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vocacy Advanced Education? I Think Not By Peter Feldman I had been trying to get theringingout of my cars from the resounding slap upside the head that was delivered to Canadian politicians on October 26 (and President Bush on November 3. as it turned out) when a chain of events brought home an important message with great clarity. The message is this: institutions of advanced (post-secondary) education arc abandoning their support of arts programming with increasing regularity. Let's sec for whom the bell has tolled; the following is a (no doubt incomplete) list of such institutions that had important--in the national sense--presenting programs in English Canada and the years that ihey abandoned them. The list includes only those places where the educational institution was directlyresponsiblefor the program: Medicine Hat College (1986) · Dalhousie University (1989) · University of Western Ontario (1990) Red Deer College (1990) · University of Waterloo (1990) · McMaster University (1992) University of Lcthbridge (1992) Dalhousie University, all of the above arc in Alberta and Ontario, two provinces frequently touted as "have'" provinces by various people in the federal government.) These developments should be viewed with alarm, not just by those in our industry, but by those involved with education as well. It has been proven ad nauseum that arts education is not confined to learning about art; arts education opens the human mind in ways that readin', writhV and rithmetic don't. The arts themselves are, in fact, advanced education. Lets remember how long it took engineers to realize Da Vinci's concept of the helicopter. Let's also remember that research has shown that adults who are exposed to education in the arts are actually able to increase their IQs; the arts can actually enhance a human being's intelligence. When the arts are viewed in this context, it is absolutely incomprehensible to me that post-secondary institutions are gelling out of arts programming, no matter how compelling the economic arguments may be for getting rid of non-academic programs. Municipal governments are routinely faced with the same hard financial decisions, yet I haven't heard of municipal performing arts facilities closing ihcir doors. I think this is due to the fact that municipal governments view an arts expenence as something that attracts development, business and population. The fact of the matter is that people don't want to live in places where access to the arts is restricted or otherwise made difficult. So it is very clear to municipal politicians that access to the arts is just as important and desirable as access to sports and n facilities. Why haven't colleges and universities grasped this? Education is not supposed to be simply to prepare one to find a job that will make him or her financially secure for life. Education is supposed to challenge us; education is supposed to prepare us to be productive, thinking, responsible human beings. Sure, we need to know how to solve problems. But experiencing the arts and the creative process helps us to Icam how to pose the question, how to develop the hypothesis. Colleges and un: municipalities, have lo come to grips with the fact that certain experiences are worthwhile value-added investments. I prefer to think that the shutdown of campus presenting programs are a consequence of this misunderstanding; 1 would hate to find out that those responsible simply don't give a damn. Peter Feldman is the Executive Director ofCA.PA.C.OA. (Canadian Arts Presenters AssociationlLAssociation Canadienne des Organismes Artistiques). The article has been reprinted from the association's newsletter with his permission. Bill Reld. Joe Fafard. Galhie Falk, Alan Wood. Guido Mo 1 1 nah. Robert Bateman & Molfy Lamb Bobak. SUPPORT FINE A R T P R O G R A M S The "Artists for Kids' Trust provides Art Enrichment Programs and Scholarships for students in North Vancouver Schools PURCHASE FINE ART PRINTS O Institutions of advanced education are abandoning their support of arts programming with increasing regularity. O For the Life of Art Wc may be down, but we're not out. In fact, we're not even down. March 11 will sec the largest showing of support for the arts in a march and rally called For the Life of Art, if you, your friends, neighbours, clients, customers and all other voters come See the Artist for Kids Show (featunng the resurts of arecentetchings workshop with David BlackwoocTJ at theSeymotir Art Gallery. March 12-Apnlfl AJIthe Artists for Kids prints will also be on display, including the most recent release from Molly Bobak. For more information, contact Bill MacDonatdat987-6667 The message is simple and powerful. We are a part of this community and we want to welcome everyone to share in our experience, to recognize and celebrate art's integral part in everyone's life. Stand up, be counted, be recognized, be heard. Join artists, supporters, audience members, business people and curious bystanders on the terrace of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at 2:30 pm. The group will proceed up Georgia Street to the Vancouver An Gallery's Georgia Square. Once assembled, we will celebrate the arts in song, speeches and camaraderie. For the life of art, join us! f md RIVERS INLET, B .C. V CARL DALIO ROBERT GENN I MORRIS SHUB1N HARRY HEINE JACK REID DAVID MAC LAG AN | JUD1 BETTS The Padfk Northwest's most successful artists In a wilderness setting. Nature provides the moss covered old growth forest, the pods of whales, the surf pounded beaches. We provide comfortable headquarters from which to work. Fly In to the finest lodge on Canada's rugged West Coast. CALL C W WRITE FOR COLOR BROCHURE. r^ryEJ^ LODGE^ Cunitrt Georye Ardlev. Riven Lodge. 14 . A.c. M · \ I ' 1993