Dear Minister MacKay,

After carefully reviewing the merits of redeveloping the Garrick Theatre at Bonavista as outlined by the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation, I feel compelled to write this letter in support of its efforts and make some supplementary observations.

As a teacher of drama and theatre for thirty years, as a writer of Newfoundland literature, and as an amateur performer, I believe that the development of this facility into a community theatre would have far reaching social, cultural and economic benefits.

Joanne Case, in an article entitled A Case For Arts Education states a document produced by the Ontario Arts Council which claims . . . to succeed in the workplace and in our changing society, people must develop higher-level skills, including creativity, problem solving, the ability to communicate in different ways, self-discipline, tolerance, and critical thinking. A growing body of research demonstrates that the arts can help develop these critical higher-level skills. The tip of the Bonavista Peninsula epitomizes the changing rural society and the changing workplace. Therefore, if a community theatre, such as the Garrick, can help foster the above-mentioned benefits, I believe it the responsibility of government agencies to assist and support all efforts to help develop it. The social, cultural and economic benefits are worth it.

When I speak particularly about economics, I need not remind governments about the challenges of maintaining a vibrant economy in rural Newfoundland in the face of a collapsing fishery. The Bonavista Peninsula, which has relied almost totally upon the fishery for 500 years, offers a particular challenge. The catch term of the day is diversification. With our rich history, our unique culture, and our talented people, I believe we can look to the arts to provide one such area of diversification. A classic example of this is the case of Stratford, Ontario. In 1951 Stratford, with a population of 1700, saw its livelihood in the railway industry. It was that year that the railroad closed down throwing a significant number of people out of work. This closure can be compared to the declining fishing industry on the Bonavista Peninsula. It was the Rotary Club to the rescue in Stratford, sponsoring a Shakespearean Theatre Festival. Today, Stratford is known internationally, it spends $100 million directly on the festival, and creates 500-600 jobs. Is there not a lesson to be learned here for the Bonavista Peninsula?

The Stratford analogy may be somewhat sensational; nevertheless, the economic benefits of the arts have been substantiated by numerous studies. Provincially, for example, as far back as 1991 Mr. John Barry, in a study appropriately entitled This Business of Culture, found that the cultural industry employed 2300 professionally with another 1100 jobs indirectly affected. He found that for every $100,000 in revenues contributed from government, 6.6 jobs were created in the arts and cultural area. This compared to .09 in manufacturing. The picture is more impressive on a federal level with studies showing that approximately 500,000 jobs are created in the cultural industry.

In 1990 a Toronto Study said that 63 per cent of business was partly determined by the cultural climate of the area. This was at a time when business was compelled to be near the market place. Today, however, with sophisticated communication technology, business can determine their place of location on other criteria. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that a vibrant arts community on the Bonavista Peninsula could attract people and other business opportunities.

The people on the Bonavista Peninsula recognize the economic benefits of the arts both in direct jobs and in spin off jobs, particularly in tourism. This is why they are asking governments to invest in this Garrick Theatre Project. They are asking for a facility that can serve as a nucleus around which an arts industry can be developed. But, the people realize that there is an intrinsic value to the arts as well. Our writers, actors, painters and musicians have presented us to the world as being hard working, patriotic, stoic, resourceful, hospitable, and determined. We are a people proud of our traits and we want to preserve them, and we want to use them to help make our province work.

Given these considerations and taking into account the points made by the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation I ask the question. Can governments risk not investing in this project? I strongly believe that if the powers of authority refuse to support the restoration of the interior of the historical Garrick Theatre, it will be an unfortunate, missed opportunity.

Yours sincerely,
Bruce Stagg
Hillview, NL

cc:
Hon. Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Hon. Danny Williams, Premier, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hon. Tom Hedderson, Minister, Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Hon. Kathy Dunderdale, Minister, Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
Scott Simms, M.P., Bonavista Gander Grand Falls-Windsor
Roger Fitzgerald, M.H.A., Bonavista South
Paul Mills, Vice-President (Newfoundland and Labrador), ACOA
Mayor Betty Fitzgerald, Town of Bonavista

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