Culture and Secession

* Re “Official Fears Cultural Impact From Secession,” Sept. 13.

This was probably the most tongue-in-cheek, dry-humor fantasy discussion of an historical impossibility and futuristic improbability that I have ever read or heard discussed. A casual journey through San Fernando Valley attitudes and NIMBY activities will reveal an opposition to any venture smacking of culture--from minimal support of Circle in the Round theater, opposition to convention centers, to opposition to Olympic sites in the Sepulveda Basin, the list may prove to be endless.

The Valley still wants to be a bedroom community. It has always evidenced that attitude and position. And as for the Valley someday wanting to have its own cultural institutions, “the people,” not “the Valley” must first think culture. Then possibly it could happen. Please include in your thinking that the Valley was not able to support its 100% all-local newspaper edition, Our Times.

Nuf said.

HOWARD RAPHAEL

Sherman Oaks

*

The city’s cultural czars still don’t get it. If the Valley got its deserved share of funding for the arts and other needs, there would be less concern about secession.

Performing artists get the lion’s share, and visual artists here in the Valley have only the Valley Institute of Visual Art (VIVA), an endeavor started by a small group of artists because we have no cultural center. It is sustained by the artists themselves with little help from government funds. It seems harder and harder for the little guy to receive government funding. The big get bigger and the small get smaller. Is this the way of things to come?

BETTY BEAM

Woodland Hills