Below is a link to a Macleans article circulated around our office by Kiirsten, one of my colleagues at the agency. It seems that Winnipeg's art scene is second in Canada only to Vancouver's.
Click here to read the article
I find this ironic. Our community leaders continually extol the cultural prowess of Manitoba's capital, and took pride in the fact that Winnipeg was chosen as Canada's cultural capital for 2010. And I agree that from the perspective of having a community of great creators and artists, Winnipeg is indeed a thriving cultural hub. I can tell you though, that where it falls short is in the willingness of the people that live here to pay for or fund that art.
Truthfully, culture is close to the bottom of the list in terms of financial support from government, most citizens and private business. And while there are those that do support a great deal of art, no question, many of Winnipeg's population see art and culture as a luxury, and not nearly as important as other areas that require giving, or even buying a ticket. So in my view, the thriving art community is there as a result of the grit, determination and spirit of the artists themselves.
Nobody could compare the need for good healthcare with the need for a great work of art. But Winnipeg will only really be a cultural hot-spot when the community truly rallies around it's creative forces with more than just words of praise and encouragement.
