Creativity and Shutdown in a Pandemic

With people confined in their homes during this pandemic, we see more and more evidence of creativity and ingenuity happening in our daily lives. People are finding new ways to stay busy without common forms of entertainment such as shopping malls, social gatherings or gyms. People’s time that would have otherwise been spent in varied activities, is now being spent at home, and most likely on the sofa or bed.

Creativity is not just confined with the arts. There is inventiveness and imagination in sciences, design, sports and cooking. Social media news feeds are inundated with posts of people's creations, whether they are newbies and veterans in these activities: crafts, sewing, knitting, crocheting; performances - singing, playing musical instruments, story telling, video creation (esp. TikTok); podcasts; photography; learning languages; the creative use of 3D printers for PPEs. People are also finding creative ways to celebrate life milestones, i.e. birthdays, graduations, weddings.

Working on something that is challenging but can be addressed by one's skills, people enter a state called flow.  In this state, people are fully absorbed in and focused on the activity, and as a result, they lose track of time. And it is this unlocking of the imagination in reimagining events and activities that provides the amazement factor in this time of the pandemic.

 

Historically, there are prominent examples of those who found creative inspiration in spending time alone. Isaac Newton, with schooling at Cambridge University halted, retreated to his family home in Lincolnshire, where, in a remarkable burst of creativity, he laid the groundwork for his theories of gravity and optics, and invented calculus. There is also the notion that William Shakespeare wrote some of his best poems and plays while plague forced a closure of London’s theatres.

Arts has been more accessible too with the numerous online workshops, some for free, others subsidized, and some as fundraisers. Performances and films have been made available online - giving us front row seats to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, ballets, operas, landmark films and theatre productions from all over the world. You just need to know where to look. And now, there is the much awaited release of Hamilton in the summer.

 

Some artists have managed to hold outdoor performances while people stay at home - musicians and singers performing from their balconies or sidewalk, in the rotunda of a housing community, and recently, Keith Urban in a major drive-through concert for first responders. And with most projects being done online, there has also been a noticeable rise of collaborations amongst artists across the globe - first in mind is the Lady Gaga curated tv special Together at Home, in support of the World Health Organization, and Swans for Relief, which featured 32 ballerinas from 22 dance companies from 14 countries, to raise funds for dancers affected by the pandemic all over the world.

Famous museums have offered virtual tours. Many institutions have made educational resources freely available online; IBM made their design courses free, NASA offers many lessons and activities, and a Pandemic University has even been established, offering online courses covering a range of topics including feature writing, true crime, non-fiction book proposals, travel writing, personal essays, food writing.

Corporations have also stepped up to support these online activities. Telecom companies facilitated access by removing internet data caps, relaxing long distance rules to facilitate communication, subsidizing internet rates for low income families and for some, providing free service.

People with a passion for art finally have time to invest in developing their creative side in a more systematic way. While staying abreast of pandemic updates is important, ultimately, a positive mindset and the ability to switch off will help people cope better day-to-day. Art has inadvertently reached a wider audience and range of participants. It has served us well as a means of expression, a coping mechanism, and outlet of pent-up emotions and energies. The hope is that for the long term, access to all these creativity will carry over to sustained support of the arts beyond the days of the pandemic.

Side note: It is stinging that in the midst of all these creativity, collaboration and support between artists, media, corporations and in the government, in the Philippines, ABS-CBN, the largest entertainment and media conglomerate, with a little bit more than 11,000 employees, was shut down on May 5, 2020. It is a perplexing turn of events at these times:

• when media plays a crucial role in disseminating crucial and credible information on COVID-19, and in ensuring that these information reaches the most number of citizens;
• when people are already losing their jobs due to COVID-19 and public health concerns, the last thing needed are job losses due to political wrangling;
• when entertainment is essential for mental health, easing people's anxiety born out of lockdown and quarantine orders;
• when empathetic conduct from leaders is respected and honoured.

Hopefully, a resolution of this issue is forthcoming.

* This article was published in the May 2020 issue of the Alberta Filipino Journal.

