Executive Summary:

N/A

Background:

The City of Windsor’s Public Art Policy was approved by City Council in November 7, 2005 by CR679/2005. The Policy supports the installation of Public Art in Public Spaces through the following sections:

2.2 Temporary Art in Public Places

An increased emphasis will be given to promoting temporary public art works, which enliven our environment, raise awareness and engender debate about Public art. The proposed Public Art Advisory Committee, formed to implement aspects of this Policy, will have a role in actively promoting and facilitating temporary public art works. A list of possible sites where artists could locate public art works will be developed, and a process established for artists seeking to create a temporary exhibition/art work. There may be opportunities for promoting temporary public art works, possibly with a focus on regular temporary exhibitions.

2.3 Community Art in Public Places

Community public art aims to assist communities towards self celebration and self definition, through the expression of a sense of identity and the creation of community consciousness. It encourages active participation from community members while also developing audiences as in the case of the international art installation CarTunes on Parade. Other forms of community art expression may also include murals created by students around construction projects (e.g. 400 City Hall square). City Council will provide opportunities to continue to work with the community to support and develop community-based quality arts programmes and activities, including community-based public art.

Discussion:

The Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW) is a non-profit art gallery focused on presenting the visual arts of Canada. The Gallery was formed on October 1, 1943 and incorporated on June 8, 1944 with the mandate of serving the southwestern Ontario region and the international border community of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan, USA. In the intervening years, it has become a cultural pillar situated in a premium and purpose-built downtown riverfront locations overlooking the Detroit River and downtown skylines. The AGW has a long and well respected position within the cultural community.

On September 11, 2020 the Art Gallery of Windsor submitted a request (Appendix A). The AGW is interested in enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the downtown by installing temporary reproductions of paintings in their collection for audiences to enjoy.