

28:46or explains our vision for going forward that could help

28:54doing this.

28:55So the thing that I meant to say was, so there's two parts.

29:00There's the part where the artist responds

29:03to the request for proposals.

29:09And I understand the need for time, along that.

29:13There's also the part of this process

29:16that is us getting our ducks in a row

29:21and making sure that when we have a July meeting,

29:25we have an election that's going to shut things down

29:29because, and we all know that.

29:31So there's the part that we can control

29:36is making sure that we get the paper done.

29:40We get the paper out to the right people.

29:43And we have a process that lets everybody

29:45know that we won't work expeditiously

29:50without cramping anybody's style.

29:52Because we can all think for a long time.

30:00So that's the reason for setting us up.

30:05So now I do have a number.

30:07I'm just going to give those new talks a lot, I guess.

30:11I'm so excited.

30:13Does staff have any problems running both in parallel?

30:17And to me, I have enough.

30:18You're good.

30:20For the commissioning of the deer or the her sculptures

30:24in the square, roughly how long was that process?

30:30Start of here's an idea for it.

30:33And then here's when engineering and such was done

30:36and it was installed.

30:37I actually was involved with those projects.

30:40That even figured that work predates all of us.

30:43Julia, so what?

30:45I mean, we can't let the time get up in our records.

30:47Yeah.

30:49OK, and then how far along is your call?

30:51And you spoke a bit of a process for the friends

30:55of the public, friends of the public library.

30:58But how far along is the writing on the call?

31:01So we are relying on city staff for that.

31:04Our understanding.

31:07And I don't mean to downplay this, but you guys

31:12do calls all the time.

31:14I don't.

31:15Yeah.

31:17For librarians and volunteers.

31:19Yes, that's our area of expertise.

31:21So we are hoping that we have adequately

31:25enunciated what our vision for this project is.

31:30I'm sure you've done other things like that.

31:33And I know it's not an erase and repeat kind of thing,

31:35but we can move.

31:39There's a lot of bias.

31:40Yeah.

31:40And just as if just as for we don't know anything

31:45about materials, don't know anything about installation.

31:49I mean, we do.

31:50But any of those things and we're relying on city staff

31:54for that.

31:55So we're not looking to interfere.

31:59Yeah, it's great.

32:01So I think my comments are timing when the draft proposal

32:05can come that the draft proposal can come back to the group.

32:09And the same thing, celebrate that as a light movement

32:14developer in such a great facility is important.

32:19And then I think my fourth one is around, let me jump in

32:31to tell me what it was about.

32:34We have a really strong process.

32:37It was around jury.

32:38Oh, yes.

32:40I'm assuming there's like both like are there people

32:44from the like your team that also would

32:48wish to be part of the jury thinking about the police

32:51facilities navigation.

32:53We recently did like just considering

32:56like that there's an external jury

32:58and that there's members of both groups

33:02like the both board as well as friends of public library

33:06and that we're liaising around like the best interests

33:08of both of those.

33:10So I'm assuming we're kind of like using an existing process

33:13that we already have and it's been very well built over time

33:19and that when and if the public library board wants

33:23external jurors, that would just go into that conversation.

33:27Yeah.

33:28We do have a we have started to develop a time

33:32for getting these things done and falls talking

33:38to city communication staff, developing a rubric

33:45for assessing the proposals as they come in.

33:48Yeah.

33:48And that sort of thing.

33:49So we're trying to front load as much of that as we can.

33:58As I said, the administrative stuff we can get together.

34:02We should be able to manage quickly.

34:07I know it's not really quick, but if you're quickish.

34:10On pace.

34:11Yeah.

34:11On pace.

34:12That's a good point.

34:14As the staff, are you thinking of it as these two projects

34:18are working together or are the independent projects?

34:22We're thinking of them as separate projects,

34:25but complementary in the sense that they are.

34:28We could be a working process of two separate things.

34:35So we would in terms of the selection process for the friends.

34:40So the friends would determine that with the selection process

34:44and then for the board, the board would determine that.

34:47So in terms of if you wanted advice from the arts community,

34:51if you wanted to rely on ACAC, if you just how that would be

34:55a friend's decision and first.

34:59And in terms of launching simultaneously,

35:01I think that's a conversation that we need to think about and have

35:05because there are challenges in that version,

35:08but also to do them separately is also a challenge.

35:12So we would, as one of our next steps,

35:15kind of structure them out so that we're understanding

35:18what that means.

35:20And I think there's a question around sort of like communications

35:23piece to launch both at the same time.

35:25We would seek guidance from the experts in communications

35:29who help us with these things.

