Arts must prove worth

Dear editor: I have read with interest Mr. Sinclair’s three part series (Herald, Nov. 1, 2, 5) on what the churches should do to serve his needs in the arts community.

Quite frankly I was exhausted mentally dragging all the sanctuary necessities out of storage in the dungeons in order to hold a service.

The main problem the arts community has is crying over their wine glasses instead of taking positive action to ensure a venue is available to serve the needs of the community.

They sat silent while the 750-seat auditorium was torn down and the best acoustics in the valley bit the dust.

They failed to raise enough money to renovate the old movie theatre into live theater. The venue died from lack of financial support.

Churches are consecrated. You need to consecrate a building to turn it into a church. If the new arts centre was consecrated it would no longer be an arts centre; it would be a church and the auditorium would be the sanctuary. Most churches have always been willing to share their buildings in the community interest; they would probably allow you to use their new building, providing there were openings available in between their many charitable community activities.

The arts community needs to prove to this community that their $40-to-50-million proposal would be self-sustaining. Robbing the churches to serve your needs isn’t the answer.

Why haven’t you started a summer outdoor theatre? If the arts community is in such desperate need of a venue one of the parks could easily serve this need. It could likely be used for at least four months out of the year. Filling this venue all summer long would go a long way to proving to the public your need for the edifice you desire.

Your group needs to get together and think of a way of proving why you deserve this instead of finding ways to rob the faithful of their property. Elvena Slump Penticton we’re voting for. What would the outcome of the 2017 election have been if each of the three proposed systems was used? Please, anyone.”

I, for one, whole heartedly agree with you on this subject. Also I feel better supporting information such as this would make people far more open and accepting of trying a new system of electing their representatives.

As it is, many of us who feel a change could be positive are going to be leery with such vague options being offered for our consideration. Tom Crawford Penticton