To the Cochrane Arts Community – your input is needed now. In my Sept. 13 column I wrote about giving a presentation to the Tri-Site Committee about the need for an arts centre in Cochrane. On Nov. 27, the Tri-Site Committee held its Reveal to the community about the first draft of a plan for what to do with the three sites the town has available for future development. As you can see (links below), the present plans do include an Arts and Performing Centre. I am very grateful that it has been included – think this is long overdue. Some of the ideas they are including and other organizations they are partnering us with I think are good. But, to be honest ,I have some concerns, and so do some others. In all fairness, at the point of writing this column, I haven’t yet had the opportunity to talk those concerns over with members of the committee, and maybe some of them will be addressed when I do. But since the Tri-Site Committee is making a presentation to the town council on Dec. 10, I think we need to voice our concerns and get answers sooner rather than later. I know with this being the Christmas season and all the busyness that is part of it, that this is not a good time to be asking people to add another thing to their plate. But if the arts matter to you, then I am asking you to at least take a look at this and to let your voice be heard. So I am asking you as an arts community to please take a look at this and to give me your feedback. We have an opportunity to have our voice heard. Don’t waste that. I would very much like to hear from you with your thoughts and comments at [email protected]. You are also invited to give your feedback on the Tri-Site page at: http://www.letstalkcochrane.ca/tri-site/. Here are the plans as presented at the Reveal: http://www.letstalkcochrane.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-11-22-Boards-Reveal-for-online.pdf Here’s the video that went along with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omdffiv2leU&feature=youtu.be There is also some other information from the Tri-Site process at: http://www.letstalkcochrane.ca/tri-site/ (Check out the related documents at the bottom of the right sidebar.) We need your input. I hope to hear from you.
