By Pepper Parr
June 22, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Is there an Arts Council in Burlington’s future? And if there is – what kind of a council might it be?
Arts and Cultural Community of Burlington, ACCOB, has been beavering away at creating some kind of an Arts Council – people in senior arts position in the city question just what the ACCOB people are doing and what I is they want.
The Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington – a family photograph – less than half the family in the picture. This is a large group of people who have yet to turn their numbers into real political clout.
There is a lack of discipline and not much in the way of focus within ACCOB” was one comment the Gazette picked up.
Please do not mention my name was another comment – “The news about the creation of the arts council is no secret, given that there are twelve members of the current ACCOB board and the CAPIC (Culture Action Plan Implementation Committee) External Body subcommittee, and word has spread to several city staffers.
We live in an age where there are few secrets – time for the ACCOB people to go public and set out just what they want. This jabbering away like a bunch of little old ladies over tea cups is getting them nowhere. (Little old ladies is an acceptable figure of speech.)
The reality the arts community faces is the seven members of Council. Can anyone identify the cultural leader on that Council?
One of the sessions at the Bay Area Summit on Tuesday focused on the role culture can play in the building of an economy. The Planning Culturally Can Unlock Bay Area Growth session had some very useful information.
Culture is a business and it is very good for business.
The Sound of Music might not fit the definition some have of what culture is – but it is certainly great business.
Artists need to add some discipline into their plea for financial support. Just what is it you want? Spell it out, make is financially feasible and then fight for it.