Art for Social Change: Viscosity and The Right to Exist

In this past month, I attended two events that remarkably utilized art to deliver messages for social change. The first was Theatre Yes' "Viscosity", which ran from November 7-17, and "The Right to Exist: An Evening of Arts and Culture", presented by Migrante Alberta and Climate Justice Edmonton, last December 8.

Viscosity was a uniquely staged production in the manner of performance and installation, tackling real life stories of people working in the front line of the oil industry. It featured a powerhouse cast - Chris Bullough, Leo Campus Aldunez, Murray Farnell, Byron Martin, Sandy Paddick, Melissa Thingelstad, and our very own, Filipino Jimmy Buena. This performance thrust people to engage in one-on-one encounters with the actors, absorbing the highs and lows of their respective experiences. The vignettes were culled from transcripts of interviews and delivered verbatim. The most heartrending of which was the story of a Filipino worker entangled in the ploys of an illegal recruiter. Jimmy Buena delivered a compelling portrayal, and I saw several in the audience in tears.

The production garnered rave reviews: ... unlike anything we've seen on Edmonton's stages before (Jenna Marynowski, After the House Lights); ... I invoke no hyperbole at all when I say it was one of the most engaging and enjoyable artistic experiences of my life (Dylan Howard, film director). We may know and have heard of experiences like these in the oil industry, but this staging just brought things to the heart. The transcripts of the interviews made for Viscosity will be provided to the Alberta Labour History Institute. Theatre Yes is a company dedicated to "responding to local, national and international conversations in thought-provoking ways". To know more about their work, go to theatre-yes.ca.

The Right to Exist: An Evening of Arts and Culture, was held in commemoration of International Human Rights Day and International Migrants' Day. It brought together activists, supporters, and artists across the Treaty 6 territory. It was a night of music, spoken word, visual arts, and thought provoking

messages. The blessing was given by Elder Eli Green. Different cultures were represented in the performances provided by: drumming by Carol Powser and Chubby Cheeks (Noah), 8 year-old with a powerful voice; dry humour from comedian Mav Adecer; soulful and passionate singing by Chilean Marianela Adasme, Jesse Cunningham, Lyla Luciano, and trio Gregie Flores, Gina May Ramirez and Gemalil Bonaobra; spoken words by Shima Robinson and Brandon Wint. The performances addressed issues of displacement, racism, advocacy, and healing. Whitney Haynes shared her insights from a trip to the Philippines where indigenous tribes were violently displaced and abused, in favour of Canadian mining business. Visual artist Yazmin Juarez exhibited works of exploring the imagination and of art as the balance and catalyst for social awareness, specially made for the event.

Art breaks down language barriers. Even when performed in a foreign tongue, the passion and spirit of the delivery still sends the message across. Interestingly enough, the issues that had roots from one culture resonates in various levels with another culture, setting and time. This demonstrates that these are universal issues, that events have a ripple effect across humanity, and that people don't live in silos.

Both events made me ache and naively wonder how these things can happen in our world. It made me grateful that there are people who go beyond their comfort zones and continue to push these issues into our awareness. All of us, in whatever capacity, i.e. artists, activists advocates, can be galvanized into action and heed John F. Kennedy's words "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try".

* This article was published in the December 2018 issue of the Alberta Filipino Journal.

Duyan ng Magiting - Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Edmonton 2015

Finale number: Dakilang Lahi, Choreographed by Jojo Lucila, at the Edmonton City Hall

MLA David Sheppard with Entertainment Committee 

The Filipino community in Edmonton celebrated the 117th Philippine Independence Day last June 13, 2015 at the Edmonton City Hall, organized by the Council of Edmonton Filipino Associations (CEFA). Opening with a thanksgiving mass officiated by Father Nilo Macapinlac, it proceeded with a program themed Pilipinas: Duyan ng Magiting (Philippines: The Cradle of the Brave), with noted choreographer/director Jojo Lucila at the helm of the program, and Paul Briones and Lito Velasco mobilizing volunteer performers, as co-chairs for entertainment.

