Candidate’s Info:
Adriano Ciotoli
Ward 4
519.982.5212
info@adrianociotoli.com
www.adrianociotoli.com
1. Implementing the MCMP:
The Municipal Cultural Master Plan represents a strong commitment by the City to significantly support the arts in a variety of ways that will help to harness the economic and creative potential of the entire arts community, however, there has not yet been a firm commitment in terms of schedule or budget to realize any of the new proposed initiatives in the MCMP. Of the 15 as-yet-unrealized recommendations in the MCMP, which ones would you prioritize and complement with the necessary financial support and political commitment in order to successfully implement them?
I spoke recently with the head of one of the arts organizations in Windsor. The individual stated that one of the major stumbling blocks for retaining and attracting artists to stay in Windsor was the lack of live-work facilities. It was also mentioned that they have even had to tell artists from across the province, who are looking at our city as a potential home to ply their trade, that there were none of these spaces available.
My belief is that in order for these spaces to be successful, they need to be clustered by creating an “arts district”. On a recent drive downtown, I spotted multiple homes/buildings for sale on Aylmer in the shadow of Caesars Windsor. By purchasing these spaces, which are listed in the $50,000 range, and using them as live-work spaces for artists to rent at a low cost, you can essentially create that cluster and lay the foundation for an “arts district” to be formed. By implementing an “Arts & Culture Investment Fund” (ACIF) fee, (which I discuss further in question two), the costs of purchasing, maintaining and developing these live-work spaces can be covered with minimal tax dollars spent.
Recommendation #11 – Public Art Policy
A good example of the lack of interest or disconnect of our current administration for public art is the kilometre markers that were placed along the riverfront trail recently. They are just backlit plastic signs on top of a concrete stand. What could have been done is expand the Odette Sculpture Garden throughout the trail and create a contest to allow local artists to create designs for the markers. Rather than placing Astroturf along Dougall Avenue, artists could have been consulted to turn this gateway into our city into an “arts corridor”, a celebration of our arts, culture and heritage. The City of Toronto held a public art contest where the work of artist, Luis Jacob, was “chosen to line the interior walls of the underpass at Dufferin and Queen Streets. The city held a public art contest to revamp the space, set to be completed by summer 2011, and Mr. Jacob won by a unanimous vote of the selection committee.” (Globe and Mail, July 16, 2010). Imagine the possibilities in our own city if we engaged our arts community in public projects.
By implementing a public arts policy, we can easily convert certain areas of our city into destinations. We could convert the overpass at Dougall and E.C. Row and the underpass at Drouillard and Wyandotte St. E. into works of art. A perfect example of making art out of overpasses can be found in the Netherlands here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23837798@N04/4546579854/
The City of Richmond, B.C. has a public arts policy in place that encourages public and private sector partnerships. Their belief is that by “placing artwork in our everyday environment, the Public Art Program sparks community participation in the building of our public spaces; offers public access to ideas generated by contemporary art; encourages citizens to take pride in public cultural expression; and creates a forum to address relevant themes and issues.” (City of Richmond, B.C., http://www.richmond.ca/culture/publicart/program.htm)
With all the history Windsor holds, the lack of public art is also concerning. Any great city you visit promotes their past and future through public art. Let’s work to enhance our interior and exterior public places and spaces by engaging our arts community.
Recommendations #6 – Adequate Maintenance of the Odette Sculpture Park
The state of disrepair that many of the sculptures have fallen into is indicative to the treatment given to the arts community as a whole by this current administration.
Recommendation #13 – Capacity Building
This recommendation, especially the grant writing and audience development, are integral to helping our arts and culture organizations and our artists sustain themselves.
2. Arts Infrastructure:
Given the substantial economic, cultural, and social successes realized by other North America cities through the development of exceptional arts facilities, given the enthusiasm for multiple arts organizations in the region to work together and the proven track record of such facilities to transform the urban landscape, and given the recently adopted Municipal Cultural Master Plan’s directive to provide capacity-building support for arts organizations, how will you support our region’s infrastructural needs for multi-use, multi-organization arts and culture facilities such as the Capitol Theatre and Armouries-Palace?
Adriano Ciotoli: If provided the opportunity to sit on council, I would propose an “Arts & Culture Investment Fund” (ACIF) fee on events to raise funds to maintain and support the arts and culture in Windsor. A $0.50 fee to be added to tickets of any art or cultural event (movies at all theatres within Windsor, shows at the Capitol Theatre, shows at Korda Productions, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Chrysler Theatre, Caesars Colosseum, Artcite, Windsor International Film Festival, Media City, Art Gallery of Windsor, etc.). A set percentage fee would also be added on to rentals of the Festival Plaza and Charles Clark Square.
