COALITION MEMBERS' MAIL
BAG
I've read the recent email-newsletter. You've pointed out
some problems which are a hindrance to the continued success
of the Arts Council. However, I see ways to improve the
Council's influence & funding acquisition strategy.
PROBLEM: to quote the [Coalition]
newsletter: "According to Toronto Star readers
who responded to the Star's online game, "You Be The
Budget Chief", low priority should be given to civic
investment in Toronto arts."
The lack of public support for the arts is a major problem
which I will address and recommend solutions to. The root
causes to this problem affect financial institutions and
government funding sources as well.
The [Toronto]
Arts Council Board ranges from the cultured to the heroic
arts expert.
The problem is that neither the public, nor the government,
nor the financial powers necessarily share the values of
the Arts Council Board. To improve its position, the Council
needs much greater support from these three groups.
These three groups form a larger and more powerful pool
of support than the arts community alone. To depend solely
on the arts community for support is a contradiction. So
if the Council agrees that this larger pool of support is
valid, a shift in thinking needs to occur.
The Arts Councils primary message is: Great
Art=Great City. But as the Star poll clearly indicates
most people aren't convinced. This is because all the Toronto
Arts Council communications are in the voice of the cultured
and fail to clearly address the central concerns of the
public, government and financial institutions.
At the moment your message comes across as needy and self
centered.
MY BACKGROUND: I was born in Toronto and graduated from
Sheridan
College Illustration this summer. I tracked down and
won a full scholarship for an innovative MA program in the
UK. The course revolves around brand strategy and design
and I'm happy to be working closely with ATTIK,
one of the most successful design agencies in the world.
A DIFFERENT TERM: The reason the scholarship money existed
in the UK is due to something I never encountered in Canada:
The Regional development agency. These agencies are setup
and supported by the UK government and the EU to improve
regional economies. One of the best ways to improve economies
is by attracting creative/arts people.
However, here in England they don't use the term "arts"
to define artists, design firms, computer game companies,
record labels, creative entrepreneurs, dancers, product
designers, animation studios, special effects houses etc.
Instead they use the term, "creative industries".
"...in the United Kingdom, the creative industries
generate an income approaching $60 billion a year. They
contribute over 4% to the domestic economy. The sector is
growing faster than, almost twice as fast as, the economy
as a whole."
-Rt. Hon Chris Smith MP - Secretary of State for
Culture (UK)
WHY TORONTONIANS VOTED FOR A LOW CIVIC INVESTMENT IN ARTS
The term "Arts" can conjure up images cultural
elitism and forms of amusement restricted to the aristocracy.
Old ladies in painting classes, stuffy operas, classical
music, living in the past, hindering progress, disconnection
with reality, condescending, distain for public interest.
Your report also mentioned Amoeba,
a Toronto based design firm I am familiar with. This is
an ideal model of a company which represents your values
in the commercial/economic arena. So is Margaret Atwood
& many others associated with the Council.
Survey wording example: Money for Creative Industries imply
a force which contributes to the economy. Money for Arts
can imply a force which drains the economy.
SOLUTION: I'd like to see the message readjusted to show
the government, the public and the finance world how it
benefits *them* to support creativity and the arts in Canada.
Ben Weeks
London, England
If you wanted to add your comment or opinion
to articles you’ve read in the Coalition newsletter,
please send to coalition@torontoartscouncil.org.
Please limit your letter to no more than 1000 words.
|
