Annual Report Still from Infinitude by Scott Portingale, Photo Supplied
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2015 annual report Still from Infinitude by Scott Portingale, photo supplied Alberta Cantonese Opera Festival presents War Drum in Golden Mountain, photo supplied “CONFUSEMENT” by Nina Haggerty artist Scott Berry, Michalene Giesbrecht, Sandra Olarte, and Stephanie Gruson in photo by Jenna Turner Firefly Theatre & Circus’ “The Playground”, photo by Studio E Photography 2015 annual report The Edmonton Arts Council The Edmonton Arts Council is a not-for-profit society and charitable organization that supports and promotes the arts community in Edmonton. The EAC works to increase the profile and involvement of arts and culture in all aspects of our community life through activities that: Invest Represent Build Create in Edmonton Edmonton’s arts partnerships and awareness of festivals, arts community to initiate projects the quality, organizations government and that strengthen variety, and and individual other agencies our community. value of artistic artists through and provide work produced municipal, expert advice on in Edmonton. corporate, and issues that affect private funding. the arts. 1 "Navigating Boundaries” by Kelsey Stephenson and Jes McCoy Reconciliation in Solidarity Edmonton (RISE) Community Heart Garden at Harcourt House, photo by Kelsey Stephenson installed at City Hall, photo by Gibby Davis Angela Gladue, Lana Whiskeyjack and Logan Alexis 2 Drummers at Channeling Connections, photo by Brad Crowfoot Katherine Kerr and Edmonton Community Foundation’s Alex Draper, Annette Aslund and Jenna Turner, photo by Brad Crowfoot photo by Doyle C. Marko/DCM Photography Board of Directors Edmonton Arts Council staff as of June 2015 as of December 31, 2015 Executive Committee Executive Director Public Art TIX on the Square Anne Ferguson Switzer, Chair Paul Moulton Andrea Bowes Kaitlyn Grant Jeff Haslam, Vice Chair Robert Harpin Stephanie Hample Mary Phillips-Rickey, Secretary-Treasurer Operations Katherine Kerr Lisa McNicol Brian Webb, Past Chair Shirley Combden Kaelyn Saunders Kristina de Guzman Public Art Conservation Amanda Skopik Members-at-large Sally Kim Jenika Sobolewska Judy Stelck Lyall Brenneis Shrina Patel David Turnbull Betty Thomson – City of Edmonton representative Lisa Baroldi / JoAnn Kirkland Grants, Awards Communications Churchill Square – Edmonton Economic Development & Support Programs Annette Aslund Bob Rasko Corporation (EEDC) Representative Mary Jane Kreisel Eva Marie Clarke Ahmed Ali Justina Watt Jenna Turner Glen Erickson Stephen Williams Mike Ford Heather Inglis In recognition Scott Portingale The Edmonton Arts Council would like to thank Paul Moulton, Dennie Hamaluik, Kent Sutherland Dawn Saunders-Dahl and Martin Wasserfall for their contribution to Edmonton Theresa Reichert Arts Council operations in 2015. Will Truchon Murray Utas Christopher White Noel Xavier 3 Message from the Chair What do the arts contribute to the City of Edmonton? Imagination; creativity; inspiration; and, yes, money. What does the Edmonton Arts Council contribute to the arts in Edmonton? Enthusiasm; experience; focus; and, yes, money. Councillor Scott McKeen, Paul Moulton, Anne Ferguson Switzer, and Councillor Ben Henderson, photo by Girl Named Shirl Photography As the granting arm for the City of Edmonton, the The past year for the Edmonton Arts Council has been a Edmonton Arts Council sets, screens and distributes funds mixture of challenges and excitement. Despite difficult to artists and organizations. But it is so much more. It is an economic times, City Council, our members, and the organization that tries to look forward, not backward; that wider Edmonton community have been tremendously looks at present challenges and opportunities for the arts supportive of our arts scene, and justifiably proud of all our community; and that leads as well as follows. artists’ accomplishments. We can all be so proud of the diverse and active arts scene Each year the Edmonton Arts Council Board takes a fresh in Edmonton. Theatre, music, film, visual arts, dance, and look at its priorities and what the focus should be for the public art all thrive here both in professional and amateur ongoing year. In 2015 we continued the previous focus organizations. Who hasn’t been touched by the poetry of on cultural diversity and work to implement the Audit of our poet laureate Pierrette Requier, or read a book by one the Edmonton Arts Council’s current practices and offerings of our local authors, or seen a play at the Varscona theatre, in relation to the Aboriginal arts community. Both these attended an amateur choir event, or attended Symphony items are on our daily focus list to ensure that not only Under the Sky? Our artists fan out across the globe, are the policies helpful, but the implementation is always sharing their skills and talents, and advancing Edmonton’s at the forefront. reputation as a hotbed of creativity. 