Our mission is to support arts and culture in Barrie by Analyzing cultural options and best practices, Advocating on behalf of the arts community, and Advising the City of Barrie’s Department of Culture on matters related to arts and culture.
Name
The arts advisory group to the Department of Culture of the City of Barrie shall be known as the Barrie Arts Advisory Committee (BAAC).
Mission
“The people are the city,” proclaims the city motto. People are defined by their culture. Art is the expression of that culture. From campfire songs to national anthems, from snowmen to ice sculptures, from face painting to oil on canvas, from the mosh pit to Swan Lake, from schoolyard rhymes to contemporary poetry, from street performance to live theatre … art is who we are.
The arts and culture industry is larger than agriculture, and employs more people than one million Canadians. Together with the beauty of our city’s natural surroundings, art represents the quality of life and quality of living that attracts families, professionals and businesses to Barrie. We believe in the development of positive partnerships amongst the city, its administration and staff, its artists, and the community. These partnerships are essential to the successful growth and development of Barrie and its cultural sector.
Our mission is to support arts and culture in Barrie by Analyzing cultural options and best practices, Advocating on behalf of the arts community, and Advising the City of Barrie’s Department of Culture on matters related to arts and culture.
Terms of Reference
Analyze: research best practices in cultural development and support in all jurisdictions, from municipal to international.
Advocacy: advocate on behalf of the arts communities; at the municipal level the group recommends to the Department of Culture how to best support the arts locally.
Advise: on artistic infrastructure, arts policies, funding, support, and arts programmes.
Code of Ethics
To engender an atmosphere of trust and high level of open communication, BAAC meetings shall be conducted with integrity and the highest regard for all involved. Members will show respect for all opinions and ideas brought forward, and all discussions shall be non-confrontational and positive. Members shall treat each other with respect and understanding at all times.
Governing Documents
The BAAC is an advisory body and shall advise the Department of Culture of the City of Barrie. The BAAC shall be operated under the guidelines provided in Robert’s Rules of Order.
Governing Articles
Article 1
Membership
1. Membership shall consist of not less than seven (7) adults.
2. Membership shall be open to all who live or work in the community and are actively engaged in arts and culture.
4. All members shall serve without remuneration.
5. Each member shall serve for a two year term, except in the case of the first year. After the first year the BAAC shall replace three members.
6. New members shall be selected by the current membership, and shall endeavour to be diverse, representative and equitable.
Article 2
Structure, Roles and Responsibilities of Members
The BAAC shall have an executive body comprised of a chair, vice-chair, and secretary/treasurer. The BAAC shall elect it’s executive annually.
2.1 Members
All members:
1. Shall honour the BAAC Constitution.
2. Shall act in an advisory capacity to the city.
3. Shall attend and participate in BAAC meetings.
5. Shall act as a link between the committee and the community.
2.2 Executive Members
The committee shall elect its executive annually.
The Chair shall:
1. Follow the guidelines as listed for all members.
2. Ensure that meeting agendas are prepared.
3. Ensure that the meeting minutes and records of all financial transactions are recorded and maintained.
4. Consult with the Department of Culture as required.
5. Ensure regular communication with the cultural community is facilitated.
6. Be responsible for ensuring all records and files are current and delivered to the incumbent chair with in seven days of the election.
The Vice Chair shall:
1. Follow the guidelines as listed for all members.
2. Assist the chair with his or her responsibilities and perform any duties delegated by the chair.
3. In the event that the chair has to resign his or her position as chair then the vice chair shall step into the position of chair.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall:
1. Follow the guidelines as listed for all members.
2. Record, display, distribute and maintain a written record of all committee meetings.
3. Record, display, distribute and maintain a written record of all of the committee’s financial transactions.
4. Ensure the distribution of the agenda and all pertinent information to all members one week prior to each meeting.
Article 4 Meetings
4.1 General
1. Quorum is achieved when a majority of members are present.
2. A meeting of the committee shall be held only if quorum is achieved. Without quorum, if a majority of members present wish the meeting to proceed, the meeting shall continue for the purposes of discussions only, no motions shall be considered or approved, and minutes shall be taken.
3. All meetings shall be accessible to all members.
4. Meeting dates may be cancelled, changed or added at the discretion of the chair in consultation with the executive. The chair shall be responsible for ensuring that all members are notified of the change.
5. Members shall be reminded of the meeting date one week in advance by agenda distribution, telephone call or other pre-arranged communication.
6. Agenda’s, draft minutes and any other pertinent information shall be delivered to members one week prior to the next meeting.
7. In the absence of the chair, the vice chair shall assume the chair. In the event that both the chair and the vice chair are absent, the committee shall choose an acting chair by majority vote.
8. Meetings shall start and end on time.
4.2 Schedule
The meeting schedule shall be determined by the members. No less than four (4) meetings shall be held per year.
4.3 Minutes
1. Draft minutes shall be provided to members one week prior to the next meeting. The approval of the minutes shall form the first agenda item.
2. Minutes shall be distributed to members and to the Director of the Department of Culture within one week of approval.
3. Advice to the city shall be appended to the mintues, and sent in writing to the Director of the Department of Culture within one week of approval.
4. For reference, the secretary will keep all minutes in a file.
4.4 Voting
1. Quorum shall be met for each vote.
2. Any member may put forward a motion for the committee to consider.
3. Once seconded, the chair will put the motion before the committee.
4. A simple majority of members in attendance shall be required to pass a motion.
5. Voting by proxy shall be accepted, if the proxy is written and signed to reflect the member’s vote on a specific item or items.
Article 5 Constitutional Amendments
1. The BAAC Constitution shall be reviewed by an ad hoc committee in October each year.
2. The ad hoc committee shall prepare and present to the committee any necessary changes to articles.
3. A majority vote of all sitting members shall be necessary to accept any changes to the articles.
[...] Damian Lopes was our host for the evening and got the evening started by calling each member to the microphone for a brief introduction. He also reviewed the BAAC mandate. [...]