The following letter was sent by our President on behalf of CFUW Burlington ....

October 15, 2014

Dear Mayor Goldring,

We were happy that the City of Burlington launched a planning process that resulted in a

Cultural Action Plan for the city. Many of our members take a keen interest in the arts and

volunteer and donate to various arts organizations in the city.

This plan recommends many good things, one of which is the establishment of a Burlington

Arts Council and the hiring of at least 2 city employees to oversee cultural activities in the

city.

Although Council voted in favour of the Cultural Action Plan, it did not support the first stages

of its implementation. We would like to see Council establish the Arts Council and hire the

two employees suggested by the Cultural Action Plan.

Guelph, Hamilton and Oakville all have long established Arts Councils that administer city

funds and also help artists with grant applications. Burlington has never had such a body.

Guelph, Hamilton and Oakville all have permanent city staff devoted to the arts. Guelph and

Oakville have 4, Hamilton has 16. Only one and a half positions have been created in

Burlington Obviously one and a half cannot do the same job as several in promoting our Arts

scene. The arts create jobs . Not only do they add to the quality of life in the community but

they spin off restaurant activity and bring life to the downtown after business hours.

The author of the Cultural Action Plan document, Jeremy Freiburger, has stressed that

unless all aspects of the plan are adopted simultaneously, it will be almost impossible for it to

work.

We would like to see the plan honoured. Perhaps the second employee need not be titled a

manager if that raises the salary to an unaffordable level.

Please tell us when you will implement the Cultural Action Plan in all its aspects.

Sincerely,

Wendy Turnbull

President CFUW Burlington

president@cfuwburlington.ca