Arts funding makes a case for amalgamation
Times Colonist Letters
October 25, 2014
Re: “Regional arts funding is a muddled mess,” Oct. 19.
The comment on the “muddled state” of funding for the arts in Greater Victoria was most timely with municipal elections approaching.
It was revealing to read that only five of our 13 municipalities currently contribute their proportionate share of support for the arts organizations in the capital region, and that five municipalities contribute nothing at all.
The argument that municipalities would rather support arts in their own community is typical of the parochial thinking that leads to the creation of a multiplicity of small-town facilities and programs, rather than the major infrastructure and events that a capital city of 350,000 deserves.
It is still amazing that Greater Victoria somehow manages to punch so much above its weight on the arts and cultural scene, given the lack of a modern performing-arts centre, art gallery and other facilities that other cities of its size enjoy.
This is yet another issue that demands some sort of rationalization of the present balkanized structure of governance in our compact capital region. Thus, in addition to asking municipal candidates where they stand on funding for the arts, as the writer has suggested, voters in those eight municipalities that have decided to put a question on the municipal ballot, should also be encouraged to vote “yes” when asked if they support a study of regional governance.
John Weaver
Victoria
copyright Times Colonist
Times Colonist Letters
October 25, 2014
Re: “Regional arts funding is a muddled mess,” Oct. 19.
The comment on the “muddled state” of funding for the arts in Greater Victoria was most timely with municipal elections approaching.
It was revealing to read that only five of our 13 municipalities currently contribute their proportionate share of support for the arts organizations in the capital region, and that five municipalities contribute nothing at all.
The argument that municipalities would rather support arts in their own community is typical of the parochial thinking that leads to the creation of a multiplicity of small-town facilities and programs, rather than the major infrastructure and events that a capital city of 350,000 deserves.
It is still amazing that Greater Victoria somehow manages to punch so much above its weight on the arts and cultural scene, given the lack of a modern performing-arts centre, art gallery and other facilities that other cities of its size enjoy.
This is yet another issue that demands some sort of rationalization of the present balkanized structure of governance in our compact capital region. Thus, in addition to asking municipal candidates where they stand on funding for the arts, as the writer has suggested, voters in those eight municipalities that have decided to put a question on the municipal ballot, should also be encouraged to vote “yes” when asked if they support a study of regional governance.
John Weaver
Victoria
copyright Times Colonist