4 Anne Ferguson Switzer Karimah at Edmonton Arts Council’s 20th anniversary summer party, photo by Jenna Turner Channeling Connections workshop, photo by Brad Crowfoot Some of the more exciting events over the past year The work of the Edmonton Arts Council would not be included the May Channeling Connections Symposium, possible without the dedication of the staff, most of which brought together Indigenous artists, arts whom have other connections to the arts community, administrators, and funders from the prairie provinces and whose enthusiasm takes them out amongst the and Northwest Territories. We hope the symposium greater arts community as well. In addition, we have opened dialogue that will continue. The unveiling of tremendous dedication amongst the board members the Alex Janvier mosaic, to be installed at Rogers Place, who put in many hours ensuring things go as well as is but one example of major arts installations that the city possible for our arts community. Finally, it is important will enjoy with pride. The Indigenous Art Park progress to thank all of the jury and selection committee members continues and will eventually provide an outdoor exhibit who also put in amazing amounts of time and work space for some extraordinary pieces of art. giving serious review and consideration to our various grants applications and public art projects. In addition, in 2015 the Arts Council added an ambitious focus on reviewing and re-examining our granting This year we are sad to say goodbye to Paul Moulton, who structures. We need to continue to ensure that the grants is retiring from the EAC. When Paul stepped up to the plate structure as it now stands works for our artists and their as our Executive Director he brought a fresh outlook to the organizations, and does not raise any unnecessary barriers organization, and true insight and dedication to our goals. to access. Paul’s fresh thinking and championing of our projects have been invaluable. We look forward to working with our next executive director in 2016, and for years to come. 5 Message from the Executive Director Research tells us that 75% of the general population say the arts are important to them and play a regular part in their daily lives; while only 34% say they have any contact with a professional arts organization, and only 8% say that they engage their interest through a professionally managed arts organization. Paul Moulton, photo by Brad Crowfoot Although some might see the enormous gap between complex adaptive systems. Rather than being only the first and last group as a problem, I am convinced providers of cultural activities, the organizations move that, in fact, it provides great opportunity. It is the effort to also become enablers of creative expression. to bridge this gap that has caused many arts funders and arts organizations across North America to look at This work continued in 2015 with intense onsite coaching new and adaptive solutions that provide greater ways sessions for 11 organizations from the original cohort. to engage the community. The final stages will conclude in the summer of 2016 with three organizations going through what EmcArts In 2014 the Edmonton Arts Council began to address terms a ‘deep dive’ analysis to find and test innovative and the issue of community engagement by implementing adaptive solutions. the New Pathways Program of Adaptive Change to organizations in Edmonton. With additional support from 2015 marked the end of my tenure as Executive Director at the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Edmonton the EAC, and although I had only served for 1,000 days in Community Foundation we contracted the services of this role, I am convinced that the New Pathways Program EmcArts to deliver a series of workshops for 21 Edmonton has set a positive new course for the arts in Edmonton. I area arts organizations. The work engages artistic am extremely proud that we were able to begin this work leaders, administrators and board leadership, assisting and am most grateful to the Board and Staff at the EAC for organizations to structure for resilience and introduce their willingness to embrace this change. I also appreciate 6 Paul Moulton the support of the aforementioned funding partners. I My time at the EAC has been extremely rewarding and reserve my greatest thanks for the arts organizations who has truly been a pinnacle position to end my career. I owe took a ‘leap of faith’ in joining the first cohort. I know that a great deal to my predecessors in the position and wish they have experienced significant growth and change to thank our partners at the City of Edmonton (both through their learning, and their focus on community administration and Council) for their ongoing faith in engagement continues to become ever stronger. our work. The Edmonton Arts Council has also been hard at work in I would also like to again thank the Board and Staff at the ensuring that it engages more broadly with community. EAC for their support of my efforts and their belief in the In addition to the New Pathways Program the EAC has strategies I proposed.