"It looks like people see more opportunity in the bigger cities," said Maryse Benge in a phone interview. She is organizing a benefit concert this Saturday to raise money for Ottawa arts.

Ottawa should serve as the national focal point for art, Benge said, but because it is "considerably smaller," artists wanting to become bigger are looking to bigger cities. Fortunately or not, there's two of them within easy driving distance.

Benge said that City Hall's recent discussions on cutting money for arts was another warning signal. "The arts in the city of Ottawa was seen as such a small part" of the City's budget, she said. "It was a big, big wake-up call."

Finalized in March, the proposed city budget had funding for local arts under the guillotine. A proposed $3.4-million cut to arts and culture programs caused widespread alarm, leading to a "My Ottawa Includes Culture" sign campaign, and, eventually, to restored funding.

Juan-Miguel Cinanni, who will play with Afro/funk/jazz group Presswon Saturday, agrees that artists seeking recognition may leave town. The city's size has the scene at a crossroads, he said, and one way to grow is to collaborate with the artists of Montreal and Toronto.

"We need to show that there's something big and strong here ... I think Ottawa is starting to open up a lot."

The benefit concert, called United Vibes of Ottawa, will feature dance, music and visual art. Benge hopes to raise between $400 and $600, which will go to the Arts Council of the University of Ottawa, a student-run organization that helps local, emerging artists.

Cinanni said he expects more events like United Vibes, and Ottawa's reputation as a dull town full of ladder-climbing bureaucrats and quiet nuclear families can be changed: "As a government, capital city ... we can reach the world."

United Vibes of Ottawa, Mercury Lounge, Saturday May 8 at 6 p.m., $8 advance, $10 door.

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Show how important the arts are for quality of life....     I'm hoping that the arts scene in Ottawa is on the rise, since I will shortly be moving there from Montreal. At first I had rather mixed feelings about this, since I love Montreal as a place to live and as a city, but since my field of work is in museums, it is probably a good move for me career-wise. Someone I talked to mentioned that the city of Ottawa should be benefiting from all of federal arts funding for the country, since it should naturally be a focus of spending. I would hope so, but now I go and read articles like this one, stating how small and troubled the Ottawa arts scene is.... I think that it is rather embarrassing on an international level if a capital city does not visibly display its commitment to the arts. The arts are very important to national identity, and it would be impossible for Canadians to distinguish themselves culturally from other countries without the arts... Hopefully the mere existence of articles such as this one will reinforce the need for Ottawa to have a vibrant arts scene. I've definitely have seen some improvements in Ottawa since my first visits there, and I hope that some actions will be taken to keep artists in Ottawa. Maybe grants and funding to encourage artists in the city to stay? I guess if the funding has already been threatened, this is highly unlikely. I can hope, I guess.... I wish more people would visibly support the arts and show how important they are for our quality of life.
Heather Jackson	{1 vote}	May 12th, 2004
Looking for some inspiration     Ottawa is this country's capital. It is the home of a lot of great things, it's got a decent hockey team and it's restaurants are great, not to mention all of the art galleries. But even with all these galleries it just isn't an art-inspiring town. It's too cold and flat as a city to inspire artists to stay. I've bought some great stuff there but most of the artists I've known are always talking about moving on. That can't be a coincidence.
Jeffrey Kwan	{1 vote}	May 10th, 2004
Following the council's attitude     Not long ago, the council was easily thinking of slashing the budget for the arts. It took demonstrations and a quick reaction from artists to change it. It now seems that some people want to be proactive. Good for them. Hopefully, the council won't see it as an opportunity next year to cut some more.
Marc Charette	{3 votes}	May 10th, 2004
Artful play     The Ottawa arts scene deserves our help but not nearly as much as Benge would have us believe. The Ottawa arts scene is in a bad way but I could list off a few places that need the help more, besides it's far stronger than people give it credit. Brain drain and funding issues aside I have to say that Ottawa has a fighting chance. And you really can't blame the exodus of the artists--I mean, if you were starved and isolated wouldn't you try to find an oasis? Ottawa is not an arts mecca the same way Montreal is not a good baseball franchise.
Juana Cabezas	{2 votes}	May 9th, 2004
Get the butterfly net!     "Ottawa should serve as the national focal point for art."--Maryse Benge Are you on industrial grade crack, woman?! Ottawa? Ottawa?! Look, I'm sorry most artists with half a brain are fleeing Ottawa to go elsewhere but really, can you blame them? Ottawa is at best a stepping stone, not a destination. Ottawa has it's points, I'll give it that but if you're an artist the siren call of inspiration and success tells you to go elsewhere. Montreal comes to mind with Vancouver and Toronto a distant third. Hon, you can sweeten the pot all you want because in the end no self-respecting artist would simply choose to stay in Ottawa. Visit and do business, yes. Stay? No.
Pedro Eggers	{5 votes}	May 7th, 2004

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