We did not establish a third show because of the construction projects that we knew were going to take place in many of the locations where we had work.

When he presented it to us everyone got very excited and thought it was a great idea. This is unique in many ways. It's not themed like many cities have. For example, Norfolk has mermaids and they're really cute and fun. Nor is it like public art that is put in front of a building and stays there forever, because the pieces change out every year and are for sale. So it's like an art gallery in that respect.

We want to get to the point where we can afford to hire someone to run it ... By 2007 we hope to set up the Art Market again even bigger and better than before. I have every anticipation that this will be a very exciting opportunity for us. Eventually we would like to have it not just along Queens Way but along Settlers Landing Road, because it is going to become a more pedestrian-friendly street. It would be wonderful to have about 50 pieces.

One of the motivations for doing this was to have a positive effect in getting the kind of people we want to have as customers downtown, in coming here. It's hard to measure that and to know if the tourists who arrived came because of the Art Market, but we do see people walking around with the brochures.

Ultimately, no matter how many projects you considered, you can't please everyone.

One of the things that is really needed in cultural services is somebody to look at the mayor's big projects. They need somebody there at the right hand of the director working for the mayor, pulling those pieces together to make sure the vision gets across.