Beautiful music, artwork, and great food highlighted the first annual Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts at Capers in downtown Belleville today (Friday).
Mayor Mitch Panciuk didn’t try to fool anyone as he admitted that he likely didn’t have an artistic bone in his body.
“However I strongly believe that the arts, culture, and heritage sector of a community is as important as any other. The arts make us think creatively, they expand our horizons, and make us better people all around. Life would be drab without the arts and having a strong arts and culture sector improves our quality of life. They give us different ways of remembering our past.”
The Mayor said artists are moving away from big cities and into more rural areas such as the Quinte region “and this is an excellent thing. Artists tend to be more environmentally conscious and often serve as a decent “conscience” in our communities. We want to welcome them with open arms. Our council is and will continue to support arts and culture in every way possible. Not long ago we committed to doubling our investments in arts, culture and heritage.”
That remark drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd of about 150.
“I want this first annual Mayor’s Week for the Arts to be the dawn of a new era for arts, culture, and heritage in Belleville. There is a new sense of optimism in the city and boosting the arts is going to be important in growing a better community. A strong arts sector will attract professionals such as doctors, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and retirees.”
Providing entertainment at the luncheon were: a trio from the Quinte Symphony comprised of Linda Minty, Joel Bootsma, and Lisa Kemp.
Deborah Smith, Melody Yang, and Douglas Rice from the Professional Studio of Douglas Rice
Chantel Strangway and Daryk Richards of the Quinte Ballet School under the supervision of Artistic Director Catherine Taylor and Desiree Botting, assistant.