35:32And then also the question is, are both projects

35:35ready to go simultaneously?

35:37Because one might be more ready than the other.

35:39And we wouldn't necessarily want to delay one for the sake

35:43of delaying it, right?

35:45Yes, so yeah.

35:46Does they have their own?

35:47Yeah, they have their own timelines.

35:48Like, is there a process?

35:50Yeah.

35:51We would craft the process in close dialogue

35:54with each group in parallel.

36:00There is a strategy.

36:02I'm not advocating for one way or another,

36:03but just in the conversation, there

36:05is a strategy to have them go at the same time

36:08because then artists have an opportunity to really weigh

36:12the opportunities equally, right?

36:13These are serious professional creative opportunities.

36:16Artists will take them very seriously.

36:19And so the strategy to present both opportunities

36:23in front of artists who would be considering those

36:26would, I think, be more official to yield the best kind

36:31of proposals that we can get from artists rather than

36:33to stagger them.

36:34But we'll have to weigh them against the readiness of each

36:36project and the timelines that are associated with it.

36:39So like things about the site, for example,

36:42if there are certain sites in the proposal currently

36:45that are not going to be ready until a certain time,

36:49then that might shift timing there.

36:51But yeah, strategy around that.

36:53And then also how these proposals

36:57might be received by the broader public, making sure

37:00that people fully understand the movement and how.

37:05Yeah, I think of both projects.

37:17Great.

37:18I'm fully in.

37:19Actually, my opinion on the timing

37:21is to launch both of them at the same time if we can.

37:25So that you would have a wider range of potential applicants

37:31and create more news and story about it.

37:34And those sites with specific elements of it.

37:38So.

37:39But yeah, this is great.

37:48And I expect artists will respond to different spaces

37:52and different briefs.

37:54What kind of pieces being asked for.

37:57Some spaces that can resonate with an artist's work.

37:59If they're really responding to the children's space

38:01and they're really responding to that brief,

38:03then they're going to devote.

38:05Then it allows them to devote their time to that one.

38:08And then if they're really responding

38:09to one of the other spaces and board proposal,

38:13then they can really devote their practice to that rather

38:16than saying that the other one come out later.

38:18Oh, I wish I hadn't applied to this one.

38:20And then I would have applied to that one for Sunday.

38:23Yeah.

38:28You could, if it was not possible,

38:31to launch them both at the same time.

38:33Although I accept that the desire to do so is evident.

38:40You could put an addendum in the whichever one went first

38:44to say there will be shortly a call for the children's section.

38:52Yeah.

38:52Yeah.

38:53I mean, if your intent is to ensure that people,

39:00that ensure that artists understand that they have,

39:05if their work is more child focused,

39:09they have an opportunity to do that.

39:12Yeah.

39:12I mean, you can do that.

39:13Yeah.

39:14And if the calls launch at the same time,

39:16they could also have different, sure,

39:18she dates different timelines involved.

39:20Launch them and have it different.

39:21And different.

39:22Yeah.

39:23Like, is that space?

39:24Yeah.

39:25Yeah, we have to be very clear about timelines for that.

39:28Yeah.

39:28Yeah.

39:29And that's all.

39:29That we will be part of the call process.

39:32Impact on the library spaces, which will then

39:34be already open.

39:36Right.

39:36So then we'll be waiting for that.

39:38Yeah.

39:39So as far as the friends are concerned,

39:43we're ready to go tomorrow.

39:44I mean, we need someone help drafting the proposal

39:49and then also having this committee approve it.

39:53But we were fully funded and ready to go.

39:56And the only reason I said it may take two years

39:59is because I'm assuming the process, like the chance

40:03of having the right artists come along.

40:06And then it's all done by September.

40:07We picked the artist and it's done by March.

40:10I'm just trying to be realistic.

40:13I just renovated a kitchen.

40:14I think half is back.

40:17So I'm just saying that we're willing to wait two years,

40:24if necessary, to make sure we have the right artist doing

40:28the right project for the library.

40:30I wouldn't want to rush it because we always

40:32open it in next spring or something.

40:35That would be criminal in my opinion.

40:39Let's get the right project.

40:41So we have the money in the bank and we're ready to go.

40:47So we won't hold anybody up because they

40:50are the artistic temperament, which I'm also

40:53going to make sure we'll probably be the holder.

40:56Yeah.

40:57So I think what I would like to take away,

41:00I mean, assuming that emotion has passed,

41:03takeaway is confirmation of the time

41:09when we've been talking about and the next steps

41:11to take into account that you're not meeting in August.

41:17There's an election coming.

41:19And I know that the election is not

41:21going to hold up artist response,

41:25but it will hold up the administration of the projects.

