Cast your vote for arts, culture and HERITAGE

Well, it is election time. It is hard to imagine that anyone might escape the ongoing discussion of tanking economies, environmental concerns and various other hot topics in the leaders debates. I am glad to see that funding cuts to Arts and Culture have been addressed at both our local candidates debates and again at the leaders debate in Ottawa tonight.
What concerns me is how the poor cousin of arts and culture, heritage, seems to get lumped in almost as an afterthought. I understand the similarities, challenges and concerns shared by many artists, not for profit, arts advocacy groups share with museums. We all operate on shoestring budgets (well, most of us do) and we tend to get pushed into that oh so frivolous sounding 'fringe' area.
If there is a silver lining to this process, it is to be found in the immense exposure that this election has given to the recent funding cuts to the arts. I really enjoy the controversy that has led to increased exposure within the debate of Arts and Culture funding. What worries me most is that heritage seems to have dropped off the radar almost completely. It is one thing for museums to be lumped with galleries and other arts groups, but to be forgotten entirely? Not cool.