Following up on politics and various arguments, it seems that Harper has offended some people when he said something about the arts profession. If my memory serves me right, the main issue was the funding and that Harper is cutting it, is that true?
If that’s mainly the issue, I have no idea why people are getting upset over this, specially artists. I have no idea why some people think that we, the tax payers, owe them something and should fund arts programs in universities and colleges. I can understand public schools, yes we need to keep those and we need to fun them like every other program, but when I saw a bunch of adult crying like babies at parade square because for some reason they feel entitled to funds because they chose to go into arts and pay a shit load of money for something that’s really not going to put bread on the table, that’s just ridiculous! Is that really what it’s all about, the funding, can someone please enlighten me!
Also, if your an artist and you suck, don’t get offended, lots of people out there suck at a lot of things, I think they should be told they suck so they won’t waste their time. Put the time into something better, like finding their true passion.
This article appears in Oct 16-22, 2008.
Wow, maybe if you’d gone to Parade Square and actually listened to what was being said you’d understand a bit more that funding for the arts is a lot more important than you think. Do you realize how broad a subject “arts” really is? It affects you more than you know. Your clothes? Designed by someone who considers themselves an artist, same with your furniture. The dancers in the music videos you want to watch? Artists. Music you listen to, made by artists. Movies, TV shows, all made by artists. Harpers government is cutting the funding for the NSI, which is a program that helps train people to make films.Cutting funding for the arts isn’t as simple as Harper says, we’re not all going to fancy galas and benefits. We as artists are living below the poverty line working to make the things that matter to us and a lot of other people. And in doing so we are keeping Canada on the cultural map, so that people from other countries will actually want to come here. You think that the tourists who come are all here for the hockey and the beer? Nope they come to see things like the art galleries and theatre and live performance. So if you’re going to cut the funding for the arts, you’re going to cut the cash coming in from the cruise ships, less people will be eating in the restaurants, and shopping at the malls.
The reason why the OP is having such a hard time understanding the reasons for the protests is because he/she’s just as clueless as Harper.
sorry…people aint gettin on the cruise ships with a desire to see halifax’s or Canada’s arts scene…just not a consideration of theirs…sorry again. yes they may take a look at some of the tourist crap on offer, and maybe a show…but they didnt base thier decision to board the boat on it.and the “artist” designed clothes and furniture u speak of…most peoples(those with average incomes) clothes come from overseas, manufactured in sweat shops to keep the prices competitive…which has nothing to do with our level of funding for the arts.arts people…nothing against you at all. but get over yourselves. you are no more or less important than any other special interest group in our country.
John is right that artists need to get over themselves. But cutting arts funding is a horrible devolution of modern society. The value of our culture should be judged by the amount of art it creates. If all we make are factories, pollution and war machines, then what does that say about us? How will we be looked at by our coming generations? Will it be as creative, progressive thinkers propelling humanity and culture into new echelons of understanding and thought? Or as greedy, money grubbing war mongers, who stole creativity and squashed it under the steel-toed boot of economics?Modern thought means we use the technology and ideas to progress and evolve. There is a LOT of bad and hackneyed art out there, but the more bad art there is, the more good art that eventually might come out of it.
“Arts” includes a very broad spectrum of things. Speaking personally as a professional musician, I was lucky to growup in a school that had a good music program (high school) which IS still available in Nova Scotia (for the time being).In northern Ontario, specifically Sudbury/Sault Ste Marie area, high school bands are a thing of the past. The conservatives there cut the school music programs to the bone, and now young people may never get to enjoy the thrillof playing music and entertaining/educating the public with their musical talent.If I hadn’t been involved in my high school’s music program, very likely I would never have found the opportunities to allowme to advance professionally.I play in a few bands here (Sackville Community band) for one, that has a few high school musicians playing with us. Even if these kids don’t pursue a profession in music, they do learn to understand that music is a part of our way of life, besides what you get on an iPod or whatever..I’m sure if the conservatives continue in their “hate” of the arts, it won’t be long before music is “attacked” in the same way…Just a personal opinionthere