Therrien praises calibre of local artists during candidates debate
Mayoral candidate Diane Therrien spoke to an arts crowd at Market Hall on Tuesday evening about how arts and culture make a city more “livable” at what was expected to be a debate including Mayor Daryl Bennett — but he sent his regrets.
Bennett told organizers he had a police board meeting at the same time as the Arts Vote Peterborough discussion and debate on Tuesday evening — and he’s a member of the board.
But Therrien talked about how important it is to support the arts at the gathering organized by Electric City Culture Council called Arts Vote Peterborough.
“The arts make a community livable — and make people want to stay here,” she said.
Therrien said there’s “limited city assistance” for artists locally — and yet the calibre of arts here is far and away better than any similar-sized community anywhere in the nation.
Therrien said she moved here from Hamilton in 2010 — which also has a vibrant arts community — but found something special in the arts scene in Peterborough.
“The calibre of artists you find here in Peterborough is above any you would find, anywhere in Canada,” she said.
Bennett sent a statement, which was read aloud at the meeting.
“We need to support our arts community,” Bennett stated.
He also wrote that the city needs to have more people working and living downtown.
“Investment in our downtown can’t be allowed to push out the people who make the downtown the vibrant, successful area that it is today,” Bennett wrote.
He also said he has a history of supporting the arts, through his involvement in the Save the Market Hall campaign, for instance.
About 65 people were at the meeting Tuesday, including many artists and 18 of the 25 candidates running for city council seats.
In breakout groups — with candidates and artists at each table — informal discussions took place about arts and culture in Peterborough.
People talked about Indigenous art in the city, for example, and about gentrification of the downtown and the threat that it will mean fewer inexpensive artist studios.
Coun. Dean Pappas, who is running for re-election in Town Ward, was asked about the last arts event he attended.
“There was an excellent musician playing at Pappas Billiards last night,” he said, referring to the billiards hall he operates downtown.
“I must be the only politician who employs artists three days a week,” he said, adding that he understands artists should never work for free.
“You wouldn’t work for free, would you?” he said.
Coun. Gary Baldwin, who’s running for re-election in Ashburnham Ward, spoke of the possibility of increasing the municipal grant money available to arts groups.
Kim Zippel, who’s running in Otonabee Ward, talked about how the paperwork to apply for those grants could be streamlined.
“We could reduce the paperwork substantially,” she said.
Jim Russell, a candidate in Town Ward, and Zach Hatton, a candidate in Northcrest Ward, both said politicians ought to speak to artists and ask them what they need and how the city can help.
The municipal election is Monday.