The revenue collected from the fee would then go into a fund to invest in, promote and sustain arts and culture in Windsor as well as purchase public art for the downtown core.
The ACIF would also provide for:
- Local arts and culture groups to apply for grants to pay for expansion or renovations to their facilities;
- The organization of free workshops for artists and organizations;
- Funding and purchasing of live-work spaces in core areas of Windsor.
Over just one year, if the city receives funds from one million tickets to movies, art shows, theatre performances, etc., that alone would raise $500,000 to solely be spent on arts and culture in our community.
While the funds are being collected, the City of Windsor could provide a loan to the “cultural trust” being proposed by the groups wanting to transform the armouries into a cultural hub. The loan could then be repaid by the trust, with interest, and not cost taxpayers a dollar.
3. Economy and the Arts:
Artists and arts organizations across the region bring in millions of dollars every year in revenue through grants, sales, private investment, and donations, infusing additional millions of dollars back into the local economy. Over the last twenty years, across the province, arts and culture industries grew 14% more than the rest of the economy. As the arts are a long-proven driver of economic development in the city and beyond, what will you do to ensure that the arts and culture community can bring even more investment, talent, and dollars to the region?
Adriano Ciotoli: The truth of the matter is that stability and security often lead to investment. Without the support of the municipality in building and maintaining a strong foundation, arts and culture in this city will not be able to succeed and bring forward the economic potential that it has.
A perfect example of the economic force arts and culture can have is in the town of Brattleboro, Vermont. It has a population of only 12,000 but is very well known for its vibrant art and culture community. A study completed in 2007 titled “Economic Impact of the Non-profit Arts Sector of Greater Brattleboro” showed just how important arts and culture was to their economy. In 2005, non-profit arts and culture organizations in Brattleboro generated over $11 million in economic activity in the community. When compared to the towns entire budget of $13 million, that is pretty significant.
The study also mentioned that “the total direct and indirect 2005 economic impact of the non-profit arts and culture Industry in Greater Brattleboro accounted for over $6,180,000 in resident household income employment and created 200 full-time equivalent jobs.”
It doesn’t end there. According to the study, “The story of the arts in Brattleboro, however, is greater than the impact of non-profits. There is also an entire ‘for profit’ (or commercial) sector that includes self-employed artists and artisans living and working in the area and marketing locally, nationally, and globally.”
This is the type of impact spending on arts and culture can have in Windsor. We have a wealth of talent in our city. They just need the opportunity and the support to be able to showcase themselves and the region to others.
Implementing my proposed ACIF fee would go long way in building a strong foundation for arts and culture in Windsor to grow on. It would also show artists not just from Windsor, but elsewhere as well, that our city is committed to nurturing the arts and help convince them to call Windsor their home.
4. Arts and Culture Funding:
Strong financial investment in arts and culture has direct and tangible economic and social returns, as measured by economists such as Richard Florida, Statistics Canada, and the Conference Board of Canada, and as demonstrated in cities around the world. This investment engages residents and draws new talent, assists in fostering new businesses, and creates a healthier and more vibrant community. With that in mind,how much of the municipal budget would you allocate to arts and culture, and how would you justify that spending to your constituents?
5. Your vision for our Region’s Arts and Culture:
Please briefly describe your vision for the near, medium, and long-term future for arts and culture in Windsor and/or Essex County.
My proposed ACIF fee mentioned above could also help create a festival event such as Grand Rapids’ “Art Prize”. According to the events website:
“Within three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, any space you own – gallery, storefront, restaurant, lobby, warehouse, park, yard – can be a venue. Venues register and find artists they’d like to match with. If you manage a venue, your exhibition is in your hands.”
This year, ArtPrize awarded $449,000US to the top ten artists voted on by the general public. While it is still too early for numbers in 2010, last year’s ArtPrize drew over 1200 artists and over 334,000 votes were cast with thousands of visitors flocking to downtown Grand Rapids. It wasn’t just event organizers that took part in planning this event, the municipality had a hand as well. In 2009, an installation of a giant table with two chairs went up over top a municipal bridge and another with a giant sea monster in the Grand River itself. Even the Grand Rapids Fire Department has a helping hand on to ensure everything is safe for the duration of the event.
It is these types of collaborations between arts groups, event organizers and the municipality that need to be improved here in our own community.
I am a strong supporter of arts, culture and heritage in our community. It is an integral component of any community and it is what makes where you live a vibrant, unique and wonderful place to live. It adds to the experience of living in Windsor. We are lucky enough to have an amazing array of artists, theatre groups, festivals, musicians and cultural groups and need to ensure they are provided with the tools to survive and thrive. We need to nourish and nurture our own culture and our own artists. At the end of the day we will be a better city because of it.
