Franklin Beecham, Visual Artist

ap·a·thy

[ap-uh-thee]
1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

Gripes I hear over and over include, “…too many art shows and festivals”, “how can we get government support?”, “no one buys at art shows?”, “no one cares!”

Everyone has a choice: do something about it, or just sit back and wait for it to happen. It takes more than just the community to be involved – it also takes great motivation from the artists and their representatives. Artists must learn to be assertive in their marketing. If you can’t do it yourself because of the lack of expertise, then invest in some help. The key is to keep the momentum going.

The starting point will always be with friends and family. Encourage them to support you and help spread the word of your existence. Join an arts group, but don’t just leave it at that. Get involved! Volunteer at your group’s events and activities. Expand the awareness of your talents to your fellow members. Learn from seminars and workshops. Help your group become a louder voice so that the greater community and its leaders become more aware.

Our society suffers greatly from apathy, relying on others to do our bidding. The problem is that those singular advocates sound off to deaf and ignorant ears. Fund managers have different priorities and urgencies. That is to be expected, but the arts have a place in the future and past of every community on this planet.

It all starts with you. You are the voice that will be heard. You can make a difference! In the age of free communications, you can reach many more audiences that you could 20 years ago. Embrace this technology. React to this blog or the blogs on yorkscene.com, use tools like Twitter or Facebook. Talk to your peers, talk to your community. Join a community arts group like the Markham Arts Council and volunteer. Your involvement is important to the support of your art.

It all begins with you!