It’s election season in the City of Hamilton. Nine candidates are vying for the mayoral seat, and a further 81 are vying for 15 City Council seats. It is not unreasonable to expect that the political landscape in Hamilton is about to shift significantly.
According to the City of Hamilton, Ward 5 is an urban ward situated in the lower city below the Niagara Escarpment. Its borders are the Niagara Escarpment (south), the Red Hill Valley/Expressway (west), and the waters of Lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbour (north). Ward 5 also includes the beach strip up to the Canal Bridge and the ship canal which separates the cities of Hamilton and Burlington.
In a joint partnership between the Hamilton Arts Council and Beyond James, a nonpartisan candidate survey was sent to these prospective leaders to map out their vision for our city. Just three questions have provided a window into what those running for office in Hamilton would do to invest in creativity.
The Hamilton Arts Council will utilize survey responses to continue conversations with elected councillors following the election.
Krysta Boyer
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
I wouldn’t say there is any one art event that Hamiltonian’s need to experience since there are so many great and different ones. I would say Hamiltonian’s need to get out and experience at least one of these events every year. Some of the events I would suggest people experience include those hosted by the Hamilton Arts Council, the Cotton Factory, the AGH, and James Street Art Crawl. If I had to single out a single event I would have to choose Art Crawl on James street, reason being the event brings an eclectic gathering of artists together with the street as its backdrop. It gives people the opportunity to not just experience the art but to experience the neighbourhood as well. Further it demonstrates how important and impactful art can be on our streets and in our neighbourhoods.
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
I believe there is great potential to expand arts and culture in Hamilton, in fact it is one of my pillars for my platform. Components of it include:
- Take an inventory of the city spaces and prioritize them as arts & culture spaces either temporary or permanent.
- Revisit the requirements for access to these spaces to be sure everyone can access them.
- Provide incentives for artists specific to their leased properties.
- Working with private sector partners to secure and/or develop affordable housing and/or spaces for artists.
- Create a central tool which aides artists in their search for space in the city.
- Expand tools to prevent displacement of artists.
- Review event regulations to remove any unnecessary red tape.
- Remove barriers related to present zoning.
- Map out places of cultural significance and highlight these spaces with events and/or artwork.
- Expand or Mirror events which primarily operate downtown to Ward 5.
- Support and/or create more youth led arts & cultural events.
- Expand Community Partnerships to allow for more initiatives, events, and opportunities for artists.
- Encourage further development of the cities Public Art Master Plan
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
Should I be elected as Councillor I would first engage with stakeholders in the community and at the city to gain further insight into the gaps that exist. From that we would establish recommendations which should be our focus for implementation. I would then use the resources available to me at the city to implement as many recommendations as possible. I am a firm believer that arts and culture have a real and significant impact on its community. Over the years I have worked with artists in various forms and who use various mediums. I have organized and sponsored events for graffiti artists and have served as a commercial realtor to others. Through these experiences I have witnessed the struggles artists face whether it be stigma, affordability, accessibility, or other. Ideally I want Hamilton to be a city recognized as a city filled with art and culture.
Kevin Geenen
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
There’s definitely something special about supporting smaller theatrical performances, particularly the ones put on by our local high schools. I spent a lot of time on the stage in high school as part of the CN Players (affiliated with Cardinal Newman High School), including Oliver Twist in Oliver! and Uncle Louie in Lost in Yonkers and coming out on the stage in front of a packed audience, especially at that age, was something I’ll never forget.
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
It’s no secret that Hamilton is quite the hub for filming various commercials, TV shows, and movies. Promoting Hamilton’s film industry certainly appears to be the most significant opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton as a whole. There are so many different artistic aspects to film (including things like make-up design) that really help expand artistic opportunities for Hamiltonians.
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
If elected, I plan to hold a lot of meetings with local stakeholders to get a grasp first of what kind of support they are looking for and how I, and Council, can help them achieve their goals. From there, its really just a matter of continuing to have conversations and collaborate.
Stan Habza
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
FYI, I’ve touched base with Arts for All; given some ideas as well a monetary contribution. And will continue to support the Arts and Entertainment in the City of Hamilton. Any art exhibition is a plus for this City I.e. Super Crawl, the Hamilton Art Gallery. You can touch base with the following people: Theodore Collins; Arielle Prescott to confirm my thoughts and support.