Greetings were delivered by government representatives MLA David Sheppard (provincial), Councillor Amarjeet Sohi (municipal) and Philippine Honorary Consul General Esmeralda Agbulos who read the message of President Benigno S. Aquino. Common themes in the messages include: the recognition of the increasing numbers of Filipinos both in Edmonton & Alberta; the acknowledgment of the astounding economic contributions of the Filipino community, and thus, is a significant part of the cultural tapestry of Alberta; and the importance of remembering and instilling pride in the heritage.

In line with this year’s theme, the program incorporated significant Philippine icons from the revolutionary heroes, the collective representation of Filipino overseas workers, to the bigger than life personality, Manny Pacquiao. Featured performers were Ronald Idon who gave a heartfelt rendition of “Dakilang Lahi”, Sharmaine Pagtakhan, Koro Filipino, volunteer dancers, and the Filipino Senior Citizens of Alberta in Sakuting, all under the direction of Jojo Lucila.  Other participants were the Knights of Columbus and the Filipino Retirees Association in Alberta.

Koro Filipino

This year, the Filipino community all over Canada received felicitations from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, members of parliament, provincial premiers and municipal leaders. The ties between Canada and the Philippines were further strengthened by the recent visit of President Benigno Aquino III to Canada.

Filipino Senior Citizens of Alberta

The Filipino community, with a penchant for celebration and festivity, gather on this occasion through a variety of activities flag raising, dinner-dances, picnics, competitions, parades, and exhibits. It is my personal opinion that celebrations abroad are more sentimental in nature, the reasons of which are apparent. Removed from our home country and faced with a society of diverse cultures, we are compelled to extol the virtues of the Filipino and the salient history of our heritage. It is imperative then and much desired, that in the retelling and elaboration of these, that we do not just zero in on pomp and circumstance but exemplify the very same qualities that we take pride in, and live them each day. In a country where we are referred to in a collective as the Filipino community, may we be united rather than fragmented, filled with idealism rather than cynicism, and as Gandhi would state it, be the change that we want to see in our being Filipino.

From Songs of Worship to Mania: “One” and the “Coco/Maja/Angeline show” in Edmonton

Nov. 13 - Fourteen groups and artists gathered together in one big concert aptly titled “One” at the Gateway Alliance Church.  An evening of worship in music, dance and drama, it brought together groups of varying faith denominations and cultural background from different parts of Edmonton, with the desire to share their talent, and spiritual messages and experiences.  Worship, after all, is a community experience.

Participating groups were the: Christ Centred Mission Church, Church of the Holy Trinity Levites,  Filipino International Baptist Church, Gateway Worship Team, Gateway Youth,  Journey Youth Ministries of Journey with Christ Church, Pacific Island Dance Troupe, PureBride of Jesus is Lord, St. Dominique’s Couples for Christ, Soul 2 Soul; and crowd favorites, The Philippine Choral, Indonesian Christian Fellowships and artists Bernard Quilala and Wency Calderon.

Conceptualized by Dr. Leonila Mateo, despite just a month spent for planning, it produced an impressive amount of performers and audience.  Notwithstanding technical difficulties and programming gaps, the concert served its purpose of celebration, unity, forgiveness, redemption and faith.  The night ended with the song “God of this City”, with the words “For greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this City” ringing in our heads, providing all the belief and strength needed to accomplish whatever we have set for ourselves in life.

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Nov. 27 -  On a 3-day whirlwind concert tour in Canada (Nov. 25 in Saskatoon, Nov. 26 in Calgary), Coco Martin, Maja Salvador and Angeline Quinto performed to a jam packed audience at the River Cree Casino, Edmonton.  The three artists arrived at a luncheon straight from a road trip from Calgary for a “Meet and Greet” with the Edmonton guests, making their engagement at least a 5-hour performance (taking into account both the main concert and pre & post concert reception).  

The evening concert was like a reunion of sorts for us, with people greeting friends almost every 5 meters on their way to their seats.  It must have been the biggest gathering of Filipinos that I have witnessed.  Front act performers were Macky (who hails from Australia) and Darren Espanto (from Calgary and Pinoy Singing Sensation 2011 Champion).  And as expected, as soon as the house lights dimmed and spotlights descended on main feature opener Maja Salvador onstage, the mania started.

