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Home | Resources > Newsletter | Synergy - September 26, 2003
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September 26, 2003 -- Volume 14 Number 15 Synergy, the electronic newsletter
1. Coal Harbour Arts Complex dead Editor: Allison Markin 1. Coal Harbour Arts Complex dead Despite efforts to resurrect long-standing plans for the Coal Harbour Arts Complex, the project has been put to rest. Earlier this month, Vancouver City Council announced that it will sell the site formerly designated for the complex to the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project (VCCEP) for $10.6 million. Councillor Jim Green, quoted in The Vancouver Sun, says all parties involved worked long and hard to try to fit the complex into a waterfront site immediately to the west of an expanded convention centre. "The best way to describe it is that there was a clash of priorities," said Green. The city is going to search for a replacement site for the arts centre in a prominent downtown location, and will receive $100,000 as part of the deal to cover costs associated with finding another site. Green also noted that the city would have had to raise $50 million to build the complex, which left the possibility that the proposed space would sit empty for a number of years while funds were gathered. ayor Larry Campbell, in a press release, said the $10.6 million from the sale will be held in reserve by the city. "This will provide a real catalyst to the arts community's fundraising campaign and bring them closer to realizing their long-held dream of an arts centre," said Campbell. Funds from the sale will be added to an endowment created by Marathon Developments Inc. in 1991, bringing the fundraising total for the complex to $20.7 million. First proposed in 1989, plans for the Coal Harbour Arts Complex include a 1800 seat hall, a 450 seat studio theatre and an outdoor performance plaza.
Earlier this week BC's Ministry of Advanced Education announced that it is seeking expressions of interest from prospective new operators for the station, which broadcasts educational programming. "A new model - working in partnership with the private sector or a combination of both - can help deliver what British Columbians need and want from educational programming well into the future," said Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond in a news release. The station is currently owned by the Open Learning Agency, a government body that is in the midst of being dismantled, and receives both government funding and donations from the public. The new owner would pay for the station's assets and likely receive "transitional funding" for a relaunch. The deadline for submissions is November 24, with selection scheduled to conclude in the spring. Founded in 1981, the Knowledge Network is licensed by the CRTC and employs a staff of 50 as well as a pool of up to 75 freelancers.
Earlier this year the phase one report of Orchestra Canada's "Soundings" project was released, summarizing numerous interviews conducted with musicians, staff, board members and music or artistic directors from 11 orchestras. The interviews focused on the state of and future prospects for Canada's orchestras. The report shows that "there are fundamental issues that are common to many orchestras and which are contributing to the current challenges and volatility in the industry." The report highlights the core issues of governance, artistic development, community relationships and capitalization. Common issues included lack of knowledge about audiences, board recruitment, expectations and training, the role of musicians in governance, and workloads. Phase two of "Soundings" took place this summer at the June conference of Orchestras Canada, and resulted in a document highlighting conference participants' views and suggestions. To read phase one and/or two of "Soundings", visit: http://www.oc.ca/confteaser.htm Abridged from Arts Research Monitor. A recent issue of Maclean's (September 22) included an article examining new ways in which educators can inspire kids to learn. It's no surprise that arts-oriented learning was noted for its ability to inspire children, develop stronger overall skills, and provide new methods of teaching traditional lessons. Rather than write a report on the pioneers, children piece together quilts. When math gets boring, a class is encouraged to sing the timestable. Check out these articles: The arts complex may not be going there, but a major public artwork will. The Vancouver Park Board recently approved the installation of a 3.5 metre high model of a freight shed by artist Liz Magor. The piece is a model of a freight shed that used to sit at the foot of Carrall Street in the 1880s. The original was made out of cedar; the model will be cast in aluminum with a shiny finish, complete with a window and lighthouse lens that will flash at intervals, temporarily illuminating the interior. The piece was funded by Grosvenor, an international property group, for $500,000 to mark the company's 50th anniversary in North America. It will sit in the plaza of Harbour Green Park. This week the "Murmur" project, consisting of stories from the Chinese community, was launched in Vancouver's Chinatown. A technology-based art project, "Murmur" will be available to cell phone users in both Cantonese and English and was created by Terminus 1525, a new online collaborative work space for young artists. The project is supported by the New Media Innovation Centre. Via their cell phones, visitors and passers-by will be able to listen to histories, personal stories and anecdotes about a place while in that place, told by those who live in or are connected to the neighbourhood. Signs placed in sites throughout Chinatown will indicate the presence of a story and a number that can be dialed to access it. The stories last between 30 seconds and two minutes. Visit http://murmurvancouver.ca/ for more information. Abridged from NewsPak, the newsletter of the New Media BC Association. Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell has proclaimed October, 2003 "Arts Club Theatre Month" in the City of Vancouver, in recognition of the Arts Club's 40th anniversary season, which opens, coincidentally, October 1 with Othello. The proclamation reads: "Whereas the Arts Club of Vancouver was first formed as a private club for artists, musicians, and actors and provided space for play readings, films and arts shows as well as a bar and daily lunches; And whereas in 1964 Yvonne Firkins organized a group of volunteers to convert the second floor of the Arts Club, an old gospel hall on Seymour Street, into a 150-seat theatre. The Arts Club Theatre Company was born. And whereas the Arts Club Theatre Company for 40 years has been committed to staging and developing stimulating, quality theatre for the enrichment of the community; And whereas the Arts Club Theatre Company has grown, under the 30-year direction of Bill Millerd, to be one of the largest non-profit year-round theatre companies in Canada, playing to tens of thousands of theatre lovers each year; And whereas October 2003 marks the launch of the Arts Club Theatre Company's 40th Anniversary season; Now, therefore, I Larry Campbell, Mayor of the City of Vancouver, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2003 as Arts Club Theatre Company Month in the City of Vancouver." Visit: www.artsclub.com Thirty years for Vanleena Dance Academy Speaking of anniversaries, congratulations to Vanleena Dance Academy of North Vancouver on their 30th anniversary. Visit www.vanleena.com. Four books have been selected as the finalists for the 2003 City of Vancouver Book Award - three non-fiction works and one volume of poetry. All were products of BC publishers and were chosen by an independent jury. The finalists are:
The City of Vancouver Book Award is a $2000 prize that has been presented annually since 1989 to authors of books in any genre that demonstrate excellence and illuminate Vancouver’s history, unique character or the achievements of its residents. The number of titles submitted this year was the largest in the history of the award. Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell will present the award on October 21. As reported in the last issue of Synergy, CBC Television is looking for families to participate in a documentary series on family dynamics. They're still looking. The series will examine how families change as kids turn into young adults, from the perspective of the kids going through these changes and from the viewpoint of their parents. The shows will be fun and light-hearted, and each one-hour show will feature one family. All types of families are being sought, but each family must have a child or youth between the ages of eight and 16, and they must be in the Vancouver (or Toronto) area. Taping takes place from October to December, and there is no financial remuneration for participants. If you're interested in taking part, please contact: Laurie Long Call for an artist in residence The Vancouver Park Board is looking for applicants for its artist-in-residence program. The program pays artists up to $8000, along with up to $2000 for materials. For 2004, community centres seeking applications are: Killarney, Sunset, Trout Lake and West Point Grey. The next information session is October 15, 6pm to 7pm, at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Visit www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/ for more info. October 1 is International Music Day!
-from a 1991 feasibility study on the development of the Coal Harbour Arts Comments? Send a message to: Copyright © Alliance for Arts and Culture, 2003 |
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