Sunday, June 18, 2006

The Arts



Sabby. I really don't know why people do not support "the arts". Somehow we just don't seem to grasp what "the arts" are. When someone uses the words, "the arts", we can almost not comprehend what that is. I think to support the arts, there has to be a strong passion for them. As most of us know "the arts" are there but we can't really get our hands around it, so to speak. Now a sport team, or a charity, or a cause that touches our hearts, that is different. For me the only time I really think about it, is when someone like you brings it up, or there is an award show, when someone brings the arts up, then I think about it, and I to then wonder why more people don't give their support. I know the support the government has provide the arts is going down, when it should be going up. Thanks for bringing the subject up. Winston Allison



8 comments:

secondave MSN said...

Winston I agree, the public support of the arts is essential.
Although I have regard for all art forms, my love is film. I've been
renting silent movies lately (Metropolis 1927, Don't Change Your
Husband 1919, Nosferatu 1922). All films studied in film school.

I signed up for an adult acting class for the summer months at the
Diamond Head Theater. I decided on this to get a deeper understanding
of the craft, and hopefully take my appreciation of movies (and
Stage) to a higher level. My only concern is that I wont be the only
old fart enrolled. I have no intention of becoming an actor as my two
remaining brain cells have difficulty remembering what I had for
breakfast never mind scripted lines of dialog. If you want to
appreciate the talent in any art form, take a few minutes and try
doing it yourself. For example I attempted to write a short story
awhile back, and discovered I'd best stick primarily to reading and
enjoying them.
Second Avenue.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013442/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0010071/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017136/

sabby MSN said...

Winnie and Second Avenue,   Thanks for your input.  But why aren't we as passionate for the arts as for sports?  Is it the way we are taught in school?  Crammed down our throats so we hate literature or art or drama or dance or opera?  It's kinda sad.  In Russia they have monuments to their poets.    And Second Ave.  Go for it.  You'll have fun!    Dolly

winnie3ave MSN said...

Sabby. For us down here in the States, we have Public Broadcasting. It is supported by the public and some companies, and some endowments. If we get anything that is involved in "the arts", it is because of that National Public Television. The government supports them, BUT, ever year that $ support goes down. They use to have fund raisers every 6 months, then they started doing them every month. Now, even though they are commercial free, they have little company promotions at the beginning of a program. I just love that network. The CBC use to have that type of programming, but because I cannot get the CBC on satalite since they went digital, I don't know if that is still the case. But it almost seems like the arts are inconvienent. If it doesn't make money, promoters are not interested. So sad. Oh well, that is the society we live in. To much entertainment, and not enough time. So we pick and chose, and "the arts" are at the bottom of the list. Winston Allison

maggiemck MSN said...

Maybe if the government would discriminate a little when it came to handing money over to "artists" there would be more support from the public.

sabby MSN said...

Question:  Does the government support sports?  The Oilers are owned by wealthy oil men and their salaries are ridiculous.  The thing is, the arts are an industry and can be a money maker too with proper investment.  Where are the Canadian investors?  Look at the states with all their backers for film and theatre productions.  We seem to always have to rely on government, ie Canada Council and Heritage Canada.  Once you do that, you are bound by their rules.  And the CBC is a joke.  Even Neil Young was rejected and went on to do bigger things in the States.  .   Art and culture has been given a bad name in this country.  If you like the artsy stuff, you are branded a snob, elitist.  A country without its arts and culture is a country without a soul.  The one thing about Quebec that I always admired is that they always supported and stood by their artists and culture.  Canada seems to fear originality and does a bad version of anything the states produce that shows a profit.. Just look at Canadian television.  Pathetic!   We have to get excited about our painters, writers, performers, etc. like we do about our sports heroes and that starts in the home and schools.  We have to make it accessible.  However, it's always the first to go when there is a budget reduction.  It's like when school boards decide to cut out gym classes and school libraries.  Now we have a generation of obese kids who can barely read.  The cost now is even greater.   I realize we like world peace, this problem will never go away!  Okay, I've purged my soul so off to bed I go.  Take care everyone.    

winnie3ave MSN said...


Sabby. The different branches of government ( not the federal branch) in the USA, does support professional sports. They support them thru tax breaks, and even helps them to build new stadiums. The Canadian government does nothing to help professional sports. Basically they are on their own. For instance the new Forum was paid for by The team owners, and the city, province or Federal government gave them no help, not even tax breaks. Also this may come as a surprise to some, but all the NHL players contracts for instance are in American dollars. So when the Canadian dollar was valued at 65 cents, these teams could hardly exist. Now it is a lot higher, it is somewhat easier for the teams to make their payrolls. If I recall, I saw a program on the Calgary Flames a few years ago, who were having to take commercial flights to their next games, also having to wait at the
baggage section to get their own luggage. This did not allow much time to rest up between games.

conniekoz MSN said...

I can attest to the Flames travelling on a commercial flight.  Several years ago I was taking a flight from Calgary to DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) and the whole flames team was on the same flight as me.  I had a nice chat with Theoren (sp) Fleury who was seated right beside me and I asked if they were heading to Dallas to play the Stars and he said no............we transfer in DFW to head to Los Angeles.  Calgary did have direct flights to LAX at the time but maybe they got a better deal going with Canadian Airlines (that is what the Pengrowth Saddledome was called back then) Canadian Airlines Saddledome.  I must add that they were all very well dressed and polite.  There were also several media guys travelling with them (Ed Whelan and Peter Maher (YAAAAAAAAA BABY) LOL   Connie

sabby MSN said...

I'm not up on the business end of sports.  I do recall a couple of years ago when it looked like the Oilers would fold  some wealthy types here in Edmonton invested in them.  I think this was after Pocklington sold off Gretzky and left Edmonton.   Anyhow my point is that Canadians do not support their artists like their sports figures.  No way!