Perhaps through some miracle of modern newspaper graphics software my recent letter to the editor on the topic of sustainability of the arts community ended up on the same page as a Citizen editorial demanding an end to the planning of a proposed regional performing arts centre.

In the editorial I am quoted suggesting that the potential high rental costs of such a new venue may stifle its use by community arts groups. I stand by those words, however that is where our cosy little editorial love affair ends.

The City of Prince George is perfectly justified in developing plans to build a regional performing arts centre. The existing infrastructure is on its way out. Vanier Hall, which belongs to the Ministry of Education is aging and is not a theatre. The Prince George Playhouse, originally built by a group of passionate thespians, not the city, doesn’t really fit the proposed community plan for Recreation Place. And since when did we start to worry about the necessity for facility infrastructure compared to the need for filling potholes and laying sewer pipe?

There is apparently no need to justify or scrutinize the constant pouring of cash into other facilities around town IE: The million dollar retrofit of the dilapidated Coliseum presently underway. The citizens of Prince George have forever, shamefully ignored the infrastructure needs of the arts community and to continue to do so will be at the peril of the community.

I believe this facility should be built. Constructed downtown with plenty of partnerships and operated with a healthy annual subsidy from the City of Prince George just like every other city-owned facility. Thus, helping to make it useable for the community arts groups I was talking about. This building will fill a long standing infrastructure void, it will beautify any area it occupies and for those on the outside looking in, it will permanently lift this community out of the red neck, blue collar quagmire that some seem too happy to wallow in.

Bill Russell

Prince George