| July 16, 2004 |
Time to shut it down - This website, that is. It only costs $10 a month to host it, but that's three more cafe mochas I could enjoy. I'm no expert nor an artist, but Toledo seems to have a decent arts culture. I enjoy it. I get more interested in the arts every year. But there's not much interest around here in discussing arts-related issues. That's too bad, because preaching to the choir -- the artists -- won't accomplish as much as educating those who perceive the arts as a waste of tax money and a hobby of the wealthy and elite.
Neither perception is even close to reality. Sure, some arts events are expensive, but so are some sports events. It could be said that youth hockey is a sport for wealthy families, but the demographics of those who watch pro hockey is varied.
There are many fine arts events in Toledo that are either free or inexpensive. Cheaper than going to a UT football game. Changing the stereotypical thinking that many Toledo neanderthals have about the arts should be a priority. The fans who enjoy the goon hockey of the Toledo Storm may learn that the Arts are fun too. But that will only happen if the word is spread about how wonderful the arts are in Toledo.
Spreading the word should be more than a paper or a magazine that simply lists a calendar of arts events. And more than the Blade publishing a couple of arts-related articles per week. Why not a weekly paper with news articles, opinions, educational how-tos, etc. that is 100% devoted to local, national, and international arts? The political and business aspects of the arts should be covered. Maybe one exists and I don't know about it.
I'm talking about something along the lines of the Toledo City Paper, except only about the arts. Local people: journalists, authors, artists, teachers, and fans of the arts could contribute articles, questions, opinions, and news. Pad it with some national arts news too. And hopefully a one-stop calendar of arts events.
I'm looking forward to my trip to Saugatuck, MI in August, just to see what's happening there. The small town of Saugatuck, which is located in southwest Michigan almost on the shore of Lake Michigan, is one of the top 25 cities in the U.S. for the arts. Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh are also in the top 25. Why not Toledo? What are those other cities doing that Toledo isn't?
Anyway, enought of that. If you have something about the arts, you can always post it at ToledoTalk.com. At the end of July, the plug will be pulled on this site.
posted by Jr to Opinion at 7:26 P.M. EDT