Institutions are a critical part of a vibrant arts scene and their operating costs should always be maintained so the greater population can have access to the services they provide. Without shows like The Titanic at THEMUSEUM, which has caused a huge buzz throughout the city, without the KW Symphony providing ever changing programming ranging from beautiful classical to exciting contemporary and pop arrangements, to Centre in the Square bringing in HUGE shows as well as serving as a platform for Magnetic North and IMPACT, the thought of these places losing their foothold is something that should strike fear not only in the hearts and minds of the arts and culture community, but also the highest political levels of the region and the greater population.
However, my point isn’t about their merit. The grassroots need them. Maybe, perhaps now, they are starting to see how they need the grassroots as well (proof in opening The Studio, and more arrangement for local arts access to THEMUSEUM). As a unified and important arts and culture community the institutions and the grassroots artists need to truly collaborate. There is a symbiotic relationship that isn’t being exploited to its full extent and this relationship is perhaps the one that could save us all. I just have to look at Blue Dot that is organised by local artist, Ian Newton, and it’s wild, enormous, colourfully playful and KILLER COOL inter-arts display of marvel where he is lucky to cut even a small profit. He is pulling in an audience from here, Toronto, Montreal, New York, etc. for a single night show and we don’t enable him within this framework to do this on a more regular basis… and man… that show is really cool. Yet, here lies problems: no venue, or problems finding one. What? Really?
It should never be one or the other, but both. That is my main point.
When businesses, like Little Bean Cafe, Cafe Pyrus, Generation X Video all reach such a critical importance to the community, and the ones that serve as venues see non-stop energy, attraction, and vibrance, why aren’t we as a greater arts community not looking (grassroots and institutions alike) at why this exists in this framework and also harnessing it at our own levels. There has been a spirit of alienation from top to bottom, bottom to top, and across the board. Our community doesn’t identify with the institutions. They are not beloved by enough folk. I am not counting myself into that measure, because I love all these three, as well as the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery that saw its own financial turmoil last year, but I don’t represent the larger population of the region who are tired of hearing how yet another arts facility isn’t doing well.
Centre in the Square has asked for money for marketing for three major institutions. Please give it to them. These three hit the demographic, but we need to start driving audiences!
FUNDING. Again, we need funding. Centre in the Square may have to raise their rates which would be a shame, but funding needs to be placed entirely into all levels of the arts, and we need to start really working together…. and I mean really… with each other. The local arts scene is separated from the institutions. We have amazing innovation here at the ignorance of each other. These institutions need to deliver the big ticket products alongside developing a place in the hearts and minds of the region and inspiring the innovation that already exists. There is no arts development here. There is no fostering, no growing, no watering the seeds that have some how blown into this wasteland. As it is now, dancers, artists, musicians, and performers are more likely to hit stages and galleries in Toronto and Montreal long before they ever do here. It’s from our cafes, to their stages and galleries, and pockets. I will say again, it need symbiosis.
“People will love a place when it’s part of their lives” – The Unknown Artist
Hey folks, don’t shoot the messenger here.
Posted on January 21, 2011
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