By Meghan Hildebrand During last year’s municipal election campaign, support for the arts emerged as a priority among voters, councillors and candidates. Now that council has had a chance to settle into their roles, I would like to contribute to the conversation about how we can improve opportunities for the creative sector and all those that enjoy, support and understand what the arts can contribute to our community and our economy.
In 2012 and 2013, the city commissioned the Powell River Arts and Culture Initiative. This report provides a number of ways that arts and culture, in addition to improving the quality of life in our community, can be economic drivers. The report’s first finding reads: “Arts and culture is a sound investment in today’s economic context. Experts report that, over the long term, the yields are high, the risks low and opportunities sizable.” The report observes that Powell River is “brimming” with arts and culture, but that the sector is fragmented, made up of many individuals and small groups and businesses. Key challenges facing the arts are a lack of funding and a high reliance on the labour of volunteers.
One of the report’s recommendations towards creating a strong and viable arts sector is the creation of a dedicated, multi-use arts/culture facility. Many towns in BC and across Canada, including towns much smaller than Powell River, have public art venues. A public gallery would provide a much-needed venue for local artists and the opportunity to host artists that will inspire and educate the community. Benefits include a sense of pride through community identity, boosted tourism, and an increase in arts participation.
Growing up in Whitehorse, a city with a world-class art centre, introduced me not only to art, but to the reality that art can be a viable and respected profession. Facilities in unique and beautiful regions of the country are especially attractive to artists looking for places to exhibit and visit. Most public galleries have at least a two-year waiting list, which gives a good indication of the demand for a dedicated professional exhibition space.
While a dedicated facility would be an incredible asset for Powell River, I recognize the limits imposed by funding restraints and the heavy load for any volunteers hoping to make this a reality. There is another way to approach the need for an art centre, which is to look at spaces within the city’s existing assets.
Powell River Recreation Complex could be a great place to create an exhibition space. The spacious design of the complex presents several options of low-use areas that could be converted to a dedicated gallery space; where families could take in art during hockey and swim lessons and theatre-goers could spend intermissions. It could also be used in conjunction with workshops and children’s programming.
Powell River is ready for a public art centre. An exhibition space at the recreation complex could provide some of the things a public gallery offers, while creating a broader audience and building more support for the art centre of our future.
Meghan Hildebrand is a local resident active in several arts and community groups.
