Doors Open Aurora Cultural Centre Or Doors Closed, And The Motion Is Cultural Shock?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:47:58 +0000

Once upon the time and that time was last year when I re-invented my blog and moved from blog-ger to word press-er. I invested all the little time I had and I never even anticipated this return on my investment.

And the return being the increased traffic, growing subscribers list, networking opportunities, interesting photo shoot projects, thank yous, emails, comments and fresh post ideas. My plan worked but little too well.

Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora

The plan shall be the same for another year or so – slow growth. New inspirations, thoughts and post subjects come along unexpected on daily basis and my own list of potential posts is becoming outdated and irrelevant.

Some of you may know that I had an opportunity to visit and photograph SOYRA show at the Aurora Cultural Centre and at the same time I couldn’t resist to photograph the Layers show by students from Sacred Heart.

Layers, Sacred Heart C.H.S Show

I received personal thank you note from Luisa Capelet, Arts Department Head at Sacred Heart C.H.S. for visiting, photographing and blogging about this show. She said:

‘Your photographic eye is insightful and creative. Some really great photos in your portfolio. I also teach photography and am using the “blog” forum in the classroom. It is such an effective way to encapsulate ideas-words-images as well as evoke responses and reactions. Your blog site serves as a great example.’

Layers, Sacred Heart C.H.S Art Show

I smiled and I wish I could really think the same about me, but I really liked what she said about using ‘blog’. Though I must say that it is not an easy task to maintain blog regularly, so for that I will give myself tap on the shoulder.

She also wrote: ‘My students are really enjoying the Aurora Cultural Centre. It started with them acting as volunteers and since then theyhave been hooked. They felt an immediate connection and were well received. Funny how I randomly see them now and again as guests to art shows and programs.

Our show at the Cultural Centre had many lasting, positive effects on our students. I am grateful that the Centre was able to arrange for us to have some space. From my understanding the room was originally booked for a display that the Historical Society was going to have and when they no longer wanted to use it, it opened up space for us.

It was perfect timing. Many of my students are progressing with art and taking it in post secondary. The experience of showcasing in a gallery will remain as a strong element to their beginning successes in this area. Thank you for visiting our show.‘

Layers, Sacred Heart C.H.S Art Show

Another great statement this time for the Aurora Cultural Centre.

So the latest and greatest in town – potential motion to terminate the current Agreement between the Aurora Cultural Centre and Town of Aurora.

Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora

Strings of emails came lately asking me for the support and along a hint to make public aware of the Novita Report or Novita Study (Click on the Strategic and Business Plan for the Aurora Heritage Centre under DELEGATIONS Item 2 to download over 100 pages report).

The report was created by Novita Interpares and was adopted by Council in August 2008.

As result of this study the Agreement came along. The agreement is under jeopardy, and if terminated – ouch I don’t even want to think about it. Doors Closed? I guess, yes doors closed, just like the doors were closed for the museum.

So what did we learn from the museum then? I think we learned how hard is to get back on feet again. Do you think that it will be easy to bring the culture back if doors are slammed just like that. I doubt.

Oh yes I have been asked for help. But that wasn’t in the my blogging plan. My plan is to observe, photograph and write my observations. I rarely state facts because someone already did this job for me. I write my opinions based on the observations I discovered, and I could be wrong too. I write my experiences, and support what I believe.

Okay I cave in to post the link to the Novita Study, but I found pages of interesting stuff there especially when after scanning the report I went back to ACC website and there was no events under Heritage. See what I mean getting back on feet.

Show Case, Aurora Public Library, Aurora

For the Heritage part I have to give credit to Aurora Public Library for presenting the artifacts on regular basis (oh that Helen lady is really doing great job). In the mean time the only Heritage in ACC is the building itself.

Town Hall, Aurora

So I see two aspects in the argument between the two bodies – the cultural aspect and the financial aspect.

No doubt that the cultural aspect is booming at the ACC. No doubt that Town of Aurora pockets are depleting by pouring money to ACC. I am sure that it is in the Councilors best interest to have cultural centre in place they just do not realize that termination of the agreement may bring a cultural shock.

On the other hand if the culture is booming at the ACC then less financial support they should seek from the town. I thought that was always the way of governments, soon as your family makes more money they cut you off the government support.

Something to think about and I just hope we can resolve this issue anytime soon.

Something Is Missing In The Aurora Cultural Centre

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:32:32 +0000

Once I looked at the walls of the Aurora Cultural Centre and thought – what were these diagonal scratch marks on the wall? As a matter of fact on the both sides.

It never occurred to me that they were the missing fire exit stairs. I guess with all the renovations and safety route implementation in the building there is no further need for such stairs. So that’s missing, but there is more …

Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora

I don’t know if it just me but The Auroran our local newspaper did not have anything interesting written up in the past weeks. Not that it is the newspaper’s fault, just nothing that really interested me. I am glad that Bonnie Tiffin was back once with her Letter to the Editor some issues back.

Perhaps the next issue will have something interesting written up (I thought) and it did.

I was intrigued by two Letters to the Editors, ‘Cultural Centre should stand on its own two feet: reader‘ by Matt Maddocks and ‘Aurora High teacher has made good use of Cultural Centre‘ by Richard Markie, Head of Drama, Aurora High School.

Two very valid letters, Matt’s letter is eye opener for tax payers and Richard’s, oh I really don’t know what to call it, but it is encouraging to know that the centre is beneficial to many of us. No doubt, I have seen for myself that our Cultural Centre is being utilized effectively.

Well, between those letters there is something missing, perhaps some Aurora Cultural Centre’s financial transparency.

Matt wrote ‘In my experience, I’ve learned that when a business starts spending significant marketing dollars, it usually means profits are up. It can also mean the business anticipates growth‘.

I would like to add ‘may be they just got a good chunk of taxpayer dollar and they needed to justify the spending; and a full-page thank you was a bad move as it angered many of us‘. But then one can only assume such thought of mine. By the way, the Letter to Editor costs nothing and some write them to thank others – a hint here.

Well the list does not end here. In the beginning of the February I was invited to photograph the SOYRA show and sale event. It turned out to be a very successful show.

Visual Arts Class of Sacred Heart Catholic High School

During the same event, upstairs in one of the rooms it was last day art show for the Luisa Capelet’s Grade 12 Visual Arts Class of Sacred Heart Catholic High School. The art work for that show was inspired by Canadian Abstract Expressionist Cesan D’Ornellas Levine. There were paintings but there was also other art objects on the display.

Visual Arts Class of Sacred Heart Catholic High School

The same could be done for the Aurora history and museum artifacts. Library is already doing it and there is no one reason why Aurora Cultural Centre can do the same, but on the permanent basis. Yes, if there is no place for the museum at least we can share spaces.

‘Trust, honesty, humility, transparency and accountability are the building blocks of a positive reputation. Trust is the foundation of any relationship.’ ~ Mike Paul

Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Doors Open Aurora Cultural Centre Or Doors Closed, And The Motion Is Cultural Shock?

Something Is Missing In The Aurora Cultural Centre