COMMUNITY
ARTS
COUNCIL OF
VANCOUVER

Environmental Art

Stanley Park Environmental Art Project

CACV board secretary, Susan Gordon, admiring Birth by Tania Willard, Stanley Park Environmental Art Project

CACV is a partner with Vancouver Park Board and Stanley Park Ecology Society on this project.
Funders include BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver.

Stanley Park Environmental Art Project artists Photo: Paul Colangelo

Semi-Permanent Works completed in the summer of 2009 Photos: Paul Colangelo

Hibernators, an Ephemeral Work by Shirley Wiebe. Photo: Paul Colangelo

Shortly after installation of Cozy, nature began to add to Shirley Wiebe's semi-permanent piece. Photo: Derek Irland

Dig In
A one-day workshop at the Roundhouse by the Stanley Park Environmental Art Project partners including a hands-on workshop, a tour and a panel of the artists involved in the project.

Leaf and Seed Palette

Means of Production – MoP Out!

Welcome to the Tea Party. Guests at the tea parties are invited to write their name on a wooden clothespin and then add a flower to embellish. Photo (and idea): Sharon Kallis

CACV worked with the Means of Production Artists Raw Resource Collective to provide outreach and communication.

Creating the fences from willow and hazel wood grown in the garden. Photo: Sharon Kallis

You Must Tell the Bees. In 2009 a bee hive was installed. Lori Weidenhammer was the artist in residence planting a garden designed to attract bees. Photo: Sharon Kallis

Jody Macdonald serving Herbal Teas - in style. Dragons head, dandelion root, wild bergamot, anyone? Photo: Sharon Kallis

Legion of Flying Monkeys Horn Band at Means of Production Tea Party Photo: Sharon Kallis

Ivy Project

Ivy Weaving workshops by Sharon Kallis

Sharon Kallis worked with an amazing number and diversity of groups on the ivy project.

City Opera Vancouver
CACV supported City Opera Vancouver through hiring them for various projects, including in the downtown eastside.

Margaret Atwood with Charles Barber, Artistic Director of City Opera Vancouver

Here Artistic Director, Charles Barber meets with Margaret Atwood, writer for the upcoming chamber opera, Pauline.

The Emperor of Atlantis, a production of City Opera Vancouver played to many sold out audiences and critical acclaim.

City Opera Vancouver produced Emperor of Atlantis in 2009

Arts in the Downtown Eastside
We worked with the Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts on a number of projects including the Chinatown Night Market, Community Quilt and Fabric Arts Projects.

Quilt Square from the Community Quilt Project run by the Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts for CACV. Photo: Hannah Beckingham

Community Quilt project at the Interurban. Photo: Hannah Beckingham

The Building Communities Society published a discussion paper on The Case for a Local Area Plan for the Downtown Eastside in November 2008.

The essence of the proposal is the profound belief that the successful future of the Downtown Eastside will be a healthy, primarily low-income community that has avoided the two unwholesome alternatives of many other large cities – gentrification or ghettoization. A strong shared vision, plan, and concerted action are how the preferred future can be discovered and achieved.

No one should underestimate the power of a plan generated through community planning to inspire people and institutions to make changes that they can see come together as a whole that is greater than their individual actions for community renewal.

The Board of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver is pleased to announce that we have contracted with Mary Bennett to work as our arts administrator on a part-time basis. Mary’s skills in communication, networking and volunteer support will be well used as CACV works with our members and project partners to continue to build community through the arts in Vancouver and especially the Downtown Eastside.

Mary recently completed eight years as Executive Director of the Canadian Unitarian Council. During her time, the Canadian organization took on all programming previously offered from the US-based association. The staff doubled, and the volunteer base grew exponentially. Mary’s enthusiasm and commitment was key in building capacity and extending the communications and visibility of the organization.

Prior to 2000, Mary worked as an organizational consultant, offering teambuilding and communications skills workshops to adults in the workplace. She has also taught through BCIT and Capilano College and worked as a program director at the Vancouver YWCA.

Mary’s educational degree from UBC was in Art Education and she says that, “During the past decade, my interest in the arts has grown and involvement within the arts community of Vancouver is a priority goal for me.”

Mary is a native Vancouverite and she is very happy to be based full time at home, after eight years of being based in Toronto half the time, and extensive travel across the country.

Mary’s regular work days will be Mondays and Thursdays and she will be representing CACV at various events.

You can contact Mary at marycacv@gmail.com.

Leslie Kemp, President

Up-Date: Building Community Society October 13, 2008

Demonstration Sites: Gerry and Mike H. have met with a Vancouver lawyer with strong philanthropic interests and connections. He has asked BCS to prepare by the end of the month case statements for three potential housing projects by the end of this month. The Aboriginal Mothers’ Centre, First United Church, the Pantages Project and 58 West Hastings are all possibilities being considered. (Gerry Zipursky and Mike Harcourt)

Report to City Council: Separate meetings were held with Mayoral candidates Peter Ladner and Gregor Robertson to present the case for a local area planning program in the DTES. Following consultations among some of the BCS members it was decided that time and strategy suggest that we wait until a new Mayor and Council are installed before formally take the proposal to Council (this will also provide more time to work on it). However it is still intended to bring out a public statement about the importance of a DTES community plan and planning program. Consultations are underway in the community about this too. As well meetings are being held with City Planning. (Larry Beasley, Ray Spaxman, Michael Clague, Michael Mortensen, Milton Wong, Mike Harcourt).

