Does the Valley Need a Cultural Center?

Although I fully agree with letters from Ronald H. Rich (Feb. 12) and, earlier, state Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) objecting to the proposed “cultural center” at Warner Park in Woodland Hills because of probable deleterious effects on traffic circulation and life style, and the destruction of the park, my own objections are to its justification in the first place.

Most of the Valley is part of Los Angeles. As such, our “cultural center” is the downtown Music Center. It was built to house previously established, world-class institutions such as the L. A. Philharmonic, Joffrey Ballet, repertory company and now Music Center Opera.

Contrary to some other communities which have excellent, fully professional orchestras playing in their own facilities, such as Pasadena, Orange County (Pacific Symphony) and Long Beach, the Valley has only amateur or training ensembles. These, I’m certain, perform their roles admirably, but they do not claim to operate at the level of the other groups.

So the question is: What would this $40-million to $80-million “center” be built to house?

If the motivation in raising this monstrous sum is to benefit the arts locally, there are infinitely better uses to which it could be put. Not only could the several local struggling theater groups, as well as some of the many individual composers, artists and writers, benefit from a program of grants and commissions, even a fraction of such an amount could be used to establish and securely maintain a new, fully professional, first-class symphony orchestra, utilizing the unique resource of the many virtuoso musicians who live here because of their careers in the film and recording studios.

ELLIOT KAPLAN

Woodland Hills