The Electric City Culture Council (EC3), Peterborough’s municipal arts council, presents an all-candidates mayoral debate on issues in the local arts sector. Inform your vote! All members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend.

We need to know where our civic leadership stands and how they plan to enhance and develop the arts sector during their term. Do the arts matter to them? How will they find funding for critical investments?

All declared candidates for Mayor have confirmed their attendance to deliver opening remarks, and answer questions from a panel of knowledgeable and experienced arts professionals.

Members of the audience will also be invited to ask questions and clarify each candidate’s views and positions on critical issues in the arts sector, such as support for individual artists, the economic impact of the arts, the Municipal Cultural Plan and building stability in arts organizations and physical infrastructure such as arts venues.

Municipal support for the arts sector has been frozen or declining steadily in Peterborough, while studies continue to demonstrate the value of the arts for community well-being, a vital downtown, and a catalyst for tourism and attracting much needed professionals and new businesses. The arts are a leading economic driver that build civic identity and community well being.

This is the fourth municipal election since the creation of EC3 in 2012, and the fourth time we have organized this event, as we have done for federal and provincial election. This year, for the first time, we are pleased to report that 4 of the declared candidates have approached the EC3 Team directly, in advance, to discuss critical issues, opportunities and challenges in the sector.

To check your registration, update your voter information, find your voting locations, and view your candidates, you can visit the City of Peterborough Voters page at https://peterborough.voterservices.ca/voterlist/home/1514

If you can't attend this event live, sign up for the EC3 mailing list to get a summary of responses and access a recording which will follow the event. https://www.ecthree.org/contact/