By Katherine Sealey, Staff Writer

The fight-- a tongue-in-cheek reenactment of the assassination of Julius Cesaer by the performers of Rapier Wit-- was all part of the Roman-themed entertainment at the 17th annual Mayor's Luncheon for the Arts, which welcomed more than 460 guests.

The event also marked the 25th anniversary of the Brampton Arts Council.

Singer, painter and former Business Person of the Year John Cutruzzola was recognized as Arts Person of the Year for 2004, for his volunteerism in the arts community.

In accepting his award, he noted that his involvement with the arts is a personal passion.

"I am a person who is never happy with the status quo, because the status quo gets old and moldy," he said. "Creativity brings excitement, novelty, youth and hope."

Cutruzzola is an active supporter of the Peel Heritage Complex, Heritage Theatre, Brampton Art Council, Brampton Symphony, Beaux Arts Brampton, Brampton Jazz Festival, Visual Arts Brampton and Salvation Army Family Resource Centre, among others.

With the proceeds from his annual Inzola pancake breakfast in Gage Park, which will be held again this year on June 19, Cutruzzola also awards a financial bursary to one artist every year.

In addition, he often donates the proceeds from the sale of his art to various causes in the community, and he annually organizes and performs in his fundraising concert and art exhibit, Classics Bloom, in the downtown core.

He was modest about his win, sharing the accolades with all those who toil on the local arts scene.

"This award honours not John Cutruzzola, not one single person," he said. "We are here to celebrate all the arts in our community."

Special guest and former Ontario Premier William G. Davis, honourary patron of the Brampton Arts Council, said it is time to rally support for the arts.

"I sometimes am disappointed and concerned by the lack of support for the arts generally," he said. "To anyone in the school system, before you start eliminating arts courses, art, music etc., please remember that there is far more to life than becoming a good engineer or a lawyer."

He noted that, during his years as premier, he was an enthusiastic financial supporter of both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals.

"I remind people how important it is culturally and also economically, because it is a great stimulus to the economy of this province," he said. "I continue to support this point of view, and I extend to you, Madame Mayor, my best wishes for the continued success of what you've been doing for the arts community in this city."

In response, Mayor Susan Fennell affirmed her commitment to the arts.

"It is my absolute top priority that Brampton becomes known as a centre for arts excellence," she said. "Not just in Ontario, but across this great nation."

She praised Beatty Fleming Sr. Public School for their recent win at the National Band Competition and St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School for its recent designation of an arts school.

She also noted the ongoing success of Sheridan College, The Brampton Symphony Orchestra and the Brampton Concert Band, who have been invited to a festival in Austria later this summer.

Fennell, the honorary co-chair of the BAC, also gave a progress report on the new theatre.

"It gives me great pride to say since last year, when we said really we are going to build a new theatre, today, the theatre, our Brampton Performing Arts Centre, state of the art, absolutely top drawer, theatre is now under construction scheduled to open in December 2005," she said. "We are so proud to be the council that are bringing, finally, this much needed piece of arts infrastructure to this great city that will respect the thousands of boys and girls, men and women, who now have an OHL-size stage to do their thing right here in the city of Brampton."

In closing, she pledged the proceeds from her upcoming Mayor's Gala, which will also be held at the Pearson Convention Centre, to the local arts community.

During the lunch, the Arts Council also recognized Saturn of Brampton with the Fifth Annual Corporate Distinction Award, and former city councillor Peter Richards with the BAC's 25th Anniversary Award for his ongoing support of the local arts community, including more than $50,000 in donations from his annual golf tournament.

Peter's wife, BAC executive director Marnie Richards, was also recognized with a special award to mark her 10 years of service on the Brampton Arts Council.

Photo by George Beshiri

The players of Rapier Wit demonstrate some Roman battle skills during the 17th annual Mayor's Luncheon for the Arts.