For some time now we have been grumbling about various arts and cultural issues in Swanage. We all know that there is a considerable amount of public funding that Swanage has missed out on, we also know that there are serious problems with lack of studio and workshop space. We all saw the contempt that PDC treated us with when they produced their Cultural Strategy. Well, nothing’s going to happen on its own so I’m proposing setting up an Arts development Organisation in Swanage that will help promote the arts within the community, develop new funding opportunities and help in the education and training of young and aspiring artists. Back in the autumn there was a terrific turnout of Arts practitioners and interested parties to the Jurassic Coast Arts meeting. Let’s capitalise on that and get together. I’m suggesting a meeting on Wednesday 8th February at the Quarr gallery 17 High Street Swanage at 7.30. If necessary, we’ll move on to a suitable hostelry. The meeting is open to all practising artists (that is musicians, writers, sculptors, actors, performance artists, dancers, painters, photographers) and anyone else interested in developing the Arts in Swanage for the 21st Century. If we can organise ourselves into some sort of recognisable body we will hold a larger meeting in a couple of months to which we can invite the Great and the Good.
--
Posted by Peter John Cooper to swanage view at 1/10/2006 10:46:38 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
10 comments:
Being only a cook, not an artist, I will be missing at the proposed meeting, but may I suggest a web site along the lines of
www.boscombe.org.uk
could help raise awareness and pride in what goes on locally.
Sorry. I also missed out architects, interior designers, potters and many other creative types. You know if you are an artist or not but I would definitely include cooks.
Nick, we don't want you to feel excluded. The background is that there was a series of meetings called by the consultants writing a Jurassic Coast Arts Strategy last year and there was a very good turnout for the Swanage one. We are trying to keep this group in existence and look at ways of attracting funding. The town partnership has a culture group and it relates to this as well. Hopefully, if there is interest we can move towards some sort of programme of activities. If all goes well we can broaden participation.
Anyway,a good cook is an artist and food is certainly part of culture. I would have thought the art of cooking is part of bringing pride to Swanage and would be part of the picture for taking Art in Swanage forward so we will expect you with your chef's hat on.
The people behind the Boscombe web site come over here from time to time and they will be flattered when I pass on your praise of their site. Their struggles with Bournemouth Council are just as difficult as the ones anyone has with PDC. I won't repeat the precise adjectives which were employed when they told me.
Keith Roker
.. and web designers and teachers. Fashion designers and photographers..
I'm looking forward to the meeting on February 8th. I thought perhaps we could draw up a list of topics to talk about. I would like to consider:
1) Attracting funding for arts development.
2) Facilities including studio, workshop and gallery space.
3) Opportunities for skills exchange and development.
There must be hundreds more. Let's hear what they are.
At 7:03 AM, Peter John Cooper said...
May I take this opportunity to remind practising artists of all types and any other interested parties about the meeting at 7.30 on Wednesday 8th February. The meeting to be held at Quarr Gallery, 17 High Street. There’s been a terrific response from various individuals and I hope that enough attend to make the evening worthwhile. At the moment the agenda is pretty simple and contains these items:
1) A general discussion on the perception of the arts in Swanage and how we, as artists, respond to Jurassic Coast and MCTI
2) Some actual artwork that could be done (events, commissions, competitions, education, skills development)
3) Possible sources of funding for art
4) An organisation that can commission work and can approach funders
So what happened?
Paint us a picture.
The meeting attracted about 20 people from a variety of art fields. It was a very open and informal meeting and not one which was conducive to producing detailed minutes.
Although it was generally felt that the town needs some form of organisation for the arts there are a number of views on the form this should take without duplicating what is already here, for example the Arts Club. Some people felt that regular informal gatherings for networking and the exchange of information and ideas would be worth having. A web site and a regular newsletter were suggested and supported. The possibility of establishing and marketing a Purbeck arts brand was raised and the context of arts in the area in general were discussed, although it was clear that progress on this would involve setting up some form of organisation.
It was agreed to have another meeting on Tuesday 2 March at 7.30 at the same venue to carry matters on.
This will look at would would be entailed in establishing a more formal organisation for which the following detailed objectives have been suggested:
"We will deliver workshops, masterclasses and other learning events for practising and aspiring artists. We will seek to fund commissions for new work and actively promote commissions from other organisations and agencies. We will review and, where possible, provide resources and facilities for learning about the arts and for acquiring art skills for children, young people and adults who otherwise would not have access to such facilities. We will offer a marketing resource for practising artists in swanage and Purbeck, creating a Purbeck Arts Brand or similar umbrella resource. To further this end we will work with established agencies such as South West Arts Marketing. We will encourage the awareness of the arts in Swanage through prizes, competitions, exhibitions and other events. We will work with such agencies as are available to deliver these or we will instigate and run our own events where no partner agency or organisation is available. To achieve this we will employ any such staff as might be neccessary. We will act as a support agency and clearing house for artists applications to grant giving bodies. We will help development of personal, business and marketing skills for artists and would support an artists’ mentoring scheme such as that run by The Arts Matrix."
Hi Peter
Would you give me a call on 426457 and ask for Emma. I'd like to discuss venue/site for galler y space etc.
Cheers
Post a Comment