Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

Mandate and scope 

• Advises Council and staff on all civic programs that relate to arts and culture, and ensures that arts and culture are appropriately represented in City plans and policy initiatives
• Advises Council and staff on Culture|Shift, the City's culture plan for 2020–2029, as it is implemented and updated
• Works collaboratively with counterparts from other civic agencies to identify opportunities for joint action on issues of mutual interest
• Works co-operatively with external agencies and groups whose activities affect constituent communities
• Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities

Meeting and administrative procedures

• The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee holds six regular meetings per year, in addition to working sessions generally scheduled during intervening months throughout the year.
• Type A Advisory Committees may, at their discretion, establish sub-committees focused on relevant topics of interest, non-members may participate in sub-committees and attend regular meetings if invited.
• A member who is absent from more than two consecutive regular meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned.

Remuneration

• Type A Advisory Committee members and alternate members are eligible to receive reimbursement for certain meeting-related expenses.
• Non-member subcommittee participants are not eligible to receive reimbursement.
• A light meal will be provided to Type A Advisory Committee members attending in-person regular meetings held over lunch or dinner hours.

Eligibility 

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee 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 related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver
• Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver
• Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities, and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body
• Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity

Term limit

Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve for more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

Terms of Reference

• Arts and Culture Advisory Committee Full Terms of Reference 

Membership

Appointment ends November 1, 2026

• Anna Gibson (Public Art Committee Liaison)

Appointment ends November 1, 2026

• Diane Brown (Vancouver Civic Theatres Board Liaison)

Appointments end November 1, 2026

• Noor Abouchehade
• Joshua Beamish
• Mark Busse
• Hannah Cho
• Brent Constantine
• Ashley Daniel Foot
• Henry Lu
• Brian McBay
• Shora Parvaresh
• Kaile Shilling

Liaisons

Council Liaisons:

• Councillor Pete Fry
• Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung

Staff Liaison:

• Metha Brown, Social Planner III, Arts, Culture, and Community Service

Vancouver Public Library Liaison:

• Jorge Amigo, Head of Cultural Programming

Vancouver School Board Liaison:

• Trustee Lois Chan-Pedley

Vancouver Park Board Liaison:

• Commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky

Terms and Membership Composition

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee 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:

• Up to 12 members (quorum is a majority of appointed members), with ten appointed from the community and two appointed, one from each of:
  • Public Art Committee
  • Civic Theatres Board
• Up to 2 non-voting Council liaisons
• Up to 2 non-voting staff liaisons
• 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:

• Term ends immediately before the first Monday after November 1 in the year of a general local election. However, no regular meeting shall be held between the last day of the nomination period and general voting day.
• Members are appointed until November 1, 2026, at which point appointments are automatically renewable to the end of the term, and recruitment shall be conducted to fill any vacancies arising.
• Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve in more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

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.

2025 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

2024 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

2023 meetings, agendas, and minutes

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

2023 - 2026 Work Plan

• View the work plan

2021-2022 in Review

An overview of the committee's accomplishments in 2021-2022, along with future goals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no Council of Councils event was held.

• View the Annual Report

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 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