Excluding the arts from assessments of Lisbon Street can make the public think it doesn’t matter, or exist

I am writing to express my disappointment in the Sun Journal’s exclusion of The Public Theatre and other arts organizations from its recent article on the renaissance of Lisbon Street. (Oct. 7)

In the article, people described a “wish list” for downtown Lewiston that included theaters and art galleries, yet the existence of The Public Theatre as well as L/A Arts’ new art gallery, Gallery 5, was unmentioned by the newspaper. The Sun Journal has the unique position of being the lens through which L-A sees itself, and due to these omissions, readers were led to believe no arts organizations now exist or thrive on Lisbon Street.

The article talked about the millions of dollars in new investments in the Southern Gateway, mentioning Northeast Bank, Andover College, Oxford Networks and “more.” Sixteen years ago, The Public Theatre was the first business to move into the Southern Gateway, yet when media discuss the incredible transformation in that part of town, they often omit it.

Lewiston-Auburn needs to start acknowledging, and quite honestly bragging about, its cultural life.

Each time it passes an opportunity to do so, inaccurate and outdated perceptions of L-A are kept alive.

The Public Theatre is one of only five professional Equity theaters in the state, and this allows us to hire the best professional actors and actresses possible, from as far away as New York and Los Angeles. We serve more than 17,000 patrons each season and are nationally recognized for our quality.

In the past two weeks, we have attracted more than 2,600 people to Lisbon Street to see “Almost, Maine.” Half were from outside the L-A area. Many ate at local restaurants, and perhaps filled their gas tanks. National statistics show for every dollar spent on a theater ticket, another $3 to $4 is spent in the community.

We attract patrons from Bangor to Boston. Media outlets from Maine and beyond cover our productions. The theater has been featured in Down East magazine, Port City Life, on WCSH-TV, and was voted “Best Theatre in Maine” by the Portland Phoenix readers’ poll four times in the past seven years.

The powerful media spotlight we attract is precisely the kind of attention that can feed this community’s economic growth, and change outdated perceptions of L-A. A community’s cultural life is a prime asset that can attract new businesses, homebuyers, and, yes, even convention centers.

Few communities the size of Lewiston-Auburn can boast a professional Equity theater of our caliber. In the same way people equate Brunswick and the Maine State Music Theatre, we believe the continuing success of The Public Theatre is key to making Lewiston a destination city.

We have raised and spent more than $1.5 million on renovations, utilizing local contractors and vendors. When we are through, we will have spent $2.4 million to make The Public Theatre the most attractive and comfortable theater in Maine. We are a major piece of the transformation of Lisbon Street.

We deserved inclusion in the article.

Over the years, we’ve found the Sun Journal to be a most generous supporter of Lewiston-Auburn’s full and varied arts scene. I write not to complain, but with concern about the local media and governments’ consciousness regarding the arts in L-A.

How does it look to our community when our local paper forgets about arts organizations in its coverage about the future of downtown Lewiston-Auburn? Does this not also reflect how the arts are valued within the community?

Perhaps we were forgotten because the Twin Cities themselves don’t seem to promote the cultural life of L-A; Enter Lewiston or Auburn into Google, or visit either city’s homepage, and it’s difficult to find information on the cultural life of the community, even though the most desirable area in a “destination” city is usually its “arts district.”

It is our hope the movers and shakers of L-A, who speak about the economic growth of our community, will understand the arts is one of L-A’s biggest assets, and it’s in L-A’s best economic interest to include, promote and brag about The Public Theatre and the other arts institutions.

Trumpeting the success of the arts in L-A is a critical part of its continuing renaissance.

Janet Mitchko is associate artistic director of The Public Theatre in Lewiston.