Coco Martin and Maja Salvador are both more known for their acting credits, with independent films and soap operas respectively, than for their live performance skills.  The duo, in fact, have no qualms hinting about their ‘pretensions of being a singer’ and capitalizing on their charms and physical attributes rather than their vocal prowess.  Nevertheless, entertain they did and much to the delight of their screaming and titillated fans.  Coco also related his experience of being a foreign worker in Alberta - endearing himself further to the already smitten crowd.  

The true talent of the concert was Angeline Quinto, who was impressive with her full voice, crystal clear pitch and unbelievable range.  The three stars, true stalwarts of their mother company, also did strong pitches for ABS-CBN’s flagship charity project, Bantay Bata.  

All in all, I was an audience for both the performances onstage and of the crowd, who just completely amused me with their uninhibited adulation and humorous heckling of audience participants.  It was that side of the Filipino seldom seen and rarely experienced, in all our preoccupation and seriousness in living the daily grind.  The stars did sizzle, and the crowd responded with equal fervor, raising the emotional temperature of the evening and turning it into a welcome respite from the freezing temperature of Alberta. (Concert photos courtesy of Earl Golveo.)

* This article was written for the December issue of Pinoy Times.

The Aura of Maura - a Filipina makes her mark in the Opera

Maura Sharkey-Pryma is an established lyric coloratura mezzo soprano based in Edmonton.  The first time I heard her sing in a church concert, I was in awe with her vocal prowess and equally proud upon learning that she was also of Filipino heritage, tracing her maternal roots to Lipa, Batangas.  

So when we were organizing the Philippine Arts Festival in 2010, we knew that it was essential to have her as one of the featured artists.  That production served as her “debut” to the Filipino community and events, and a shining example of the Filipino artist excelling in the global stage.

The span of Maura’s professional operatic career includes appearances with the  Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, The Opera Project, Opera NUOVO, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Chamber Orchestra, Edmonton Composers’ Society and a collaboration with Juno award winner Malcolm Forsythe and the University of Alberta Orchestra in Elgar’s The Music Makers.  Described by a critic as “an exuberant Canadian mezzo soprano... shows herself comfortable in all the registers, bursting precision and engraves resonance”, she has essayed roles like Cinderella in La Cenerentola, Mercedes in Carmen, Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte, and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors.

As a young girl, Maura initially wanted to go into musical theatre but a penchant for classical music and a flute-like voice quality opened up opportunities for her in opera.  A holder of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music at the University of Alberta, she is one of those people who was constantly at the right place, at the right time - with offers and opportunities smoothly tossed her way.  This does not imply, however, that she never worked for or deserved those opportunities.  Lucky as she was, she impressed me as a very hard and determined worker, fully grounded and recognizant of her true place in her art.  As attestation, she has won the Western Canadian Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions in Vancouver in 1998; was a two-time awardee of the Johann Strauss Scholarship, and again, a two-time recipient of the Anne Burrows Foundation Scholarship.  She was also the Canadian representative in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels, Belgium in 2004.

In addition to her personal achievements, Maura has generously been sharing her musical skills since high school, starting out as a piano teacher and eventually a voice teacher, coach and adjudicator.  “My purpose is to help each student build a solid musical foundation that will provide him/her a lifetime of enjoyment.  My job as a voice teacher and mentor is to inspire and uncover each student’s potential, and to be a guide-helping to develop and strengthen these gifts.  I am devoted to helping singers discover their voice, and present them in successful performances.”   From her private home studio and her studio at the MacEwan Alberta College Conservatory of Music in Edmonton, she trains ambitious young singers in classical, musical theatre, song interpretation, and extensive breathing and vocal techniques in the Bel Canto method.  She is also a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Music (NATS), the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association (CMFAA) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Music Education Foundation (AMEF).

