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- The Citizen Voices Team
The Power of Art to Affect Change
by Aviva Zimmerman
I know its cliché…but I am proud to be Canadian.
I had the privilege of attending Their Excellencies’ recent Art Matters public forum event in Calgary, exploring the topic, “what is the power and purpose of using the arts to engage in social issues”. Not only does this question touch my heart to the core (I am a theatre artist who creates theatre with members of the homeless community), but this topic resonated even further considering the recent events in Haiti, where beauty and strength is unfolding amid the chaos.
I sat in the forum listening to Their Excellencies, the panelists and my community, all of whom were immersed in meaningful dialogue on the topic, and I was proud.
When people from across Canada think of Calgary, they normally do NOT think of the words progressive or bastion of inclusion. However, the recent Art Matters event highlighted the path which Calgary has begun to tread and the progress that can happen with the vision and commitment of an engaged community.
I grew up in Calgary and, as a teenager, often resented how rich, white and oil-obsessed my city was. I left for a number of years to attend school out east and had no intention of returning to my perceived “Cowtown”. However, after returning two years ago, I found myself in a new Calgary, a place where minorities were a fifth of the population, where a burgeoning arts community was expanding, and where increasingly progressive projects were unfolding. One such program was This is My City, a one-year pilot initiative launched by the City of Calgary Arts and Culture Division to engage members of the homeless community with art making opportunities.
The Art Matters discussion was a chance to reflect on this project and expand the dialogue to explore the power and purpose of this work in the greater community. The audience was a diverse group, including a sizable portion from the homeless community who shared their views on the topic.
The feedback from the room was varied. Audience members applauded the city for launching the program, chided them for their plans to discontinue it after the year, challenged the panel on its lack of diversity, questioned the deficiency of Aboriginal representation (30% of Calgary’s homeless population is Aboriginal), offered exciting future possibilities, and argued about promoting arts initiatives for the homeless rather than tangible project such as building more affordable housing. But amid it all, I was proud. I was proud of the change in which Calgary is engaged. I was proud at such an innovative project to provide expression to the homeless—a group that is so often vilified in the city.
I was also proud of the audience’s opposition. I was proud at how we, as a community, got together to chew and argue and disagree and challenge each other for more. I was proud of the space for dialogue that the Art Matters forum created. Yes, there is a long way to go for a truly just society to flourish in Calgary, but the city is changing thanks to the vision and commitment of a community which wants to see change. And this change will continue as long as our generation continues to push for and involve ourselves in the change we want to see.
Her Excellency started off the Art Matters event with a Haitian folk song, which she heard sung on the streets of Port-au-Prince during the search and rescue efforts. She stung the audience with this beautiful lament that shared the strength and courage of the Haitian people in this time of devastation. She proved right there the power of art to affect change. Sure, we need building supplies and medical supplies and clothing and job opportunities and affordable housing. But as humans, we also need the chance for expression, passion, belonging and meaning. We need bricks. But we need art too.
5 Comments
As an Calgarian artist I was quite happy to witness what I thought was an excellent program on Sunday. I felt proud that their Excellencies were in attendance at an event that spoke well of our community. I have a personal connection with the Glenbow museum as well, it was in the same theatre where I premiered my country and western musical play 'Don Coyote' back in 2008. 'Don Coyote' tells the story of a Calgarian who believed himself to be living in the Old West. It is Cervantes' tale with a stampede twist. It is also a story of mental illness and street life, and I found parallels to my work as I listened to the presentation on Sunday.
I believe strongly in the positive impact of Art in our lives.
I would like to conclude by adding a weblink that connects to a small group in Calgary called Peace Waves. This is a youth based initiative that promotes the culture of peace. They use Art as their medium to promote ideas of peace. This group is run by my two brothers, that's how I know about it. Currently they are both abroad, one studying Peace Studies at Bradford Universtiy in England. The other has just been accepted for similar studies in Tokyo.
www.peacewaves.net
Thanks again for your time,
Yours truly,
Matt Masters
If you wish to have any more questions about the artist place conatct me.
Trail's
As a Canadian fine artist, I have always seen art as the important bond for our beautiful world. Applying art in our lives can lead to the mutual understanding, respect and hold tight the values of our world and cultures. The outcome will direct us to speak one language.
A beautiful building can be built not only with one block but by many of them sticking together in order to form one strong building. When there is gaps / conflict of interest, unity and strength can’t exist. With the same idea, when racism exists will hold us back from seeing the world speaking one language neither will individuals be able to perform their best. This, where we need to give attention.
It is one of the impossible to be happy and enjoy true peace, while knowing that, out there, are people who can’t share or experience same blissful feelings. There is different between inner peace, as individuals, which comes as a result of doing our best, and the universal peace. This can’t be completed, until we know that everyone has same share of happiness and justice.
But how can art helps us to speak one language where there are different groups / nations have their own languages and goals!? How can it play its role to unify us. How can we speak same language while we have different ones!? And where does art fit in?! What can art does for us? What is the importance of arts in life and how could it bring people together to speak one language yet, still have their own languages and identities?
Art is not only painting, composing music, performing, writing, dancing or singing etc. There is also the art of communication, art of teaching, art of listening, art of speech, art of giving and even art of healing. The whole creation is speaking loudly of the maximum beauty of arts. If we give it listening ears, observing eyes, thinking minds, beating hearts, eager souls to apply art in all what we do, this can add exquisiteness and peace to all.
Our selfless, pure and sincere love for life and for our fellow men will motivate us to do everything with passion where art will demonstrate itself. This will lead to, not the typical oneness, but to the mutual understanding and respect for all.
A beautiful garden can be full of different flowers with diverse characters, aromas and designs. The flowers look absolutely astonishing and all colors are matching together in harmony, yet, each is still keeping its uniqueness. As is the case with an orchestra playing one symphony yet, there are many players playing harmoniously, with diverse instruments and with different tones! With this idea, our world can sing same melody beautifully, yet, each part has its own character. If we reach this understanding, we can speak one language.
Practically speaking, when creating opportunities for people to chose what they love to do and expressing themselves freely, they will not only, master it, but also, will benefit all. To accomplish this, we would need expertise, in every field, to pass on generously, their experiences, passion and love to others. When we master what we do, ARTISTICALLY, this will bring people closer and will eliminate countless hardships to many. Working out of love, will unite the world in a common field of understanding, respect, acknowledgment and care for one another. One does not need to be a brain surgeon to appreciate the art of operating, neither does he/she has to be hungry to learn the art of giving nor do they need to be creative architect to admire the art of architecture. But knowing and experiencing the motives behind everything we do with passion, automatically, will teach us what it takes to master something. The result will be mutual respect and appreciation will develop leading to unity. In this sense we will be speaking one language through art!
I am not a dreamer but only writing from a personal experience and that is why I am calling for unity, peace, love and understating among us all. Life will remain beautiful and is waiting for us to perceive it, learn it, understand its universal language, enjoy it and use it wisely with love. Through art we can speak one international language and this is how I am communicating with you through my art. So, let us speak to one another the language of life, language of love, yes, the language of ART.
Our Country Canada needs such bond to unit its people, create strong culture and leaving memorable civilizations, generation after generation.
Mona Youssef
The Wildrose Or the DI will be not be funded.. I will take my complaints and action towards to the CITY Hall..
The DI will set you up for lies.
I am instanding of protesting that the Wildrose stuios or the Drop In Get any funding. the DI has helped in me loosing 5 of my best friends, that would have given me the support I needed. I lost respect and told lies to me and lost respect from staff from the DI that were supporting my work...
i am a street person that looks into his art as ways of helping myself. I dont get no funding from any where.