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.
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Posted by Peter John Cooper to swanage view at 1/10/2006 10:46:38 PM
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6 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.
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
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.
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
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