In an interview I had with Maura, she reminisced about her musical journey and how her mentors have ingrained their distinct characteristics on her; the balancing act between her love for music and her family; the excitement of learning new roles and materials; her anecdotes as a teacher; and her aspirations.  She shared her dreams of having her own music centre, of portraying the roles of Carmen, Suzuki in “Madame Butterfly” and more Rossini operas, and of doing some recordings, especially the Filipino songs.  She proved that she knows her stuff -- what she needs to work on, what she excels at, and acknowledges the realities of her industry.  Her advice to young singers is to find a good teacher & learn as much as they can, ensure always that the voice is technically sound before pursuing a career, persevere, and pay their dues.

Our conversation was relaxed, an exchange of thoughts between two artists.  As we talked about art and other mundane things, she presented herself as a regular human being, yet somehow provided the sense that one has chanced upon someone special - a person cut above the rest.  She spoke with passion and at the same time, with logic.  That she is blessed in talent, wisdom, generosity and humility is palpable, and she possesses this luminosity that I call the “aura of Maura”.  Witness her live in her next performance as the title role in Carmen with the Calgary Concert Opera Company in their 2012 season.

* This article was written for the November 2011 issue of Pinoy Times.

Lifting the People’s Spirits through the Arts – Bacolod’s Masskara Festival

October marks the celebration of the Masskara Festival, which occurs from October 1-20 and celebrates Bacolod’s charter day anniversary, which is on October 19. The festival name is a morpheme of the word “mass” for crowd and the Spanish word “cara” for face. “Maskara” is also the Filipino word for masks, providing then the double meaning of “many faces” for the festival. This name was conceived by Ely Santiago – a painter, cartoonist, cultural artist and then President of the Arts Association of Bacolod.

A smiling mask is the symbol of the fiesta to reflect the happy spirit despite difficult times, and the locals’ nature of being strong willed yet warm hearted. The city is also known as the City of Smiles, so it is just fitting to hold a festival of smiles. The Masskara Festival was envisioned in 1980 when the people were suffering from an economic downturn of the sugar industry, the city’s main revenue. They were also grieving for hundreds of relatives and friends who perished in 1979 when a ship sailing from Bacolod collided with a tanker. The city’s leaders thought that a festival was an optimal way of rallying the people and lifting them from dejection.

The festival since then has evolved into a 20-day celebration with food fairs, mask-making contests, brass band competitions, musical concerts, beauty and talent pageants, a windsurfing regatta, competitions (pig catching, pole climbing, drinking, eating), trade fairs and exhibits. The climax is a mardi gras parade where revelers don elaborate masks and costumes, and dance in the streets. Everyone in the community participates – the civic associations, businesses, schools and government organizations. It has become one of the popular attractions in Negros, drawing thousands of people within and outside the country.

The Masskara Festival has also been judged the most beautiful and colorful festival among various contingents from other countries - notably in the Chinggay Festival in Singapore in 1988, the Lunar Festival of Hong Kong in 2001, in the International Tourism Festival of Shanghai in 2004 and in the Midosuji Festival Parade of Osaka, Japan, emerging as champion in the foreign category and first runner up in the local category – the first award to be given to a foreign participant in the 10-year history of that Japanese festival.

What was borne from a difficult time has propelled into a force that brings the community together, draws people from within and outside of the country, turns the economy around as one of the tourist destinations, and lifts the spirits of the people. The Masskara Festival is not based on any historical, religious or cultural premise but is definitely a creative undertaking. It is a manifestation of the people’s sentiments, their ingenuity and passion. And most importantly, it is a shining example of how one instinctively turns to art for expression, for escape, for hope and for celebration.

* this article was written for the October maiden issue of Pinoy Living, published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Mayor's Arts Visioning Committee - Edmonton as a Cultural Hub

I was fortunate enough to be a part of a Discovery Dialogue for Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel's Arts Visioning Committee last August 10.  Co-chaired by Dianne Kipnes and Brian Webb, the committee was tasked to understand and develop how Edmonton can use arts and culture to promote citizens' pride in the city through 2035 and beyond.  In the kick-off event "Think Tank for the Arts" last June that brought together artists, entrepreneurs, activists, performers, students, developers and community leaders, Mayor Stephen Mandel remarked that "Arts and culture form the very heart and spirit of a community, and are the things from which great cities are made.  I believe that Edmonton's vibrant arts community, knack for creativity and innovation, and unique multicultural character position us for success. This Think Tank event is about listening and working with the community to start to pull together an integrated and coordinated plan to raise the profile of arts in our city."

