Re: “Big Heavy World Director Challenges Burlington City Arts”

This article paints a false picture of James Lockridge, his goals, or the purpose of his "quest". He's not out to get Doreen, shut down BCA, or give himself a fat paycheck. Anyone that has met James understands that his ultimate goal is communal inclusion. James recognizes that himself, Doreen, and other people who are "up in it" as far as city arts go don't have all the answers and thus should turn the recourse of public funds TO THE PUBLIC. He's not saying the job she does is a bad one, but rather there's jobs she isn't doing that with public input and the ability to have transparent meetings, money transfers, and goals could be expanded and better understood. What's happening in reality is through Doreen giving friction to community involvement what she's actually doing is limiting the communities ability to work together, self advocate, homogenize, and actually be a community. Obviously she will be resistant to this because she's basically been operating with no REAL over sight. It's important to keep in mind that this isn't James's campaign, it's a communal one, and many people want to step up but are scared because BCA is such a power house that to face perm-exile from funds, funding opportunities, networking and future grants is overwhelming. This is an outcome of one person holding too many cards and the community not enough, this is a direct example of why an Arts Commission would be valuable, if nothing else it gives community mediation, input, and gravity. That's a good thing.