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1. Ottawa
Arts Court Foundation – 2012 Funding |
COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That Ottawa Arts Court Foundation be granted 60
days to explore a merger with the Council for the Arts in Ottawa, and that
Cultural Services assess the viability of the merger and report back at the end
of August 2012 on the results; and
2.
That the Ottawa Arts
Court Foundation receive three final funding installments of $15,252 on May 24,
June 24 and July 24, 2012 to be used to maintain summer theatre operations
serving the arts community and to sustain the organization.
RecommandationS DU
Comité
1. approuve d’accorder à la
Fondation de la Cour des Arts d’Ottawa 60 jours pour évaluer la possibilité
d’une fusion avec le Conseil des arts d’Ottawa (CAO), ainsi que l’évaluation
par les Services de la culture de la viabilité d'une telle fusion et la présentation
d’un rapport sur ses conclusions à la fin août 2012; et
2.
approuve trois derniers versements de subvention de 15 252 $ à
la Fondation de la Cour des Arts d’Ottawa, le 24 mai, le 24 juin et le 24
juillet 2012 respectivement, et ce, aux fins du maintien de l’exploitation du
théâtre qui dessert la communauté artistique et à soutenir l’organisation
1.
Deputy City Manager, City Operations’ report dated 17 May 2012 (ACS2012-COS-PRC-0008).
2.
Extract of Draft Minutes, Community and Protective
Services Committee meeting of 17 May 2012.
(613) 580-2424 x24295, Dan.Chenier@Ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
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OBJET :
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fondation de la cour des
arts d’Ottawa – financement de 2012 |
1. That the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation be granted 60
days to explore a merger with the Council for the Arts in Ottawa, and that
Cultural Services assess the viability of the merger and report back at the
end of August 2012 on the results; and
2.
That the Ottawa
Arts Court Foundation receive three final funding installments of $15,252 on May
24, June 24 and July 24, 2012 to be used to maintain summer theatre operations
serving the arts community and to sustain the organization.
1. d’approuver d’accorder à
la Fondation de la Cour des Arts d’Ottawa 60 jours pour évaluer la possibilité
d’une fusion avec le Conseil des arts d’Ottawa (CAO), ainsi que l’évaluation
par les Services de la culture de la viabilité d'une telle fusion et la
présentation d’un rapport sur ses conclusions à la fin août 2012; et
2. d’approuver trois derniers
versements de subvention de 15 252 $ à la Fondation de la Cour des
Arts d’Ottawa, le 24 mai, le 24 juin et le 24 juillet 2012 respectivement, et
ce, aux fins du maintien de l’exploitation du théâtre qui dessert la
communauté artistique et à soutenir l’organisation
In December, 2011, due to
ongoing financial difficulties, the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation (OACF)
approached the City for assistance.
Council approved maintenance of
the 2011 cultural funding allocation of $183,023 plus a 2% inflationary
increase for 2012, conditional on the organization resolving its financial
difficulties, reducing its deficit and reaching fundraising targets: Ref.
ACS2011-COS-PRC-0013. To date, the OACF has received of $91,511 for the 2012
fiscal year.
The purpose of this report is to inform Council that the OACF has not
been able to meet the funding conditions outlined in the Arts Service
Agreement. The OACF is being given 60 days to explore a merger with the
Council for the Arts in Ottawa and report back to the City on the results.
The City-owned Arts Court
facility currently houses 25 independent professional not-for-profit arts organizations,
two of which are the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation (OACF) and the
Council for the Arts in Ottawa (CAO).
The OACF manages the 130-seat black box
theatre, library and court room spaces within the Arts Court facility. The City
is the landlord and the City’s Cultural Services Branch operates the facility,
provides day to day building management, public reception and tenant services.
The CAO is an umbrella service organization
representing a membership of local artists and arts organizations providing
networking information, annual awards, promotional and marketing opportunities
as well as arts advocacy and professional development workshops.
Both organizations are funded through the
City’s Arts Service Agreement program and are required to provide yearly
reports on their operations, programs and services. Currently, consideration
is being given to a possible merger of the two organizations. A thorough
review of areas such as enhanced roles and services, mandates, staffing and
funding sources will have to be researched, negotiated and determined between
the potentially merging parties. Both organizations will also need to follow
their respective by-laws in notifying their voting members of any recommended
changes.
In consideration of the time needed to undertake this review, it is
recommended that the OACF be allowed 60 days to investigate possible
restructuring options to merge with the CAO, and report back to the City’s
Cultural Services Branch by July 31st 2012.
OACF would continue to manage the Arts Court Theatre until
the end of August 2012. It is recommended that any funds approved in this report be provided specifically
to cover theatre operational costs and to sustain operations during the
restructuring process.
The OACF has already been provided with 2012
funding of $91,511.
Should the OACF
and CAO successfully merge, any newly structured organization will need to
submit a proposal and staff will return to Committee and Council with a
recommended level of funding for the remainder of the fiscal year 2012.
N/A
Consultations between Legal
Services, Cultural Services, the OACF, and the CAO will be required once
recommendations are approved by Council.
N/A
There are no legal impediments to approving the recommendations in this report.
The
risks have been identified and explained in the report and are being managed by
the appropriate staff.
There are no financial implications associated
with the approval of the recommendations in this report.
N/A
N/A
N/A
The Ottawa
Art Gallery and Arts Court Redevelopment Project is identified as a Corporate
Strategic Priority (HC4) as per the Term of Council Priorities approved by
Council at its meeting of July 13, 2011.
This is a City-building project led by the City’s Real Estate
Partnership Development Office and Cultural Services. The City has the
necessary expertise and has engaged architects and theatre consultants to work
with key arts partners on the preliminary design options. Six arts
partners remain closely involved with the City on this project.
N/A
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services,
Cultural Services Branch will implement the steps required in the
restructuring process including the possible merger, in consultation with
Legal Services, the OACF and CAO.
Ottawa Arts Court Foundation – 2012 Funding
FONDATION DE LA COUR DES ARTS D’OTTAWA –
FINANCEMENT DE 2012
ACS2012-COS-PRC-0008 City
Wide / À l’Échelle de la ville
REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation be granted 60
days to explore a merger with the Council for the Arts in Ottawa, and that
Cultural Services assess the viability of the merger and report back at the end
of August 2012 on the results; and
2. That
the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation receive three final funding installments of
$15,252 on May 24, June 24 and July 24, 2012 to be used exclusively to maintain
summer theatre operations serving the arts community and to sustain the
organization.
Chair Taylor gave a brief summary of the staff report and stated that
Dan Chenier, General Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services was
present to answer any questions if necessary.
The
Committee heard from the following delegations:
1.
Susan
Annis, Chair, Ottawa Arts Court Foundation, stated that the idea of merging the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation and
the Council for the Arts in Ottawa was not a new one and they are looking
forward to working with the Council towards a possible working solution to
their present dilemma.
2.
Peter
Honeywell, Executive Director, Council for the Arts in Ottawa, commented that his Board had met and
agreed to the 60 day review period. He
will take the lead on behalf of the Council and is looking forward to working
with the Foundation without putting the Council in financial risk or debt.
Following the presentation and delegations
staff responded to members’ questions.
The report recommendation was then put to
Committee and CARRIED, as presented.