41:30So that's why I'm just supporting that, Joanne,

41:35that we are also ready to go given.

41:39But we're relying on city staff, race of city staff

41:44to help us get through this part and understanding

41:48that we don't have to have it all nailed down.

41:50We need to have the right parts nailed down in order to proceed.

41:55And that's all we'd like to know.

41:59I think from our perspective, a lot of the administrative work

42:02is front-end loaded.

42:03So we're really having to protecting the artist's time

42:07to develop proposals to actually fabricate and install.

42:10But then in terms of the next couple months,

42:13we can get started crafting the calls basically immediately.

42:19Well, yeah.

42:22And yes, and as I said, establishing timeline.

42:26We all know we all have boards that we have to go back to again.

42:30Make presentations and they know when to expect and action

42:34and all of that kind of stuff.

42:36And it's also being prepared for whatever conversations

42:43take place in the community.

42:45We need to be prepared for that.

42:48So.

42:53Thank you, Chair.

42:55Do we have a propose when we think the calls would come back?

43:00To committee date?

43:02Because I think what I'm hearing from both groups

43:06is that they want to advance over the summer

43:08and not get stuck in the committee kind of process.

43:13So are we thinking that you have enough time

43:15to work on both calls in tandem and bring it back draft

43:21for everyone to review either July meeting?

43:25Is that the trajectory?

43:28Which July meeting?

43:29Or would we be looking at September?

43:31That's right.

43:32I think that's a question.

43:33Yeah, yeah.

43:34I would be very ambitious.

43:35Yeah, very ambitious.

43:37But there's a lot of work that can happen.

43:40Yeah.

43:40So that both Joanne and Vivian, you know that it's not

43:45that we are waiting until September to start the work.

43:48We need that time to really thoroughly structure the calls,

43:53make sure that he's across the eyes,

43:54and that he's just on it, that there are works

43:58at either committee end that need to communicate out

44:02to others at the library.

44:04So from these set of motions, we can then go in our work plans,

44:11do that labor, do that admin.

44:13OK, so my question would be, so when would,

44:17if your meetings happen at the end of the month, generally?

44:21So if you're looking to September to bring it back here,

44:27bring the proposal back here, when

44:28does that mean that the calls would be released?

44:32In that proposal, we would have the full timelines run out.

44:37Yeah, so that also ACAC would see the timelines

44:42in that moment as well.

44:43But we would work on that with you between now and that.

44:46Yeah.

44:47So basically, the call will have all of the particulars nailed

44:50down, so confirmed budget timelines and spaces,

44:56if it is all of the spaces, or if by that time you decided

44:59on one of them or all of those particulars,

45:02we would be with you.

45:04OK, so getting back to the question that Julia asked

45:08earlier, the call to action or the call for proposals

45:12goes out mid-October.

45:15I think what might happen for you, Chair,

45:18is if we draft over the summer, work with the teams,

45:23we get a draft call that comes to the September meeting.

45:26We've all pre-read it.

45:27We come with our notes, questions, et cetera, et cetera.

45:30Then it goes all of those questions or comments

45:33go back to staff, and then they come back to the October

45:37meeting.

45:38And then in that October meeting,

45:40you can then, that gets approved, and then it is publicized.

45:45So that really means the moment that that work is what,

45:48to me, in the process of how long is your piece of string

45:51after that?

45:53The other piece of string of, so how long?

45:56How long before the proposals are finalized?

45:58So I think we need to work on that.

46:00And I do appreciate, Julia, you sort of articulating

46:03how you see that.

46:04But what we would do next is to really look at the timelines

46:07and then propose what that would look like.

46:10And we want to weigh all the variables that are being shared

46:12in the meeting today.

46:15And we're not looking at unnecessarily delaying

46:17the process or just needing to make sure that it is.

46:20Of course not.

46:21It would keep moving forward.

46:23So if it's not, it could be that the call is finalized.

46:29But if there are timing considerations

46:30for when it's released in terms of a year for artists,

46:34if there's a reason, then our consultations

46:36with communications for releasing it at a certain time

46:39or in a certain way, that's part of it too.

46:42Yeah.

46:43I was also just thinking about if November is election season,

46:47right?

46:47That's like height of election season.

46:49We may not want to be launching the call in that moment

46:53or get approval to launch the call in that moment.

46:55So we'll want to weigh all the variables.

46:57And that will be one of the first stacks.

47:00Yeah.

47:01So what we can't say in this meeting is what the timeline is.

47:04But what we can say is that it'll be our first priority

47:06to work out the timings.

47:08Factoring in ACAC response, weighing all the variables

47:12of the election, et cetera, consultations.

