People, Place, Possibility: Poem for the Renewed Culture Action Plan
Tanya Davis performance, Poetry From The Grain Bin in the installation 40-Tonne Viewfinder, by Common Collective, at Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Photo by Common Collective - Feb. 8, 2024. Photo: Simon Brothers
It’s good to have a plan
something to reference when work is confusing
something to steward into being
that we agree with, and believe in
and for what we believe in
to go from conceived to completed
we’re going to need to take the plan and then do it
sounds obvious
but good intentions can hold our rapt attention
while our actions wander off on us
especially if those actions are complex
as they are and will be
with people, and places, and possibilities
luckily, complexity presents an opportunity
to be creative with strategy
to practice patience and match that with tenacity
since every aspiration must contend with gravity
feet on the ground, hearts in the galaxy
the ground is where the work is at, of course
and for all our bullet-pointed lists and charts
our fine-toothed implements combing through words and reports
for errors or potential future discord
culture wanders from discourse and clipboards
dismisses rigid systems, loves a springboard
finds us, everywhere, all the time
because culture is vibrant like that, dynamic
it’s so intrinsic, without it where would we be
what would we have
what would it mean
we can’t encompass the scope in a plan or a poem
there’s no way
it’s beyond words and metrics
budgets and statistics
imagine a world without culture, would you like to live in it
that means no music, no books, no games, no spaces to hang out and play
no art on your walls, no pottery for your tea, no podcasts, radio, media, video, or tv
no movies either, no newspapers, no museums
thou shall not dance or go to the theatre
no interesting buildings or aesthetically pleasing furniture, no creative teachers
no baskets, jewelry, boards for your charcuterie
no fashion, crafting, gathering for anything
except sitting there, but there shall be no telling stories
maybe we can celebrate silence and the colour beige
and since culture is also heritage and tradition, without it there would be no artifacts or exhibitions
no identity, no language
no research or education about any of our people or places
the possibilities, once endless, would just end
and then we would
because a world without culture would be like death
luckily, it’s a falsehood
this is a thought experiment
an impossible, untenable thing
culture is the pulse of life
so, let’s make sure ours is thriving
let’s love it so hard and so well
around the world they’ll say, have you heard about Prince Edward Island?
oh, you mean Epekwitk?
indeed
we mean Epekwitk, gratefully
we remember we are privileged to live in peace and friendship in this special place
reconciliation must be something we do not just something we say
let’s follow Mi’kmaq lead
at every table, every day
and let’s respect every Islander equally
access and belonging are worthy goals but too often we leave them on the page
we write fancy proposals to show how we will plan for people to feel safe
that’s not enough
we should be way past the creation of frameworks
conceptual structures
we don’t need to assess accessibility
we know, by now, we do not have enough of it
no more consultations required
just money, just agency to do the work that is required
to support people to be in community
let’s fund arts and culture as much as agriculture
after all, we produce more here than potatoes
and I love supper as much as the next starving artist
we need sustenance but we also need flavour
let creatives live creative lives
and our whole island will be rewarded
ask artists for their ideas
give them opportunities and time
and then help them afford it
if culture is supported
our entire economy benefits
if investing in our shared future is a key direction
we’re going to need an equitable distribution of wealth
fair compensation, affordable spaces, and livable incomes would help
these are intricate challenges
but they are inextricably linked, we need to check our checks and balances
share influence among all industries
creative workers influence everything about this place
we connect dots and people
make meaning, shine mirrors so we can see ourselves here
unique, belonging, together
we communicate through myriad perspectives
we love and respect that
like the land, like the sea that surrounds it
we have fertile ground here, our culture grows out of it
and everyone should know that
and everybody could
we have a plan, we have the people, we have the place, we know what’s possible
and all it takes
is a lot of work
but we are creative, and we have a lot of heart
so let’s go.
