Should big business be asked for more?
Today François Cardinal opines that corporations are asked for more in Toronto and contribute more visibly to the city’s cultural life. I don’t know whether he’s forgetting about the Bell Centre, the Telus Theatre, the Pepsi Forum. Then there was the plan to give corporate names to the lines of our metro, but nobody fancied taking the Rogers Line and changing at Berri-Lexus to get the Tim Hortons line to the south shore.
Clément 11:38 on 2012/10/18 Permalink
I think FC is suggesting corporations go beyond just naming stuff in exchange for money. He is suggesting some sort of “mécénat” (the English word escapes me), where private money goes toward art centres, exhibits and other non-profitable ventures.
The Pepsi Forum and the Bell Centre are definitively private and profitable activities and I don’t think that’s what FC talks about.
I think we should get corporations to support “real” culture (…), where they get more than just visibility for their brand in exchange for money.
paul 11:59 on 2012/10/18 Permalink
We should keep in mind that corporations pay significantly more in property taxes, and general taxes here than elsewhere in Canada. From that perspective, companies do make more of a contribution here to the public purse than they do elsewhere.
François Cardinal 07:46 on 2012/10/19 Permalink
Pardon my english…
Il y a une différence énorme entre la philanthropie (des fondations privées et des entreprises qui redonnent sans rien recevoir en retour) et la commandite (l’argent sert à mettre son nom sur la bâtisse).
Dans le cas du Light Box, le don du privé ne vient pas de Bell.
François Cardinal
Kate 09:15 on 2012/10/19 Permalink
Merci pour la clarification, M. Cardinal.
David Tighe 09:45 on 2012/10/20 Permalink
Clément: I think the word is patron. e.g patron of the arts
Kate 11:06 on 2012/10/20 Permalink
Interestingly, the French expression comes from Gaius Maecenas, “a byword for a wealthy, generous and enlightened patron of the arts.”