It is interesting that positive letters to the editor seem less appealing than the often published negative ones. I guess it is easier for some to find fault with things than to find the good.

I am fortunate enough to experience the Gibson Centre often five days a week. A building is just a building, it is the people in it that give it the wonderful feeling it exudes.

It is the small staff who love the building, the vision, and the mission who have lent their hearts, souls, talent, extra time and often financial support to help make it a truly great community facility.

It is compelling to see members of the community who volunteer, some on a daily basis, to greet guests at the reception desk, serve their own neighbours in the café, spring clean the facility from the pipes to the floors, seat you at a performance or just stop and greet anyone who is visiting for the first time.

I paint on the third floor above the seniors centre, as artist in residence and no I don't get paid either. The acoustics in that area allow me to hear the laughter coming from the seniors as they line dance on Tuesdays or play euchre another day. They are one of the reasons the centre is alive. Frankly they sound like teens. These same seniors have donated huge amounts of money to the centre for the privilege of meeting there. Their contribution is enormous.

If you go around the first and second floors you will see plaques on all four sides of each pillar. Every single one of those plaques cost the donor $5,000 or $10,000. The community believes in the Gibson Centre and has also contributed financially.

Alice Forestell, a community leader in the arts for years, has been honoured by the South Simcoe Arts Council whose offices are on the third floor and they are paying $25,000 for the honour to name the studio space on the third floor 'Alice's Attic'. She has donated paintings which are on display and her contribution to the arts is immeasurable.

The arts council pays for its office space and holds many events in the centre which they pay for.

The artists who get such joy painting in the perfect light on the third floor and whose progress can be seen weekly, add that creative mutual mentoring and yes they pay financially for the experience. I can't tell you the number of children and adults who have had their lives changed because they had contact with an artist who touched them in some small way. Perhaps they will write a letter of support for our community, arts and culture centre.

I have a retrospective show in the gallery in July highlighting my 35 years as a professional artist and for the first time in my career I am paying to exhibit plus paying a commission on sales. Normally an artist just pays a percentage to the gallery from sales.

I haven't asked the town for a cent to fund it. Some of the exhibitions the gallery is holding will help put the Gibson Centre on the provincial map as an important exhibition venue. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

The Gibson Centre for Community, Arts and Culture is a centre for the community, run by the community, funded by the community, with a very small staff and well over 100 dedicated volunteers.

It has not been open for two years yet, that milestone will occur this summer. So much of the funding was for the renovation of the building. Anyone who has been into the centre is impressed by its beauty, size and the preservation of the historical elements, for which the architect won an award.

There are businesses and families who continually support the centre and they are treasured. The recession has really hit all charitable organizations and the Gibson Centre is no exception. When you count on continued support, not knowing that a recession is coming and you are a new facility it is impossible to budget for the loss of financial support.

Just stand in front of this beautiful huge building and try to figure out how much it would cost to heat it in the winter, and don't forget there is a basement.

The Gibson Centre is an incredible facility for all of New Tecumseth and I consider myself fortunate to be able to donate to it and to be part of a team of people that is changing lives.

If the town supported the $15 million building of hockey arenas, especially when twin arenas were being built just east of town, asking for financial support for your arts, culture and community centre from the town should be a given.

Yes, the centre needs continued serious support from the town, perhaps even on a larger scale, not lesser than previously considered.

If you are wondering what to donate your time, talent, experience, knowledge, heart or money to, please don't forget the Gibson Centre for Community, Arts and Culture. Your life will be changed and you might just change someone else's too.