Being a Community Partner – News from Focus Art by Rose Desnoyer

Being part of a community should mean being involved to a certain degree.

Being a member of the Focus Art Association or any association should also mean being involved in the community ……or should it?

Lately I have reflected on this matter. To what extent are we to expect members to participate in their clubs or associations?

Can we allow ourselves to join in name and be bystanders who watch as others do for us without being part of the creative process of our lives, of our community, of our environment and of our future.

Let me put this case before you and let you decide.

Our city is contemplating investing more in arts and culture. If you are reading this you are probably curious in this area of interest. What can we do to help this dossier along.

In this day and age partnerships are the way to get things done. It unites energy, finances and expertise.

Focus Art Association is attempting to do so in every way possible.

For the artist being a partner means leaving the comfort zone of the studio and venturing out onto committees, community activities, youth and senior groups, environmental movements or some social advocacy group.

Sounds interesting? Not your cup of tea?

As I see it, being an artist is more than being a producer of art..it is also being a communicator……artists have something to say.

Artists have a way of seeing life, of organizing space and time; this ability can often be helpful and should be shared.

Being king or queen of one’s studio is great, but communicating to the wider audience is using one’s talents to make the world a healthier place.

In the past members of Focus Art have partnered with youth to paint a mural at the Agape centre; they have partnered with Cornwall Square and high school students to offer free workshops during March break; they partnered with GlenStorDun Lodge to put on an exhibition for seniors; Focus Art has partnered with Le Centre culturel to purchase gallery lights for their gallery Le Corrid’ART and exhibitions there; they have worked with the City’s Art in the Park as well as with the Cornwall public library. In a modest way Focus Art is trying….

However, too often we see the same volunteers. It is important for all of us to understand that if we want art and culture in our city we must stand up and make space for it. If we the artists do not care enough to do so who will?

We are at a point when artists in all domains need to seek a high profile so that citizens express their appreciation of the arts and culture to our city leaders. This means a concerted effort by all artists to be involved in someway.

Be active…