Governor pledges art support in Somerville

On June 13, 2010, in Uncategorized, by The News Staff

~Photos by Ard Ardalan

Ard Ardalan

As the race for governor heats up, Governor Deval Patrick made a stop in Somerville to address concerns of the arts community.

In a campaign stop at Q Division Recording Studios on Highland Avenue Friday, Patrick also announced plans to host an international music festival in Boston as part of an to revitalize the arts economy in Massachusetts.

In addressing a packed room of musicians, graphic designers and producers, Patrick immediately mentioned his father, Laurdine "Pat" Patrick, a saxophone player for the Jazz musician Sun Ra for nearly 30 years. Though he said he doesn't have his father's talent, he said he was "one of us, a member of the arts community."

"The kind of stuff I go to, the diversity would blow your mind." He recounted sitting in on a 4th grade rendition of Don Quixote in Richmond, and attending events "in folk's basements."

Patrick said unlike many other politicians, he doesn't "think of the arts as something nice on the side, but as something that completes us."

Artists pressed Patrick on concerns that new casinos in Massachusetts may compete with existing local arts venues and stifle initiatives.

In his speech, Patrick emphasized the economic woes of the arts community during the recent economic downturn and the subsequent actions of the state government. He highlighted the problems that the creative community faced as sources of funding dwindle and donors are harder to come by.

Mia Howard, communications manager for the Boston Lyric Opera, appealed to Patrick, she said state agencies have reduced their funding of the arts.

Howard said,"we constantly have to justify our values and purposes to our donors and a lot of the

state agencies that fund us are also withdrawing."

Howard added that "Boston used to be known as the Athens of America" and questioned Patrick's ability to restore that reputation.

The governor avoided the question and offered to provide personal support to the Opera.