Town needs arts centre

Published on 11th January 2007 in Letters

Sir - I write in response to the letter 'Do we need this white elephant?' (Readers' Page, December 21), regarding the proposed Arts Centre in Goole.

At 22 years of age all I have to go on is stories of the days when Goole not only had one cinema but three. I have never been able to go to the cinema in my own town. And yet it seems that M. Burrows believes it is only a minority that yearn for a return to those days of trips to the movies without even having to get the car out of the drive, or catch a train or bus.

Our friend also seems to think that the councillors intend to knock the market hall to the ground, which I do not believe is the case. Furthermore, on the subject of the architecture of the building, may I say that the plans for the Arts Centre appeal to me very much. I strongly believe that playing on the town's history and heritage and opting for the planned 'neo-industrial' exterior of the building is a great idea.

The clever designs to create natural links and flow between the currently separate areas of the Victorian Market, Wesley Square and Boothferry Road demonstrates a level of planning rarely seen in our town and cities. And, yes, I agree that some people will not appreciate the aesthetics of this building, but we must accept that the alternative option is to create a building that is simply modernist and bland with no character and no innovation, which would say nothing to us about the place in which we live.

As for the suggestion that Arts Venues should be funded, not by grants, but as private enterprise I begin to wonder if M. Burrows appreciates the importance of government arts funding in this country. Organisations like Arts Council England work to ensure that artists, companies and venues can create and programme art that is not commercially viable in itself but is groundbreaking, accessible and of a national and international standard. Also, this kind of funding enables underprivileged, young and minority groups, to name but a few, to take part in making and experiencing such arts. Can private enterprise really offer this?

Apparently "one lone voice will not stop this council from wasting...money.". Well, I say one lone voice will not stop those in our town who do not value arts, community and local pride from dashing our dreams of such a fantastic arts centre. So speak up, my friends, make it heard: We want arts, we want entertainment, we want community, we want the chance to be proud of this little town.

In the words of our great situationist predecessors: "The Hacienda MUST be built!"

Chris WIlliams

Goole