Arts volunteering

About Damian

Damian is an Education student in his final year. He enjoys riding by horseback to his seaside villa on a cliff. There, he prepares a crescent-moon hot tub filled with supermodel tears. Smells of lavender and success hang in the cool evening air. He plays the ocarina, then weeps. He adopts artful postures, then spins.

“Why volunteer for Arts?”

Endless free books, CDs, and DVDs. Infinite concert, theatre and movie passes. While other sections trade in the ethereal — vague promises of “personal affirmation” or “making a difference” — Arts has no problem securing your favour with finery. If you’re the rare Winnipegger unmoved by free stuff, however, there’s still good reason to write for Arts. In general, art(s) can represent, interpret or make meaning of reality, and, as such, can sort of be a big deal for a lot of people. Write about the arts, and not only will you get a readership, but you will also mine the deepest font of beauty, tragedy and meaning that there is in our collective experience. This isn’t “Diversions” we’re talking about here.

“I don’t know how to get involved”

Ever tried to join a gang? You know how you usually have to get “jumped in?” Well, Arts is sort of like that, except this gang is going to assault you on all sides with high fives and good vibes. Interested? Drop me a line at arts@themanitoban.com and tell me your story idea, or, if you’re feeling journalistically bereft, I’ll gladly give you a story idea. Whatever works. Arts is very laid-back. So laid-back that I am writing this poolside in Spain right now, by the way.

“I can’t write/I don’t know what to write/other excuses”

Peruse a couple issues of The Manitoban and you’ll see that our general approach is all-encompassing, all-brow, and all-powerful. You don’t have to be an artist to write about the arts. You don’t have to be literary, and you barely even have to be literate. We’ll work with you, foster your development as a writer, and provide the opportunity for you to start building up a portfolio of published work. So volunteer today, because I have the impatience of a lamb and won’t wait around forever.

Section meeting

The arts section meeting will take place Fridays at 12p.m.. Stop by to pitch story ideas, get assignments or just to say “hi!”