Mississauga's Community Organizations need Grant Giving Powers

Letter to the Editor     Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Organizations such as the Mississauga Arts Council are the best organizations to be distributing grants for artists in Mississauga, despite what the mayoral candidates suggested Monday night. Mississauga Arts Council is already working with and reaching out to artistic communities across the city. We cultivate engagement between artists and audiences and work to create an arts scene which reflects the community of Mississauga. These activities give us an intimate understanding of what local artists need to continue to create and grow their work. This understanding will aid us in ensuring that grant dollars will go where they have the most impact for the city and for artists. Candidates also raised concerns that a non-city organization would be unable to hold the funded organizations accountable, or even maintain a level of transparency. Both of these are canards. Each Board ensures there is at least one lawyer and accountant as part of its Board. They oversee and ensure that the non profit is completely transparent. Furthermore, granting bodies hold their funded organizations accountable by asking them to report back with their progress, and funded organizations who do not meet appropriate targets are not funded again.  Transparency is further achieved by regular reports to council. The Mississauga Arts Council can deliver grants with as much transparency and accountability as the city, with the added benefit of being  intimately involved and readily accessible to Mississauga’s arts community. The Mississauga Arts Council has the knowledge, expertise and mandate to build a vibrant arts and cultural scene in Mississauga through grant distribution. Give community organizations like the Mississauga Arts Council a chance to truly serve and benefit our city. Unleash your words and give us an opportunity. -Bohdan Shulakewych President of the Board for the Mississauga Arts Council, and the Board and Staff of MAC.

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