These are the personal opinions of John McLachlan, citizen, arts advocate and volunteer at AABC.

What would happen if… everyone involved in the arts spoke up instead of hiding behind soft, carefully hidden words?

I know, I’m being naive but just imagine for a moment if the Minister of Culture spoke his mind all the time in all its glory. At least we’d know really where he stands. He made outlandish remarks about “being threatened” but at least he had the guts to say it (some would say he was foolish to say it).

What about others?

I know, I know, it’s “just the way things are done” but maybe that’s the problem.

Can we all not just speak up and say the truth and maybe just once, try doing things in a different way than they’ve been done before?

Dream with me for a moment…

• Imagine that the Minister always spoke what was on his mind. Everyone would know where he stood on issues. No second guessing.
• Imagine if the leaders of ALL arts organizations in BC spoke up instead of working behind closed doors in clever ways and telling us that “it’s better this way.”
• Imagine if staff at the BC Arts Council could speak really freely knowing they’d not lose their jobs?
• Imagine if the BC Arts Council board said “damn the torpedoes, we’re going to say what we think is needed” despite being told to be polite and work behind the scenes.
• Imagine if all artists spoke up at every chance they got to say how they thought things could be different.
• Imagine if the head of Gaming and all the bureaucrats around him were to suddenly say what they really thought so that everyone would know what the heck that place is thinking in making “policy”?

Imagine.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

Am I?

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