Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

Terms of reference

Policy advice

The committee:

• Provides input to City Council and staff about issues of concern
• Considers any matters which may be referred to the committee by Council or staff
• May take positions on policy initiatives from other levels of government within the mandate of the committee
• Advises Council and staff on all civic programs that relate to arts and culture, and ensures that arts and culture is appropriately represented in City plans and policy initiatives; and
• Advises Council and staff on Culture|Shift, the City’s culture plan for 2020–2029, as it is implemented and updated.

Collaboration

The committee:

• Works co-operatively with other agencies whose activities affect constituent communities, including initiating and developing relevant projects
• Acts as a resource for staff doing public involvement processes and civic events

Awareness and outreach

The committee:

• Exchanges information with the constituent communities and the general public about relevant programs and issues of interest
• Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities

Planning and reporting

The committee:

• Produces an annual work plan with specific objectives by no later than April of each year, in consultation with Council and staff liaisons, for distribution to Council and civic departments for information
• Presents accomplishments and progress to date at the annual Council of Councils event; and
• Submits an annual report to Council describing its accomplishments for the year, including reference to each objective set out in the work plan and any arising issues to which the committee has responded

Meeting frequency

The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee holds six regular meetings per year, in addition to regular working sessions, generally scheduled during intervening months throughout the year.

Time commitment

Committee meetings will last up to 2½ hours. A minimum of one to 2 additional hours a month is spent on email and other correspondence, meetings, networking, and promotion. Preparation time for all meetings is required.

Attendance requirement

A member who is absent from more than two consecutive formal meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned.

Membership

• Tom Charity
• Paige Frewer
• Am Johal
• Melissa Lee
• James Long
• Henry Heng Lu (Public Art Committee Representative)
• Ash Misra
• Brian Postalian
• Geoff Robins
• Paul Sihota (Civic Theatres Board Representative)
• Melissa Tsang
• Mauro Vescera
• Jessica Wadsworth
• 2 vacancies

Terms end November 6, 2022.

Liaisons

• Council Liaison: Councillor Pete Fry
• Council Liaison: Councillor Melissa De Genova
• Park Board Liaison: Commissioner John Irwin 
• Staff Liaison: Branislav Henselmann, Managing Director, Cultural Services
• Staff Liaison: Navida Nuraney, Assistant Director, Cultural Services
• Staff Liaison: Metha Brown, Social Planner, Cultural Services

Terms and Membership Composition

Persons appointed to an advisory body shall meet the following essential criteria:

Not be employed by the City of Vancouver;
Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues in Vancouver; and
Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body.

Composition:

15 members (8 is quorum), with thirteen appointed from the community and two appointed, one from each of:

Public Art Committee
Civic Theatres Board

2 non-voting Council liaisons
1 non-voting staff liaison
The appointment of civic members to each advisory committee shall meet the composition objectives set out in the Diversity on Advisory Bodies policy.

Length of term:

Committee members are appointed until November 6, 2022.
No member of the public shall serve for more than four consecutive years on the same advisory body. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year out of office.

In addition to the regular meetings listed here, the Committee also meets several times per year for informal working sessions. Please contact the Meeting Coordinator for more information.

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

2022 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2021 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2020 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2019 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2018 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2017 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2016 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2015 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2014 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2013 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2012 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2021 - 2022 Work Plan

The 2021-2022 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives.

• View the work plan PDF file (64 kb)

2019-2020 in Review

An overview of the committee's accomplishments in 2019-2020, along with future goals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no Council of Councils event was held.

• View the poster

2017 - 2018 Work Plan

The 2017-2018 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives.

• View the work plan PDF file (75 kb)

2017 in Review

An overview of the committee's 2017 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on October 12, 2017.

• View the poster PDF file

2016 in Review

An overview of the committee's 2016 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on November 9, 2016.

• View the poster PDF file (295 kb)

2012-2014 Term in Review

An overview of the committee's closing term accomplishments and recommendations for continuation of the work was presented at the Council of Council's December 2014.

• View the committee's presentation PDF file (149 kb)

Documents

• Council Presentation 28 February 2012 PDF file
• Report to Council 6 February 2012 PDF file
• Letter to Mayor and Council April 22, 2022 PDF file