ArtsVote Calgary has updated responses from a considerable number of political candidates on arts policy, and the particular needs of their constituents when it comes to the arts. Find out what your local candidates have to say (click here). So far, responses have come in from:
7 Alberta Party candidates
5 Evergreen Party candidates
13 Liberal Party candidates
10 PC Party candidates
2 Wildrose Party candidates
You can also find responses from Senate candidates here.
I have not read all of the responses by any stretch. I will try to get through them all before Monday. I find it interesting, and not a little disturbing, that of all of the Wild Rose candidates only two chose to respond. I suspect that suggests a prevailing attitude toward the arts and artists that is not particularly supportive.
I find the responses from those Conservatives and Liberals to be rather generic. I don’t think any of the candidates has really come to grips with the idea of all the arts. That means, writers as well as visual artists, dancers, musicians, playwrights, orchestra and opera. They continue to think in terms of big arts groups, arts and artists that are visual. They are not thinking, in my opinion, of all those artists of all kinds who exist below the visual radar. I’m not sure how to remedy this.
Oh, I forgot to say, that as far as I’m concerned the election of Senators is completely irrelevant until or unless the rest of the country does it as well. I do believe we need a Senate, I just see the election of candidates as a waste of time and effort until it is done every where.