Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Ottawa Councilor Moves to Stop Arts Cuts

According to the CBC Clive Doucet, councilor for capital ward is going to attempt to remove the 4.1 million dollars in cultural funding cuts from the City of Ottawa's budget.
Those who got up to speak said it was irresponsible for the city to put arts and culture groups in the position of having to beg for funding year after year.

About 300 arts supporters packed into the council chambers for the first day of budget hearings for public delegations. (Kate Porter/CBC)
"Others understand the economic value of culture but in Ottawa, there's a perception problem evident in the draft budget," said John Reid, chair for the city's arts, culture and heritage advisory committee. "We need to break out of this annual cycle of destructive debate and threats to long-term plan commitments which are a matter of trust."

The cultural community is ready for constructive dialogue, but "never again do they want to feel so victimized," he added, bringing all 300 arts supporters to their feet in applause.

Doucet's announcement, which followed, drew even louder applause.
. While in the short term pressure must be kept up to insure that Doucet is successful, it is now likely that the city of Ottawa's culture sector is safe for another year.

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