Arts and culture in the spotlight at city hall

Support for arts and culture was a hot topic during the recent municipal election, and it was also a hot topic at Monday's city council meeting.

PHOTO CREDIT - OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Jan. 26, 2011 - The arts and culture sector was front and centre at city hall on Monday as city leaders welcomed a pair of delegations in the council chambers.

First, city council listened to a proposal from Shaukat Chaney and Deborah Arnold of Ottawa to establish a series of sculptures in Cornwall's Lamoureux Park as part of a planned international peace memorial dubbed the "Peace Corridors of the Americas."

Their concept would see sculptures erected in border towns stretching from Canada all the way to Chile.

Cornwall's proximity to the U.S. and Akwesasne makes it an ideal location for the memorial, Chaney said.

"It's all part of a huge project," he added. "As years go by . . . people will come to visit these sculptures."

The group has offered to place upwards of 25 sculptures in Lamoureux Park along the bike path overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The sculptures would be provided to the city at no cost, however if it goes ahead, the group is looking for the city to maintain and insure the pieces of art. The structures would most likely be seven to eight feet tall, Chaney said, and they could be ready to be installed in 2012.

Council referred the request to administration for review.

"We'll certainly give it the attention it deserves," said Mayor Bob Kilger.

Next, council heard a presentation from Keitha Fisher, Graham Greer and Todd Bennett regarding the cultural master plan for Cornwall and S, D and G, which is expected to be completed within the next few months. It's expected the plan will outline a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening the arts and culture sector in the Cornwall region, and for that reason, the group is urging council to plan accordingly during its 2011 budget deliberations.

It was also suggested that the city may want to consider creating a committee to oversee arts and culture issues in the community similar to the Recreation Advisory Committee.