It was great to read in the letters to the editor on Nov. 30, Eric Andersen’s proposal for an arts, culture, and heritage strategy for Squamish, in which he shared a vision for a performing arts centre at Brennan Park.
As a mathematician, I tend to be extremely left-brained in my thinking, and have always found it difficult to connect with the arts and understand its importance in a community such as ours.
My perspective changed last month, when I enrolled in my first ever art course, taking four Thursday evening acrylic classes at Me and You Arts.
This brand-new business, owned by a professional artist who recently moved to Squamish, has helped me understand the value of the arts: to improve our creativity and confidence, to connect with others, and better appreciate our natural scenery and surroundings. I’m thrilled with the painting of Garibaldi Mountain that now hangs on my office wall; while it’s no masterpiece, it’s not bad for someone who didn’t know the difference between water colour and acrylic just four weeks ago.
Squamish has done a great job promoting industries and sites that have made us Canada’s outdoor recreation capital. But let’s not forget the other sectors that truly make Squamish what it is. Numerous studies show the correlation between a young person’s educational attainment and their engagement in arts and culture. Given how many young people live in Squamish, an investment in organizations such as the Squamish Arts Council can only reap dividends for this community that has truly become “home” to so many of us.