The Discovery Dialogues were the next round of consultations with various sectors of the community undertaken by the committee over the summer. Present were Councilor Ben Henderson, Dick Wong of the City Arts Council, Brian Webb and John Mahon, Executive Director of the Edmonton Arts Council. There were also representatives from various cultural communities engaged in the different arts - dance, music, opera, literature and the visual arts. The discussion centered around concepts and sharing of experiences on gaps in the Edmonton arts community, strategies, integration of arts and the business community, possible arts venues/locations, mentorship program, opportunities for emerging but mature artists, networking opportunities, festivals, free or low cost space, more quality performing venues, grants and other sources of revenue, artist recognition and integration of the arts further into the civic fabric.

The next round will be business, design and architecture stakeholder conversations on transforming and repurposing identified areas. These include the Rossdale Power Generation Station and riverfront plaza, MacEwan Centre for the Arts and Communications, Quarters area, downtown area and airport lands. Topics will include developing and planning the details about the amenities, programs and services that can be offered in these locations. The report with recommendations is targeted to be submitted by the Arts Visioning Committee to City Council by end of the year.

Ida Beltran-Lucila with Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel

It is gratifying to see that in these times of financial uncertainty, city government is pulling out all the stops in raising the profile of the arts and elevating it across the city, whereas other governments may be inclined to relegate it to the bottom of the priority list. After all, in the words of Mayor Mandel, "If we truly want to focus on attracting business and creating a superior quality of life for Edmontonians, we must start with the creative industry of our citizens... Opening our city up to the kind of creative excellence and energy that drives the arts industry is good business.  The arts can be a valuable economic driver for region."  Indeed, Edmonton will prove itself to be a good place for people, especially artists, to be.


* this article was written for Pinoy Times, published in September 2011 issue

Edmonton Heritage Festival 2011

Edmonton celebrated its 36th Heritage Festival from July 30-August 1 at the Hawrelak Park.  An annual showcase and celebration of Canada’s vibrant multicultural heritage, it boasted of 63 pavilions representing more than 75 cultures.  Inititated in 1974, then Minister of Culture Horst Schmidt declared the first Monday of August an annual holiday to recognise Alberta’s ethnic diversity.  A cultural feast for the senses, it showcased food, entertainment and arts and crafts displays.

Philippine Pavilion

Philippine arts and crafts on display, for sale

the Department of Tourism display with Phil. Pavilion Overall Chairman Wilf Ladores and choreographer/director Jojo Lucila

young boys performing the Maglalatik

dancers of the Karilagan Dance Society

The Heritage Days is one of my favorite festivals in the city.  As you go from one pavilion to another and watch the cultural presentations, you glean the commonalities countries have - traits shared either by geographic proximity or colonization.  It is heartwarming to see people dressed in their national attires, proud to show off their ancestry and earnest in sharing it with others.  And in the true spirit of intercultural collaboration, I saw the Pacific Island Dance Troupe, a Filipino group presenting Philippine folk dances and Hawaiian dances, performing at the Polynesian Pavilion.

The Philippine Pavilion on the otherhand, was overseen by the Council of Edmonton Filipino Associations (CEFA) with Wilf Ladores as Overall Chairman, Josie Pallard as Arts & Craft Chair, Elmina Cochingco as Entertainment Chair and Mandy Servito as Food Chair.  Also present was the Department of Tourism, San Francisco office.  I have observed that the Philippine cultural presentations were mostly done by the Karilagan Dance Society these past years.  They have successfully presented numbers that showed youthful enthusiasm and appeal.  One just only wishes that there were some presentations by other Filipino cultural organizations and performing groups  as well, for a more inclusive event and truly representative of the Edmonton Filipino community.  Kudos, however, to the organizers, participants and volunteers for all their dedication and hard work in the Heritage Festival every year. 

