Wednesday night, I sat in at the first candidates discussion of the political season.  The event, put up by L’Association Focus Art Association, a group I am a board member of, had a main topic of interest : Arts.

Every election, the arts and culture–and more specifically the need for an Art Center–are brought to the forefront of election topics.  But are we any closer to getting an art center today than we were four years ago?

Yes, important steps have been taken, but they have been taken  towards the idea of such a facility, not towards the facility itself.  An art council is now in place, but the city still doesn’t have an art department of its own.  In other words, we are no closer to breaking grounds.

I understand that council wants to do this and do it right.  Any time the topic is brought up, ramblings of millions of dollars in investment float in the air. We see money as the main stumbling block with having an Art Centre.  We keep comparing the creation of an Art Center to that of the Benson Center, but I never heard any artist asking for anything even remotely as elaborate as  the Benson Center. They simply want a place, any place, to do what they do best and call their own.  They are artists, I’m sure they can spruce up an old place! I may be dreaming, but couldn’t we just rent an existing building for a few thousand dollars a month, even if it’s a temporary solution,  and get assistance from the city for rent?  Artists could sell their wares and a percentage of the sales could go towards funding this venture.  It could be a Co-Op or sorts, partly financed by patrons of the arts, by  business owners and by the city, where artists of all disciplines can come together under one roof.  I tell you what… Give us $20,000 a year and we’ll make it happen.

At the debate, many of the people running for council pointed fingers at artists and said that in order for the city to listen, all artists have to come together with one voice.  Unfortunately, many of us are of the opinion that only an Art Center can rally us all and accomplish such unification.  Seems like we are caught up in a vicious circle…

We don’t have to get it perfect.  We just need to GET IT DONE.

This past Sunday morning, I visited “Get Cracking” for the first time since it changed hands a year a some months ago.  I have to say that I was served one of the best, if not the best, breakfasts here in Cornwall.  Breakfast is breakfast, but everything was especially  fresh, portions were more than generous and service was quick and friendly and for that, I give “Get Cracking” my kudos of the week.

“Kudonts” of the week

Not impressed with the level of service at our local Bonnie Togs/Osh Kosh store.  I Visited on a Tuesday night, when practically nobody was there, with 2 cashiers tending to the store and had to wait quite a bit before being served.