When arts groups become dating services...

The Royal Ontario Museum has been in the singles business for a few years now, and this Valentine's Day some of the couples who've hooked up on their Friday night mixers might consider dropping in for an evening of Shakespearean scenes, sonnets, songs, magical spells. The $115 ticket also gets you some food and performances by Shakespeare In The Rough, one of Toronto's most popular Shakespearean theatre companies.

The ROM has been running a singles event on the last Friday of every month. According to a Toronto Star reporter who checked out the scene a few weeks ago, the ratio of women to men is about eight-to-one, but the women go in groups and seem to have a pretty good time. The ROM is now adding a mixer night for gay and lesbian singles, so the scene must be working for someone -- especially the museum, with a $35 ticket price, which includes refreshments and a lecture.

I know lots of people who've done the mating dance at arts events. I know one couple who met at the opera and lived happily ever after. A pal recently met a guy at the ROM and they're going to wait and celebrate Valentine's Day there this coming Friday. Yet, these highly programmed events do seem like a bit of a turnoff and is it really the job of cultural institutions to act as yentls? The Vancouver Art Gallery does a little mixer once a month, and the Art Gallery of Ontario is planning to revive its young adult nights soon.

What do you think...? Should museums and the like be matchmakers in the dating game?