If artists are to create art, they need the space to do it.
That is one of the key points emerging the Richmond Arts Strategy 2012-2017, which was due to be presented Tuesday evening for approval at city hall.
After months of community meetings, open houses and surveys, the report found that arts facilities such as the Gateway Theatre and Richmond Art Gallery dont have the space to meet the anticipated future growth of the citys arts scene.
Lack of affordable living, working, creating, rehearsal, performance and exhibition spaces for artists of all art forms is the most common concern we hear, said Jean Garnett, secretary of the Richmond Arts Coalition.
Garnett was on the steering committee for the report and was involved in several meetings to formulate the strategy.
The strategies are certainly feasible if supported by council and city staff, Garnett said. The Richmond Arts Coalition is actively working on the first direction (supporting the arts community), and strongly supports the second (increasing art spaces).
The proposed strategy, which goes in front of the parks, recreation and cultural services committee, raises five key components:
- Strengthen and support the arts community;
- Increase the number of art spaces and more effectively use existing ones;
- Broaden the diversity of arts experiences and opportunities;
- Expand public awareness and understanding of the arts;
- Broaden the economic potential and contribution of the arts.
Although Garnett concedes financial support is crucial, equally as important, is philosophical and policy support.
City staff needs to be encouraged to spend time and energy on certain directions, such as considering arts and culture objectives when making other (e.g. development, partnership) decisions, policies and plans, and the creative use of facilities, added Garnett.
Coun. Linda Barnes is enthusiastic about the proposed arts strategy, and points to an example when the arts were not considered when making development decisions.
The city turned down an opportunity to create live-work studios for artists in a development and took the funding instead. We do hope to create other arts space with the funding, but I feel that was a loss for the arts community.
The Arts Strategy will help council and staff broaden their understanding of how the arts fit within our planning and strengthen our economy, Barnes added.
Moreover, the strategic goals are doable and that many can be accommodated within existing budgets. However, any extra funding would have to come from sponsorships, such as partnering with development and business, and grants, said Barnes.
For example, the rooftop garden, where many of the culinary arts courses are held, are funded by the Western Bank rather than by taxes, said Barnes.
Regarding government funding, Statistics Canada figures for 2009-10 shows the B.C. government spends $53 per capita on the arts, while other provinces spend on average $93 per capita.
With this strategy Richmond is declaring its commitment to the importance of the arts; perhaps its time other levels of government did the same, she added.
Richmond Artist Guild member Marvin Skelton believes the Arts Strategy points are well focused, particularly in regards to strengthening and supporting the arts and increasing the number of art spaces.
However, he said broadening the diversity of arts experiences and opportunities should not happen at the expense of traditional art forms such as painting, sculpting, pottery, and lapidary.
Also, he notes, that when it comes to education and awareness, these points could focus on marketing art work or extensive advertising and all this does is benefit the promoters, not the artists.
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