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TORONTO NEWS AND EDITORIALS |
A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS
by Cristofoli on Toronto.Coffeehouse.ca
for February 14th, 2006
When we first developed Coffeehouse, the concept was to build a community of artists that would support each other and work together in creating and presenting their work.
 The ideals of a “community” are where everyone chips in to help each other and to share and help further the art of each individual artist. You can use the analogy of a farming community where each farmer has their own land and their own farm that they work, but where everyone gets together to "raise your neighbors barn", or to celebrate feast days, or to help in the time of need. It's the working together that helps to bring out the best in everyone by ensuring the community prospers as a whole.
As a community, we can make that dream come true. As a community, we can each prosper as artists. |
I've seen many wonderful projects come to fruition because the Coffeehouse artists got together to perform with each other, to record, publish and produce each other. Some artists have started their own companies, some have found new talents that they didn't know they had, and others have prospered knowing that their art really did matter, that other people appreciated what they were doing.
It's this sense of community, of working together that we need to nourish.
There are too many independent artists who are waiting for the corporate giants to come and "discover them." They've bought into the propaganda that "fame and fortune" can only be bestowed upon them by the major publishing houses and recording studios. They've come to believe that success is measured by how many times you get your picture on Pop Idol magazine, how much "bling" you own, or how many zombie like fans have been brainwashed into thinking your the next big thing.
If you're a true artist, then what matters most to you is your art.
It is difficult for independent artists to support themselves on their artwork alone.
We all know that.
We all work at other jobs because we don't make enough money to support ourselves, never mind a family. And it is very rare that an independent artist makes it "big" so that they are financially secure to quit that job and live on their art alone.
As a community, we can make that dream come true.
As a community, we can each prosper as artists.
As a community, we can share with people of "like mind" and truly find a measure of respect and prosperity in our social and personal lives.
As a community, we can create our own "scene" that others will want to be a part of.
Personally, I want to be a part of a "community" of artists.
Norman Cristofoli
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