Candidate’s Info:
Rino Bortolin
1419 Victoria Ave
Windsor, Ontario
N8X 1P2
Ward 3
519.962.8607
rino@rinoforwindsor.com
rinoforwindsor.com
1. Implementing the MCMP:
The Municipal Cultural Master Plan represents a strong commitment by the City to significantly support the arts in a variety of ways that will help to harness the economic and creative potential of the entire arts community, however, there has not yet been a firm commitment in terms of schedule or budget to realize any of the new proposed initiatives in the MCMP. Of the 15 as-yet-unrealized recommendations in the MCMP, which ones would you prioritize and complement with the necessary financial support and political commitment in order to successfully implement them?
Rino Bortolin: While the entire MCMP needs to be implemented, I would start with a focus on three main points. Repositioning the Cultural Affairs Office in Parks & Rec (point 4) is important. This would allow for better cost sharing and interweaving arts and culture into the already strong infrastructure of Parks & Rec. The Cultural Affairs Office would also then be at the table when planning for festivals and other city events. Ensuring adequate resources for the Cultural Affairs Office (Point 3) and establishing an arm’s length Cultural Funding Commission (point 7) are the most vital components of the plan. These both have to deal with adequately funding the Cultural Affairs Office so that it can become viable and sustain itself. I have proposed setting up a Cultural Trust that is initially funded by selling off certain city assets such as Roseland Golf Course and the city run Marina. This would show a serious effort and commitment on behalf of the city. For more details about this idea and plan please check out my post on my website at
www.rinoforwindsor.com/?p=203 Funding is a very contentious issue. It is very important to show how we can adequately fund these institutions without increasing taxes or cutting other city services.
2. Arts Infrastructure:
Given the substantial economic, cultural, and social successes realized by other North America cities through the development of exceptional arts facilities, given the enthusiasm for multiple arts organizations in the region to work together and the proven track record of such facilities to transform the urban landscape, and given the recently adopted Municipal Cultural Master Plan’s directive to provide capacity-building support for arts organizations, how will you support our region’s infrastructural needs for multi-use, multi-organization arts and culture facilities such as the Capitol Theatre and Armouries-Palace?
Rino Bortolin: As I have outlined in my post on my website
http://rinoforwindsor.com/?p=174 I would incorporate our cultural institutions such as the Capitol Theatre into our Parks & Rec department and run them as we run community centers. In the case of the Capitol we could continue to use it as a community theatre but also utilize it as an arts community center. Acting lessons, music, dance, etc can all be taught there. Working in conjunction with the University and the College to help facilitate this is also important. They gain the benefits of using the facility as well as offering their students a work option. Students who attend the school of music (potentially moving downtown) for example, can now work minutes from where they go to school. This would also lead to students deciding to live downtown which would have an obvious impact on the downtown economical landscape. By changing the perception that arts and culture are an economic stimulator rather than a burden on our municipal budget is key in having the community accept these ideas and support future infrastructure spending.
3. Economy and the Arts:
Artists and arts organizations across the region bring in millions of dollars every year in revenue through grants, sales, private investment, and donations, infusing additional millions of dollars back into the local economy. Over the last twenty years, across the province, arts and culture industries grew 14% more than the rest of the economy. As the arts are a long-proven driver of economic development in the city and beyond, what will you do to ensure that the arts and culture community can bring even more investment, talent, and dollars to the region?
Rino Bortolin: By combining the efforts of the Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation (WEEDC), Tourism Windsor Essex, and the Cultural Affairs Office we will see a much broader form of cooperation. Those relationships will result in cost sharing of resources, contacts, and initiatives. If the mandate of the WEEDC is to expand and diversify the local economy then what better way to do so than work hand in hand with the Cultural Affairs Office to develop programs and initiatives that result in more local artists staying in the area, more artists deriving a living wage from their work, and attracting more attention to help further develop arts and cultural institutions as tourist attractions. A renewed focus on arts festivals and institutions as cultural tourism will further develop because of the new synergies between the Cultural Affairs Office and Tourism Windsor Essex. We need to view arts and culture in the same way we view new technologies and new economic sectors such as renewable energy. Investment in those sectors seems like a no brainer. The economic impact is expected and unquestioned. As the question states, arts and culture is one of the fastest growing sectors in new economies. We need to tap into that and look at financial commitments as investment; investment that will reap big rewards especially for downtown Windsor.
4. Arts and Culture Funding:
Strong financial investment in arts and culture has direct and tangible economic and social returns, as measured by economists such as Richard Florida, Statistics Canada, and the Conference Board of Canada, and as demonstrated in cities around the world. This investment engages residents and draws new talent, assists in fostering new businesses, and creates a healthier and more vibrant community. With that in mind, how much of the municipal budget would you allocate to arts and culture, and how would you justify that spending to your constituents?
Rino Bortolin: By creating a Cultural Fund that is funded entirely from city assets we would not need to see an increase in taxes. I would support the recommendations in the Cultural Master Plan that increases investment incrementally over years that sees the amount reach just under $1 Million dollars per year. This would be above the amount that the Cultural Trust is valued at. By doing both at the same time and incrementally we would set a firm footing for the Cultural Affairs Office and ensure its viability and sustainability. This money would also be complimented by other infrastructure spending and investment that is not included in the operating budget.
5. Your vision for our Region’s Arts and Culture:
Please briefly describe your vision for the near, medium, and long-term future for arts and culture in Windsor and/or Essex County.
Rino Bortolin: I believe the City of Windsor needs to be a leader in changing the negative perception that arts groups have in the city. They are perceived as a burden and thus not respected and seen as undeserving of any investment dollars. We have a wealth of arts groups that thrive under some of the most challenging economic conditions. If we as a city can change the negative perception of arts and culture as a burden then we can allow the arts groups themselves to define their vision for the future. The reality is that arts and culture can become a vibrant part of Windsor’s rebirth. It can expand the local economy while diversifying it at the same time. It can inject life into a deflated downtown core and it can propel post secondary institutions to invest more and more into downtown Windsor. I would love for my kids to have the same access to the arts that is afforded to them for sports and recreation. I would love to see our community as proud of our world class symphony as it is for our glorious Spitfires, where public spaces become part of the cultural landscape, where our young artistic talent is made to feel welcome and respected, and where and when people feel they need to come back to.
