I believe that Victoria's arts community is one of our greatest assets. As a tourist destination, and as a city of creative individuals, it is important that the Arts are supported in whatever way possible. There are some very simple things we can do to help Victoria's arts community grow over the next three years.
More Efficient Funding
Under the current system, grants are given to various arts groups for festivals and special events, only to be given back to the city in exchange for services, permits, advertising, or equipment rentals. I believe it would be a great benefit to the professional arts community and to the creation of new festivals if services were offered free of charge by the city in addition to funding.
... can be done in several ways. The city has at its disposal a number of advertising methods for festivals, which as mentioned above could be offered free to local arts groups. We could also work to increase the number of free billboards and other forms of advertising.
The city can, through partnership with Tourism Victoria and local businesses, work to build Victoria's reputation as a centre for arts and culture. By increasing awareness of the "everyday" arts, we will benefit local professional and amateur artists in a way that festivals cannot.
… are an essential part of Victoria's cultural identity and economic well-being, and as such should be nurtured and encouraged whenever possible. This can be done by including a few bylaw exceptions (such as noise levels, outdoor business permits, etc.) into festival permits, thereby allowing events more freedom to choose locations and times for performances.
The city can also provide spaces such as centennial square free of charge for cultural events, and work with the Federal and Provincial governments to increase the amount of funding available for new and continuing festivals.
I believe that the first step toward cultural development in Victoria will be the involvement of the Mayor and Council in the Arts. Councilors are already required to attend community meetings, sit on committees, and thus involve themselves in many of the major issues in Victoria, but the Arts are routinely neglected in this respect. We need to look at arts from a new perspective, not as something separate from the rest of Victoria, but as the creative force that makes our city more than just a place to work.
'The Arts make Victoria strong, so Victoria should make the Arts strong.'
Patrick Corrigan, Pacific Opera Victoria
If you have any questions about this page, or anything else on my website, please don't hesitate to email me at simonnattrass@gmail.com
