When I started Cochrane Arts, now CIAS, almost a year and a half ago, I did so because I see a special potential in the arts here in Cochrane. I always have, right from the time I first got to know the arts community here over 30 years ago. So I have tried over the years as I was able, to do what I could to bring out that potential.
Over this past year, I have looked to the arts community to try to get a sense of what you as a community want. First, because for personal reasons, I had been out of touch with the arts scene for about 9 years and I had a lot of catching up to do. Second, because I wanted to see what kind of fit there was with what you as a community wanted and where I see myself going with my own vision and purpose in life.
What I see at this point is still this deep sense that we have something here that could be incredibly special and powerful. I still sense that there is a desire here to come together, to harness that particular synergy and energy that comes from people coming together to share their unique ideas, passions, knowledge, etc. in order to build something bigger and deeper and better.
What I am also feeling is that the vision and sense of where I see things need to go, and what you as a community want are different. I don’t think it’s about one way being right and the other wrong – it’s just different.
That combined with some personal things that I also need to deal with at this point in my life, have brought me to the place where I feel I need to step back or even step out of CIAS.
I haven’t lost my vision and passion for arts and creativity, and for that here in Cochrane. I’m not sure just how that will play out for me in the days to come although I do have some other options and ideas that I intend to explore.
Although I started CIAS because I had a vision and passion for it, CIAS was set up as a society. Which means that it belongs to you, not to me.
So I need to make a decision – and so do you.
I have other responsibilities I have to deal with at present which means I just do not have the time and energy to put toward CIAS the way I had hoped to.
We could put CIAS on hold, but I don’t think that would be the best or wisest thing to do.
So I’m putting this out to you as the arts community. CIAS belongs to you – what do you want to do with it?
We don’t necessarily have to come up with a full decision on anything right now. You may need time to consider different options, but you do need to start thinking about what you want for and from CIAS going forward.
I’m asking you as a community to start that conversation by coming to the AGM – Annual General Meeting on Monday, February 25, 7:00 pm in the Mitford Room at the Days Inn at 5 Westside Drive, Cochrane.
