NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES
Yellowknife (Oct 13/00) - To understand the views, and future activities in the arts, of the Yellowknife candidates for mayor and council, the Aurora Arts Society distributed a two-question survey to all candidates, soliciting their views on the development and role of the arts in Yellowknife.
- Yellowknife is blessed with a strong and vibrant arts community, across all artistic media. As an elected member to Yellowknife City Council, how will you support the further development of the arts in Yellowknife?
- Tourism is now a global phenomenon. Tremendous growth in tourism is expected to occur in this sector, largely due to the fact that the baby boomer generation is retiring with secure, disposable incomes and have a demonstrated interest in cultural and educational related travel, worldwide. Given this situation, identify and briefly describe any concrete actions you will undertake, as an elected member of city council, to promote the co-development of the "arts and tourism/business sectors" in Yellowknife, to plan for and take advantage of the global growth in cultural tourism.
The following comments are summaries of the answers all candidates provided. Complete candidate responses can be obtained from the Aurora Arts Society.
Dave Lovell
1. City should continue current level of sponsorship and support of artistic venues.
2. City should support focal points of activity between arts and tourism, such as promoting Yellowknife festivals to the world. City should act as facilitator for leveraging grants from other levels of government.
Cheryl Best
1. Onus is on the arts community itself to develop plan of action. City could consider a permanent bursary to NACC. There are opportunities for a public gallery and arts college
2. Promotion of our assets is a key activity required at this time. Promotion requires public and private sector partnerships, especially in the areas of hotel space, transportation and nightlife.
Gordon Van Tighem
1. City should act as a catalyst by supporting strong partnerships. City can have more conscious approach to showcase and promote Yellowknife art.
2. Arts and culture are a pivotal component to tourism, so city needs to integrate arts facilities into waterfront development. Old Town is the nucleus of the arts and tourism industry.
Bob Brooks
1. Increase NACC contribution conditional to GNWT matching funds. Support city becoming more a partner in the arts.
2. Arts and tourism are linked through product development, therefore tourism and artists need to work more closely together. Mining museum at or near waterfront is one example of tourism development.
Ben McDonald
1. Generally, arts deserve more attention in the area of facilities and work spaces. City should consider staffing a grants search officer and also consider ways in artists can link into the smart communities project.
2. Tourism and arts development are as important as diamond development, maybe more sustainable. Petitot Park could be considered for tourism improvements.
Blake Lyons
1. Incorporate arts community interests in city planning process prior to budget development. Encourage tripartite partnerships between the arts community, city council, and Yellowknife MLAs.
2. Development of an arts and craft centre and city market at the Bartam Trailer Court area. Local actors, in period costume, could give guided tours of Old town.
Dave Ramsay
1. Continue city support of major art venues and festivals. Will explore the idea for a Centre for the Arts.
2. Partnerships with aboriginal groups can develop cultural tourism. Recreation at Long Lake can be further developed.
Alan Woytuik
1. Will support applications from arts community through special grants portion of the budget.
2.Tourism in Yellowknife would benefit from a "living mining museum," an interactive arts-tourism experience, but partnerships are required to develop this level of large scale tourism undertaking.
Dave McCann:
1. City can help to facilitate establishment of a city market to provide outlet for artist sales. Over long term, a public city market should be strengthened with permanent buildings for year-round use by variety of vendors.
2. Tourism poised as a growth industry. The development of public art and public open plaza spaces will help to facilitate the tourism-arts link.
John Murray
1. City should give a larger share of its discretionary funding to the arts. Support workshops and demonstrations for local and visiting artists.
2. Money spent on beautification could be better used to encourage individual property owners to improve their frontages with landscaping, outdoor sculpture and murals. Need the input of people in the arts community.
Wendy Bisaro
1. Arts should receive subsidies in the same manner as other organizations. Need to find way to reduce the costs of using NACC.
2. City can contribute to publicity and promotion of the arts, as well as linking arts events with conferences and gatherings.
Travis Armour:
1. Advocate the development of a Yellowknife Arts Council. Support City funding directed at marketing artists' work.
2. Will support dedicated position to marketing and co-ordinating tourism on behalf of city. City can help ensure infrastructure is in place.
Kevin O'Reilly
1. Will work to retain at least current level of funding. Need to improve access to NACC for local artists and performers.
2. Will promote stronger arts mandate for city's economic development department, and work more closely with Yellowknife First Nations. Yellowknife can be the "Northern City of Festivals."
Bruce Coomber
1. Art school could provide opportunity for development and provide space for those lacking facilities though this institution would eventually have be to self-sustaining.
2. An arts school in Yellowknife can also serve as a popular tourism attraction. Residents of Yellowknife have to contribute to tourism and art development.
Wayne Bryant:
1. Support use of Akaitcho Hall as multi-faceted co-operative run Artist Workshop Facility.
2. Will work to identify more venues for local artists to demonstrate, and will support Bartam area for potential art/tourism infrastructure.
Robert Hawkins:
1. Best solutions come from community input. I would support Petitot Park infrastructure, Web site development among other initiatives.
2. Will support the establishment of partnerships between aboriginal organizations and local outfitters, as well as partnerships between municipal, territorial, and federal governments that strengthen local tourism.
