Patrons and the arts
Submitted by Pat Murphy
I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a family and living in communities that valued arts and culture. My grandfather, Philip Patrick Murphy, was a musician and music educator, settling post-WWII in Windsor, Ontario. My brother and I, as boys, spent many summers on his coat tails, as he went from rehearsals, to concerts, with the many bands that he directed, both in Windsor and Detroit. The highlight of the summer was the “Freedom Festival” shared by both communities for the week of Canada Day on July 1st and Independence Day on July 4th. He was very quietly proud to be one of the founding organizers of this international celebration, and was given the title “Mr. Music” by the City of Windsor. Whatever the event, there was always an introduction and acknowledgement of sponsors or patrons, and a thank you for their financial support. I often remember hearing people introducing him as the “patron of the arts.”
My father, Philip Michael Murphy also a musician and music educator, raise his family of five children, on a teacher’s salary, in London Ontario, where I had a front row seat and a behind the scenes exposure to his participation in community arts.
Theatre, art galleries, ballet, symphony, concert bands, jazz and rock and roll were all supported by a thriving arts community - at a grass roots level, as well as corporate, municipal, provincial, and federal levels. However, the most important support for Arts and Culture was especially from individual patrons. Throughout history, great achievements in art and architecture have often been commissioned, sponsored or financed by aristocracy or royalty. Times have changed. In our society today, this role has been taken on by different levels of government and individual benefactors, allowing better access to the Arts for everyone.
In my youth, I did not appreciate what effect Arts and Culture would have in shaping my future. With no family influence in my career choice, it was a great surprise when I chose construction as my profession. I started out building handcrafted log homes, which many would agree is more driven by the desire to “be creative” than to create shelter. The clients I was attracting were as interested in the artistry in the construction of their homes, as in the function. It became my job to give them “artistic function.” My customers were my patrons, as such allowing me to be creative in home design and construction methods.
Anyone can be, and most of us are, without knowing, patrons of the arts. A patron can be the person that tosses a few coins in a street busker’s hat, purchases an art piece from a favorite artist, buys a ticket to a live performance, someone who commissions a mural for public viewing or gives a personal philanthropic gift to a cultural organization. All are welcomed!
Kawartha Lakes is becoming a great place to retire, offering a population growth known to support the Arts and Cultural sector. Estate planning and legacy building presents an innovative opportunity. We all contribute in our own way, and all levels of support are important for Arts and Culture. City of Kawartha Lakes is venturing into a new chapter in this sector as we embark on working partnerships with our municipal government. Our Arts and Cultural organizations cannot survive on their own, nor can we expect that they should be fully funded by tax dollars. Co-operation, collaboration, partnerships, and patronage are all going to be important for the future of Arts and Culture in our community.
