For every one step forward the city makes (Khyber/Bloomfield redevelopment, Nocturne, Emerging Artists Studio Program), all that good work got shot to shit with the news that HRM is cancelling the arts awards, including:
Mayor’s Award for Literary Achievement: $1,500
Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Book Illustration: $1,500
Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Theatre: $1,500
Mayor’s Award for Emerging Theatre Artist: $500
TOTAL=$,5000
I’m not sure yet of the Contemporary Visual Art Award’s status. We’re having a tough time getting anyone to confirm anything. Now, $1,500 is not a lot of money, but it can make a huge difference to someone who has a low income (c’mon, no one makes art to become rich). But even more so than the dollar amount, it’s the symbolic devaluing of art in a city that has no arts council or grants to individuals, as do most cities of Halifax’s size. Also, when you consider all the high-profile expensive projects the mayor seems willing to throw cash at, $5,000 is like the linty pennies in the bottom of my purse.
We’re going to keep on this, but until then, here are a few artists that received awards (the list on HRM’s website hasn’t been updated since 2008, which says a lot right there): Michael Melski, Mary Vingoe, Anthony Black and our own Mike Holmes. These are just some of the nationally/internationally recognized artists who get trotted out when the city wants to show what a diverse, culturally vibrant place Halifax is. Embarrassing.
I’m moving to Pawnee. We need a Leslie Knope.
This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2011.
Hey, when times are tight the arts are an easy target, bypasses have to be built!
If the arts were profitable, maybe then there would be more money instead of arts programs constantly putting their hands out.
Hey if staff had been in charge of this, it would have been $5000 to Dexter Construction for most artistic estimate for a project.
…with a $8 million overage…
Actually, Sebastian, investment in arts and culture has been proven to spur economic growth and development, as well as being vital to the process of urban regeneration. Support of arts and culture has the potential to improve quality of life, while encouraging social development and making a city more attractive to tourists and outside investors. Spending money on the arts and supporting local creativity is the best thing a city like ours could do, but unfortunately, the people running the show around here are either morons, con-artists, or both, and would rather invest in projects that line the pockets of their sleazy developer pals.
If it is labelled ‘Mayor’s Award for …..” it is quite reasonable for the money tc come out of his own pocket.
These things labelled ‘Mayor’s …” are a tax payer funded polictical vehicle to shine the spotlight on one person and an import from the USA.
If a Mayor wants the publicity and feel good factor I suggesst he reach into his wallet and spend his own money. He makes $135,000 a year so doling out $5,000 is just chump change.
How would taxpayers feel about ‘Prime Minister’s award for Poetry’ and ‘Prime Minister’s arad for fiction’ etc. ?
I think we know the answer.
One night of opportunistic Winter Parking Ban binging would cover this.
The city has to start cutting frills to pay for the new Convention Center. This is just the beginning.
In the eighties, Joe Blades got $5000 from council just to put out a monthly poetry magazine, Poetry Halifax Dartmouth. Now we’re down to cutting the last $5000 for all the arts. We are definitely in the dark, dark ages where only a few people count and, if we don’t fight back, the police with their increased powers, will be able to do anything they want to peaceful protesters. In fact they are doing so now–G20. Meanwhile these chosen few spend thousands on one luxury restaurant meal and hand in expense accounts in the ten of thousands a month.
i love our city