[Winona Online Democracy] Quoting "c.e.w." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]/hoo.com>:
> [Winona Online Democracy] > > Finally people are starting to get it! Shakespeare is just like Walmart, it has become a small town killer. Other arts events that the City does not deem important has suffered tremendously since Shakespeare came to town. Every year this group expects to come into our town and raise well over $600,000 (the first year the goal was over a million dollars). I understand they raised about $800,000. How much of that was left in Winona or brought in from other sources? Very Very little. How many hotels rooms need to get occupied, meals bought and suveniers purchased to bring well over $600,000 back to this community each year? It's a no brainer. Over $600,000 (and I believe this is a very low figure from what I hear) goes out on goods, producers, directors, costumes, actors and is removed from our town. The City gives GRSF taxpayer money and supports no other arts. Other events and arts in this area have suffered emencely since Shakespeare came to town. Sponsorships and donations for other art events has declined, I know this first hand. The City has become the promoters and producers of the Shakespeare Festival, all on taxpayer money. When did the City get into the business of theatre, because they have. The unfortunate part of this, is this city and businesses in it are not supporting their own. Instead, they have been bulldozed into believing a non-self sustaining very high buck business deserves more than all the other arts in this community put together. I believe it is called the "Music Man Phenominon" (sp) The media has done a great job in bulldozing people as well. Now we have gone to the level of spending State tax money on this. I highly support the arts in this town as anyone who knows me will tell you. Because I support them, I see Shakespeare not a contributor to this town but as a taker. Out the money goes. Will this be the saving grace of Winona as some of our City leaders have said - oh come on!! I wish people would speak up more on this. I hear rumblings in the community all the time. I see arts activities drop out. Do the numbers. Even if Shakespeare sold every single ticket, every single night, they would still only raise about a third of the money they need to do their productions. That means every year, HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars of handouts are needed to sustain Shakespeare. I don't care how much money is in this town, there is only so much to go around and unfortunately their is very little left for others, We are not Minneapolis and this type of money is a lot of money in Winona (or anywhere for that matter). The Wilke is an example of this. Money is being poured into an event that lasts 5 weeks, devours resource money, and uses very few businesses or people in our town for support. Do you know the first year they did not even print the programs in Winona? Not sure where that stands now, but it would not surprise me if they are still taking this service (and therefore the money) out of this town as well. Janice Turek _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