47:14The elections in October.

47:18Oh, October.

47:19And to be clear, museum and culture

47:21staff continue to work through elections.

47:23Yeah.

47:24Actually, that's a good point.

47:25That's right.

47:26But to Dawn's point, when we are issuing a call

47:31and doing a big communication like that,

47:33we need to consider what else is happening in the community that

47:37is competing for retention because we

47:39want to position this well.

47:41So I'm going to start to be able to forecast a timeline that

47:51meets the expectations of the Arts and Culture Advisory

47:55Committee, while also executing all these really exciting

48:01public power projects in a good time.

48:06Slightly the actual call that's advertised

48:11and that can lower the rest, won't happen till the fall.

48:14That's great.

48:16Yeah, I don't see it happening.

48:17You put a quote about, OK.

48:19So it's actually a really good time in the art world context.

48:22I've been saying fall for launch is actually

48:24sort of one of the models, if you will,

48:27or one of the sort of seasonal highlights.

48:29Not to say that a call can't launch at another time,

48:32but it is a kind of de facto start

48:34in the cultural season in the fall.

48:35So I think this would be a lockstep with that kind

48:39of momentum that's already in place.

48:41In the sector.

48:41Right, just a question.

48:43Are we able to do a, I know we have this two phase,

48:48but if you're like, can we do a pre,

48:51let's say that there will be public art opportunities

48:57and then begin to collect interest from artists?

49:01Like, I kind of saved the date.

49:03It's already public that this is happening.

49:07That's work that we could be doing over the summer.

49:11Like, what I'm hearing is that both groups want to,

49:15this to advance, like, with some speed,

49:20but like just to surface without all of the details.

49:24Because I'm like large skill artists

49:25who are doing these kinds of things,

49:27they're going to pin this on.

49:28Oh, there's going to be a call coming in Q4 of 2027.

49:33And I'm going to pay attention to, well,

49:36like that might be a way to generate some interest

49:39and some momentum while you're doing all the like super

49:42important like structuring of the call.

49:44Because the call is important and we can't rush that.

49:47But we can let people know that these opportunities exist here.

49:52Yeah, because they're preventing them from taking maybe

49:55another opportunity that's not even,

49:57yeah, it is interesting to them and then they don't have

50:00the capacity to do this.

50:02Yeah, yeah.

50:05How broad is this call?

50:07Where, how far reaching is it?

50:10So we haven't worked through that yet with either group,

50:13but I think one of the proposals did say,

50:16maybe it was the board proposal,

50:17that it was a national call.

50:20I think that was in the board factor in two.

50:22I mean, things like that.

50:24Yeah, so in the proposal,

50:26but there was one that should have been issued,

50:28there's a red one, that should have been issued.

50:30Yes, I don't think so.

50:32We can push it out as widely as desired, frankly.

50:38And again, it would be the committees,

50:42the two groups that are, you know,

50:45their interests in terms of the reach of the call would factor.

50:48But we would typically, for projects of this scale,

50:53push them out nationally.

50:54So we would use a Kimbell, for example,

50:56to announce the projects and to invite awareness.

51:01And that platform or whatever reaches,

51:08I would assume a whole variety of Indigenous artists,

51:12as well as whatever, all the insults, all the possibilities.

51:18We can't say exactly who is, because it's all, you know,

51:23we know Kimbell is a tool,

51:25it's not the only tool, but it is a tool

51:27that is nationally recognized by artists,

51:30looking for opportunities, professional opportunities.

51:32So we will use it.

51:34And I do think we need to think about

51:36how we put the call in front of artists.

51:38And if there's a desire, for example,

51:40which we would hold certainly on our end,

51:43to invite proposals from artists of all walks of life,

51:48that we might have to get creative

51:51about how we are positioning that opportunity

51:53in front of artists.

51:55It's not sort of like a one-stop shop, right?

51:57We want to reach artists where they're making their work.

51:59So we would build that into our communications plan.

52:04Yeah.

52:08That's all part of the proposal

52:09that's going to come to this committee, too.

52:11Yeah.

52:14And what about timelines with the library board?

52:17Does that, does this, I would guess,

52:19would have to go through that process, too.

52:22So, would part, just in terms of looking at the proposal

52:29and the call for proposals and so on,

52:31or is that we strike a committee?

52:34Okay.

52:35So it doesn't have to go back for,

52:38we will report to the board and seek their affirmation.

52:48Yes?

52:50We have to go back to the board to get budget approval

52:52on this piece of the book.

52:54And that will happen in September.

52:56September, okay.

53:00So that timing is in step with what we're talking about.