Bob Hurst
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
Supercrawl would naturally be the biggest and highest profile arts event in Hamilton, so everyone should attend at least once, if they are able.
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
There are several pockets of art galleries and artists throughout Hamilton, so I think it would be great to use the Supercrawl brand to draw attention to those other gallery areas, perhaps focussing on a different one each season or each month, where possible.
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
I think the city needs to increase its social media presence, and that would include promoting arts and cultural events within the community. There are so many events, that the opportunities are there for regular promotion throughout the year.
Lynda Lukasik
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
For me, Supercrawl is a must do ‘arts event’ for every Hamiltonian. I believe the approach used in this major annual event in our city works to very effectively draw in a large audience that might, first and foremost, be there for the live performances, and exposes them to other art as part of their SuperCrawl experience. I think this approach is incredibly effective. It’s also an arts & culture multi-media experience not only for so many of us who live here in Hamilton, but also for a growing audience that is being drawn in from outside of our city.
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
I am running for Hamilton City Council in Ward 5 – which runs from Red Hill Valley east to Grays Road, from the base of the escarpment to Lake Ontario, and also includes the Hamilton Beach Community. I’ve lived in this ward for 26 years and I believe that there is lots of potential to do more to expand opportunities in the area of arts and culture in wards like mine. Ward 5 is undergoing some significant transformations right now, especially in the Queenston/Centennial corridor where the eastern terminus of the LRT will be located at Eastgate Square and full GO train service is planned at the Confederation GO Station on Centennial at the QEW. I believe redevelopment presents wonderful opportunities to inject the arts and culture into community spaces. It would be great to see public art, innovative performance spaces, and other efforts to expand and showcase arts and culture in Ward 5.
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
I have spent the last 20 years working in the not-for-profit sector in Hamilton so I am very aware of how challenging it is to secure funding for this sector – whether you’re focused on environment, social services, or arts and culture. One important step forward would be for the city to increase the level of support it is providing to community organizations through the City Enrichment Fund. The initiatives the fund supports represent great value for money for the city; the return on investment to the city and its residents from the work of community organizations, including arts and culture organizations, is substantial and more support is justified.
I also believe that the city needs to restart granting from the Future Fund, and to expand the breadth of funding that occurs from this source. In recent years, the fund appears to have become focused on capital expenditures, when oftentimes basic operating and programming/event costs are what organizations, including arts organizations, really need the most.
Finally, I believe that there is huge potential right now to leverage any and all opportunities that emerge with urban redevelopment to amplify the arts and culture as part of a more holistic effort to build urban communities that bring fantastic quality of life for everyone. For instance, the Hamilton Community Benefits Network is already working hard to gather community input and communicate with both Metrolinx and the City of Hamilton regarding what the community would like to see in the way of investment in arts & culture, environment, and important community amenities along the east-west LRT line. Private development along the line and in other areas of the city can also be leveraged to bring benefits like investment in arts & culture too and these opportunities must be actively pursued by the City of Hamilton.
As an elected councillor, I would work hard advocating to ensure that these sources of support for arts & culture become reality on the ground.
Gordon Noble
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
I think that all the events are great, but two stick out to me and that is Art Crawl and Supercrawl.
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
I would like to take advantage of federal and provincial monies to enhance the arts in Hamilton.
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
By creating more of an art scene in Ward 5
Angela Pugliese
What arts event is a must do for every Hamiltonian?
What do you see as an opportunity to expand arts and culture in Hamilton?
If elected, how will you leverage your position as a City Councillor to advance the arts in Hamilton?
My name is Angela Pugliese Candidate Ward 5 City Council, I attempted to submit answers to questions that were submitted in our email, however it did not go through technical issues, however I would like to say I fully support the Arts, as a Photographer, as well as a Painter, I pledge to continue the supports and funding if I am elected in the upcoming election, also to provide more recognition in Arts within Our Community of Hamilton. I also would like to say I have always have the desire to start a foundation for People with Disabilities entitled “Love The Differences” I would further love to discuss ways that will enhance Art In Our City, at your convince.
No Response Received
Sebastian Aldea
Matt Francis
Ryan Ladner
George Rusich