Community Connections: Meetings continue with the Carnegie Community Action Project and the D.T.E.S. Low Income Land Use and Housing Coalition (LILAHC). The purposes are to increase BCS learning about the important work of these two organizations and to provide advice on how the community visioning work of CCAP can expand to include other community groups and interests. (Ray Spaxman and Michael Clague)

A detailed review has been written and sent to the recent report of the Strathcona Revitalization Committee: “Strathcona 2010 – A Clear Vision for our Community.” The SRVC requested comments from BCS and the chair has indicated there will probably be follow-up conversation. (Michael Clague)

Planning is underway for BCS representatives to meet with the board of Building Opportunities with Business (BOB) in December. (Norm Silins, Shirley Chan, Michael Clague)

Tools for Talking: A request has been received from the Carnegie Community Action Project for some BCS representatives to meet with CCAP and the real estate agent for the Infinity Theatre properties in the 300 block Main. Michael Mortensen will use the Tools format to explore various development possibilities. (Ray Spaxman, Gerry Zipursky, Michael Mortensen, Michael Clague)

Model Block – Pantages Project: As this note is being written we are awaiting word as to whether Marc Williams and his partners (owners of the Pantages properties) have accepted the City’s request to pay for a right of first refusal on the properties (which have now been listed on the market). If accepted then the City is putting together a staff team to do further work to keep alive the possibility of the City acquiring the properties and furthering the Pantages Project. There is interest in the Pantages being one of the anchors in a potential strategy known as the “Renaissance of Hastings Street.” The Pantages project would include non-market housing and possibly market rental and entry-level ownership housing together with a restored theatre (see attachment for drawings by dysarchitecture). Joe Way’s model block software can serve as a good discussion tool around how the Pantages Project could be configured into a rehabilitated/developed 100 block East Hastings. (Gerry Zipursky, Michael Clague, Joe Wai)

Other Project Status Reports

Aboriginal Mothers’ Centre: With Gerry’s assistance a new board and a new management structure are in place and the AMC is gearing up for fund-raising for a construction start with Builders Without Borders in early 2009. (Gerry Zipursky)

First United Church: With Robert Brown and Heather Tremain of “Rethinking Building Inc” as the project consultants architect Walter Francl has produced the first set of plans for the redevelopment of the church on its present site. An environmental assessment report estimates the cost of remediation work on the parking lot to the south of the church to be more than $700,000. However, as the offer on the property is still in place, preliminary design work has also been done for the development of this site should there be a break-through on negotiations with the owner. Robert Brown and Tim Pringle are meeting to prepare an MOU regarding the contribution that BCS can bring to this project (First United is seen as another one of the Hastings street anchors with important connections to Chinatown and Strathcona and it will be important that this, like the Pantages will be built in forms that respect the aesthetic, scale and history of the street). (Michael Clague, Tim Pringle)

Vitality Health: The “Soul to Sole” foot care program is on hold, awaiting a shipment of running shoes from China that were held up due to the manufacturer being affected by the Olympics. Research is underway through SFU to conduct a survey regarding health needs among homeless and street-involved people. (Terry Howard, Gerry Zipursky)

Business Community Society:
• Communications: Work is currently underway on a “Manifesto” for BCS that Milton has requested. Attention will return to the communications plan once this is complete (Paul Sullivan).
• BCS Funding: Over the summer funds have been received from the Rix Foundation, the Conconi Foundation, and two significant individual gifts. Three of these are multi-year commitments. A major submission has been made to the Vancouver Foundation. A progress report to our funders will be issue shortly.(Mike Harcourt, Milton Wong, Maggie Geiser and Michael Clague)
• Ismali Community: Discussions are under way with representatives of the Aga Khan Foundation in Canada to discuss collaboration with BCS in refining our conceptual framework and in project development, fund-raising and the provision of skilled volunteers with backgrounds in community economic and social development. (Milton Wong, Michael Clague)
• BCS office: Discussions are underway with for BCS to have office space within the new UBC Learning Exchange at Keefer and Main Streets. There would one office with some availability to display work plans etc) and access to meeting space in the facility. This office is apart from the continuing efforts of BCS for the City to establish a community planning information office. (Joe Wai, Maggie, Michael Clague, Gerry Zipursky, Mike Harcourt).
• BCS Work Plan: The time is due for members of BCS to invest two hours in a planning workshop to set out our tasks, the deadlines, and those responsible for the next 4 months (to January 31, 2009). Maggie Geiser will be in touch to locate that miracle date and time when we all can gather (likely it would be an evening session from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm). (Michael Clague, Gerry Zipursky and Maggie Geiser – with input from other members such as Ray Spaxman who quite rightly suggests we need it).
• BCS Business Plan: As part of the 4 month work plan we will be committing time to the development of a business plan. Ken Scott, Partner, and Kent Chawrun, C.A. with KPMG have generously offered to be advisors. (Milton Wong, Gerry Zipursky, Michael Clague).

For more information: Michael Clague (224-0604), Gerry Zipursky (809-5111), Maggie Geiser (619-5050).

Please note: Maggie Geiser is setting up an electronic calendar so she can post our various meetings on-line.

With funding from Westbank, the developer of the Woodward’s project, and the City of Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Department, 36 local residents and artists worked with an experienced public art educator to design a mural on the hoarding for this mega housing and commercial development.

The participants ranged from those with little or no arts experience to artists who had not been practicing due to health and other issues. Most were just surviving a marginalized existence either on the streets or in transient housing.

Professional development was a component of the project. Workshops were offered with established muralist, Richard Tetrault, who presented slide shows of past projects and offered support to artists throughout the process of creating the mural. Emerging artist, Guinevere Pencarrick, also offered a workshop on the effective use of colour.

Click here to see the mural: www.cacv.ca/pages/mural.html