53:06It could understand the dates of that moment

53:11and the dates of our ACAC.

53:12Maybe that's just so, isn't it?

53:15Of timelines and so on.

53:16So, our meeting is the last Monday of the month.

53:19Last Monday of September, 28th would be the last Monday of the month.

53:23And then our Arts and Culture Advisory Committee meeting

53:26is scheduled for last Thursday of the month,

53:29which is September 24th, 2026.

53:36So are we meeting before then?

53:38Yes.

53:39Yeah, you're meeting on Thursday and they're meeting on Monday.

53:42Based on the conversation, I don't think that's a problem.

53:48The call figured out and then we can go to our GF budget approval

53:53and then follow the next steps in the process.

53:59So we would want to have a fixed affirm budget.

54:02Understood.

54:03And we would want to have, like, to give artists a scope of time,

54:09like not an open-ended, like we want them working toward a launch date,

54:15right, that has all the sort of contingency goals and goals to do.

54:31Yes.

54:36Through the chair, there are two motions for this item.

54:41So that the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee support the staff report

54:45titled, Guelph Public Library Board Public Art Donation Proposal.

54:49And then I will share my screen.

54:51I did capture a few things in our conversation.

55:00That the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee provide the following comments

55:03to staff regarding the proposed Public Art Board Commission

55:07by the Guelph Public Library Board for the new Central Library.

55:10So consider launching both call proposals simultaneously.

55:14So at the same time is what we spoke about.

55:17That staff returned to the ACC to provide an update on the call for proposals.

55:21I just reiterated that from the previous motion.

55:26And consider a save the data approach throughout the summer prior to the formal

55:29call for proposals being released in the fall.

55:33Member Julia, that was a comment made.

55:36So I tried to capture that.

55:38Anything additional, I'm happy to add or edit and remove.

55:45Do you think it's necessary to say anything about the reach of that?

55:48So.

55:51Or the call?

55:54Yeah, yeah.

55:55And specifically, maybe that it's reaches the widest possible range

56:01of I mean, given that's a, you know, public library and it pulls in everyone.

56:11And so I think it's important to reach the widest.

56:18Would you be happy with an international call?

56:21Oh, no, I'm not suggesting that.

56:23I'm just, yeah.

56:26No, I'm not.

56:30I don't think the budgets can support.

56:32You're just going to say, you know.

56:44But if that means that I'm.

56:46If the committee is okay with this, again, we can move.

56:49The first recommendation, which is just to support the staff report and then the second

56:58one, including the committee's.

57:02Consideration.

57:05Do we have a mover and a seconder?

57:09I see Scarlett Han for a mover.

57:13And Julia for a seconder.

57:17I'll assume in favor.

57:18So any opposed?

57:24All right, that passes.

57:26Great.

57:28Thanks everyone.

57:29Sounded like a great discussion.

57:32And thank you for everyone that came out to delegate.

57:37These are really great proposals.

57:41And I was just say, I think I speak for everyone.

57:44We're always a big fan of public art here and more.

57:49Also, Jeanette, those were great presentations.

57:52They really popped and I love the color.

57:53So I just wanted to thank you.

57:59So we'll move on to chair and staff announcements.

58:01Were there any today?

58:05And from staff.

58:07Great.

58:08You chaired just from Clark's office.

58:10I think we spoke briefly about the meetings in July, September and October are still placeholders

58:16in place to meet if necessary.

58:19So all good there.

58:20But also just in September, we don't have all the timelines nailed down just yet.

58:26But our recruitment will open up as well as we're going into a new term of council in

58:30November.

58:32So all appointments and reappointments will have to be formally done.

58:37So that being said, recruitment will likely begin in September.

58:42So we will at the July meeting give you a little bit more timelines on that.

58:48Just as a heads up.

58:50Great.

58:53Thank you.

58:54All right.

58:55So I'll move to adjournment.

58:58So I'll recommend that the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee meeting be adjourned.

59:03Do I have a mover and a seconder?

59:07Maybe.

59:08Maybe for Gruber and Fangey for secondary.

59:14I'll assume in favor.

59:15So any opposed?

59:17Nope.

59:18All right.

59:19So the meeting is adjourned.

59:21So the next meeting will be July 23rd at 5.

59:26Thanks everyone.

59:27Thank you everyone.

59:28That was a power hour.

59:32Yay.

59:33Yay.

59:34Good.

59:35Good.

59:36Good.

59:37Good.

59:38Good.

59:39Good.

59:40Good.

59:41Good.

59:42Good.

59:43Good.

59:44Good.

59:45Good.

59:46Good.

59:47Good.

59:48Good.