The pristine city of Hamilton, in Ontario, Canada, greatly values culture and the arts. Unfortunately, however, it appears as though a main arts promoter, Arts Hamilton, might have to discontinue its nonprofit operations due to a steep receipts decline in one of its primary sources of funding, bingo.

Arts Hamilton has depended on bingo bucks for approximately 25% of its budget, equivalent to about C$50,000 (approximately $43,000 US). What led to the decline in bingo revenues was the closing of one of Hamilton's four bingo halls, Bingo Central. As 42 nonprofit organizations, in addition to Arts Hamilton, used Bingo Central as a venue for charity fundraisers, the three remaining bingo halls in the city have found it hard to accommodate the additional load of charity bingo events.

Not wanting to shut down, Arts Hamilton is petitioning the city for money to cover their bingo shortfall. It appears, however, that City Hall is not prepared to allot all of the requested monies to Arts Hamilton, as, though arts are valued, there are many other cash-strapped municipal causes to fund. For the sake of preserving culture in the city, let's hope something can be done on the bingo front to fill up Arts Hamilton's coffers once more.