Community impact: preserving the arts
“When we lose access to the arts, we risk losing our humanity,” says Jenn Neilson, PhD. “It means losing community connections, feelings of inclusion, political awareness and the opportunity to make and consider social commentary.”
Artists and arts organizations in the capital region face a critical tipping point, often struggling to access affordable, appropriate spaces to create and perform, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic spurred the loss of critical infrastructure.
Long-established organizations, including the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the Victoria Symphony, along with dozens of smaller arts groups, are looking to sustain or acquire their own downtown spaces.
The Victoria Foundation is working with charitable organizations, the government and businesses to interpret local data, clarify inventory and find opportunities to sustain music, performance and visual arts spaces regionwide.
Community data reveals that few purpose-built artistic spaces exist and that rental and real estate prices continue to rise.
Jenn Neilson is a co-founder of The Arts and Community Infrastructure Foundation, a new organization formed to prevent arts organizations from closing or being displaced, by housing them under non-profit landlords.
Neilson says she’s excited about how the community is coming together to own their own spaces – everyone from small organizations with occasional needs, to large galleries and theatres, to groups representing marginalized and diverse communities.
“There has never been more support for the idea that arts organizations need to own the means of production.”
Read more here: https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/thread/community-impact-reimagined/