* this article was written for the Pinoy Times, published in the August 2011 issue

Invest in the Arts

In the "MLAs Face to Face with the Filipino Community" session held last April 19, 2011 hosted by MLA Carl Benito, amongst the issues of temporary foreign workers, immigration,  and Filipino nurses, a concern on the significance of arts and culture in the work of the ministries represented, i.e. Health, Immigration, and Education, and a push for an increase in profile of Philippine arts and culture was raised. 

It was gratifying to hear Minister Dave Hancock's response that the next direction for Education is Creativity, after Literacy.  This thrust then makes the Arts a core subject, rather than a peripheral one.  For to create tomorrow's leaders in a world we are not definite on how it will look, we need to nurture creativity and innovation.

Music, dance, poetry, visual arts, etc., are thought to enhance intelligence, physical and mental health for the young and old, and foster multicultural understandings.  The arts are expressions of creativity and can instill confidence and build self-worth.

Mayor Stephen Mandel himself highlights the importance of arts in our community, with the following excerpts from his State of the City address:

• ...if we truly want to focus on attracting business and creating a superior quality of life for Edmontonians, we must start with the creative industry of our citizens...
• ...the promise of our future can be secured by cultivating and investing in our arts industry...
• ...the vision is to establish Edmonton one of Canada's clear cultural HUBs, supporting excellence across all mediums with arts as an economic driver for our region...

Arts then, indeed, is an industry and is an economic factor in society.  In America, its highest earning industry is Broadway and also its biggest export, with all the touring these productions do.

So with all these proven individual and societal benefits, why not invest in the arts?  It is never too early or too late to be involved.  Enrol in courses in dance, music, theatre and the visual arts.  Watch local performances, visit galleries, instill a love for reading.  Take advantage of the cyberworld and visit the different companies, theatres and witness the artistry in their various works.  Volunteer in and/or sponsor art events in your local community.  One does not have to have professional aspirations to appreciate and benefit from art.  For when the art speaks to one self, it speaks direct to the core, to the soul.

And having experienced that, we make our world a better place to live in.

Mayor Stephen Mandel's State of the City Address - April 5, 2011

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel highlights the Arts in his State of the City Address


Here are some excerpts:

I want to thank the Belle Rouge Music group for entertaining us today and bringing a bit more of the spirit of spring into this event.  

I asked them to be here, not just for their talent but to provide a concrete example of what we all know to be true – that we have an amazing arts community in Edmonton.

And because I wanted to highlight something that I believe will be true about our future – that if we truly want to focus on attracting business and creating a superior quality of life for Edmontonians, we must start with the creative industry of our citizens. 

Yes arts are an industry. 

And I believe that the promise of our future can be secured by cultivating and investing in our arts industry as we do across many environments, and in more equal measure. 

One of my favourite urban commentators is Richard Florida who has shown repeatedly that cities who thrive do so on the creative industry of their citizens. 

And he notes that these people, who are mobile and who see a world without boundaries can choose to go anywhere. So why not here? 

Why not make Edmonton the kind of City that welcomes artists to a level that we have not yet contemplated? 

Doing so is good business. As a city government, we invest in structural foundations that help our communities and businesses to thrive. Why not consider arts in the same way? 

Edmonton has a tremendous, talented arts community, and we all enjoy its many expressions. 

But as we are entertained, I believe we fail to fully appreciate the economic inputs and energy that are also created. 

And as our three-year capital budget debates begin over the next few months, I want to infuse some thoughts about arts infrastructure into our long-term thinking. 

Which is why I’ve now tasked a new arts visioning committee, co-chaired by Brian Webb and Dianne Kipnes, who are bringing together artists, arts administrators, and local business leaders in an open forum focused on how we can raise the profile of arts, and through it, our city. 

This effort builds on our arts plan – the Art of Living – which started to frame some bolder thinking about the arts. It asks how we can ensure our arts industry is more fundamental to our core. 

The vision is to establish Edmonton one of Canada’s clear cultural HUBs, supporting excellence across all mediums with arts as an economic driver for our region. 

And from the efforts of these community thinkers, we will consider how we can help our arts community thrive as part of our overall mosaic of business and creative industry.