The arts are not often debated in politics. With issues like healthcare, justice, and the economy taking so much of the debate, the arts end up sidelined. Further, in our modern age, the arts can seem irrelevant, with disciplines like science and technology taking centre-stage.

However, the arts remain as vital as ever; for they are one way we communicate with each other and try to understand the world around us. Through books, radio, film, art and theatre, museums and historic sites, they help us explore our nation's history, as well as other cultures and societies. This helps to strengthen both our national identity and our multicultural understanding.

Governments in Canada spend about $7 billion a year on the arts - money that goes to fund libraries, heritage sites, arts education, public broadcasting, and the literary and performing arts. In our own backyard we can find the Elora Festival; the Fergus Scottish Festival; Century Church Theatre Company; Erin Community Theatre; John Elliott Theatre and the Cultural Centre Gallery. These are just some examples. Remember, the importance of the arts was not lost on the pioneers who settled this land. Indeed, shortly after clearing the land they built the Ennotville Library in 1847, not far from where I grew up.

The arts are often marginalized as a luxury compared to the sciences and technology. Perhaps this is because the arts pursue a method of inquiry that is so very different. While the contribution of the arts to our lives cannot be quantitatively measured like other targets (think economic or technological), this does not make them any less important to our economy and society.

So go out and patronize your local arts scene. You’ll have some fun, help the economy and you might even come away with some new ideas.