Hello,
As you are a candidate in the 2010 Markham Municipal Elections, I would like to know where you stand regarding the Culture and Leisure of the Town of Markham, specifically regarding the Arts Culture sector.
Are you aware that the Arts Culture sector does not have a home base of its own?
From my own experience in the Arts sector, I know that there is a huge growing community dedicated to the Arts in Markham, yet funding is generally channeled towards other Culture and Leisure facilities and the Arts are all but ignored.
Let’s get down to basics: If you look on any particular wall in your home or office, you may see hanging there, a photograph or a painting or print. You may even have some sculpted art. Your child or someone you know is taking piano lessons or dance classes. You may have eaten breakfast cereal this morning from a bowl made by a local potter. You might even have a book of poetry sitting on your bedside table. These are all art forms that are created each and every day by Markham citizens.
The Arts play an integral part in the culture and heritage of any community, yet it seems to be all but forgotten because governments do not provide enough to nurture and foster the Arts.
Are you going to take the lead by helping to provide for the Arts in Markham?
When you think of the community expansions in Markham, are you going to consider implementing facilities for to the Arts as has been done with sports facilities and baseball diamonds, along with your infrastructure plans?
The Town of Markham desperately needs an Arts Centre now. It needs a facility where Arts administrators can promote the Town of Markham as an important Canadian Arts hub. It needs rehearsal space for performing artists to hone their craft and expose it to the community. It needs publicly accessible art space for the next generation of “Group of Seven” artists to show the country that there is an expanding arts movement in Markham that the Town can be proud to have supported.
I would like to know what your plans are for the Arts in Markham.
Sincerely yours,
Franklin Beecham, Visual Artist and resident of Markham
