MESSAGES FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fall. It means cooler temperatures, TIFF and a return to something resembling a normal routine. At Ed Video Media Arts Centre, it means all of that and so much more.Since the new Board’s been joined at the end of June, we’ve been diligently working to make progress on a number of issues, not the least of which is ongoing financial concerns still affecting us, in no small part, thanks to the recent recession. As well though, we’ve been preparing our new Strategic Plan and dealing with a couple of trips to court over postering issues (more on that later).
Mostly though, we’ve been talking about the marketing of our Arts Centre. How do we bring people into the centre? What can we offer? What is it about Ed Video that makes it unique to its members specifically and the Guelph artistic community generally?
To that end, we’ve also been talking a lot about engaging you – the membership – about what it is you want to see at Ed Video in terms of programs, equipment, facilities and community-building. If you have thoughts on any of these issues, now is the time to make your voice heard.
And as we count down to Ed’s 35th anniversary in 2011, we’ll be asking our members to get more involved. We’re working on some unique celebrations and fundraisers in the next couple of months, and there’ll be opportunity for everyone to get involved on many different levels.
Most of all what we’re trying to do is just promote the existence of the centre. As it stands, Ed Video is currently Guelph’s only artist run centre, which makes us integral to that state of the arts in the Royal City. Our gallery is attracting attention from artists of every stripe, but what about art appreciators? Can we do more to bring such a wide and varying demographic into our humble centre?
We can, and we will, and we’re going to prove it starting now. Ed Video will have a booth at the Eden Mills Writers Festival next week, and few days after that we’ll be hosting the Guelph Arts Council’s Schmoozefest in our gallery. Our goal is nothing less than to make Ed Video so popular that owning one of our t-shirts will be a sign of status amongst all peer groups. (Ask the staff about getting a shirt now, so you can be ahead of the curve.)
Which brings me to other acts of uniformity. Ed Video’s been hit twice now with summons to court for violations of the postering by-laws. Now before you become saturated with visuals of Liz, Scott and Angus with tape and glue, marching around downtown, to flagrantly violate by-law, it’s actually not our fault.
We rent our gallery to a lot of different groups - some artistic, some political – but almost all low-budget, indie, DIY organizations working out in the scrum to get their fair share of air time. Posters are a cheap, easy and effective way to obtain attention, but the City of Guelph only recognizes a few public spaces downtown to post. And as much as we try to make groups renting our gallery know that postering is a no-no, and that we’re the ones that get in trouble for it, the message doesn’t always sink in.
Regardless, there are a few points of concern. One, why is the city dropping the hammer on not only Ed Video but the owners of the Bookshelf, the Palace, and other night clubs for having the gall to promote their arts events all of the sudden? And two, what can/should we do about it?
Scott and I have talked about it and realized something: it’s an election year. The Guelph Municipal Election is Monday October 25th and we’d love for all our members to make arts and arts support a priority when talking to the candidates in your ward during the election season. The Ed Video staff and board will be doing what we can, but in politics, an issue is taken more seriously when the people make ignoring it difficult. We need to be heard. And since you’re a member of Ed Video, you clearly care about the local arts. We encourage you to make your voice heard this election. We want a city that does more for the arts that just offer an election season soundbites.
That’s all from the Board for now. If you have any thoughts, concerns, questions, or ideas, we’d love to hear from you any time. This is your arts centre. Make it everything you want it to be.
That’s a wrap!
Adam A. Donaldson
Co-Chair Ed Video Board
You can see more info about our current Board of Directors here.