Quinte Symphony head lays out some of the issues facing the arts in the area

A photo used in promotional material by Quinte Symphony.

By Bevan Hamilton

BELLEVILLE – Smaller audiences are a result of too many entertainment options and limited funding, says Jack Evans, president of Quinte Symphony.

QNetNews spoke to Evans as part of its ongoing Municipal Election Project.

Evans said the biggest issue in Belleville’s arts community is the struggle to compete for an audience.

Evans said council has improved support in the past couple years, but more could be done.

Part of the reason Evans doesn’t expect much funding from government is a lack of appreciation for the arts.

“Some aspects of the arts community are in really dire straits,” Evans said.

He said some of the arts groups may need cash transfusions to some extent if they want to keep running.

“If they don’t get it, then that will be the end of an era for some of these groups, maybe even ours.”

Despite that, Evans said the business community has been a key reason the symphony has been able to stay afloat and expects to be alright if that continues.