Better city planning needed to form a cultural district

Nice letter to the editor in today's Citizen, written by Jovanka Djordjevich. Some exerpts:

Organizers of the Feb. 15 downtown performing arts meeting, better termed cultural centre meeting, said that they were “surprised” at the turnout.

It reminded me of “southerners” who say Prince George has “about as much culture as a tub of Astro yogurt." Not true. We have a long list of talented artists, writers, musicians, singers, performers, a rich farming community and natural beauty that nourish our souls.

These are the elements of culture, but I realize that unlike communities such as Fort St. John, Vancouver, and Kelowna, we have not forged a forum in which to collectively celebrate these riches. Surprisingly, we feel cultureless. To put it bluntly, we as a community have failed ourselves and the Feb. 15 “surprise” is evidence that we are long overdue for change.

Food, art and a central gathering place make our homes places that we want to be and we take great time and expense to create them. Why is it then, that we cannot understand the need for public funds for the facilities needed to make the art, secure healthy food sources and foster the basics of community?

With the “surprising” interest in an a cultural centre, as well as strong support for a public market and provincial funding available for public gathering places, now is the time for us to refocus on the downtown core. It needs art, it needs a year-round food source, and it needs an inviting gathering space.

With good planning, strong leadership, a supportive community, and perhaps a faulty clasp on the public purse, we may even be proud to call it home.

Read the full letter here.