Begin forwarded message:
From: Rebecca Gordon Nesbitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 10 May 2004 21:59:22 BST
Subject: your money or your life
Apologies for cross posting
You are warmly invited to take part in a vital discussion about the
future
of visual art in Scotland on 24 May at 2pm in the downstairs café at
CCA
(use Scott Street entrance as the building will be closed to the
public).
Please forward this mail to everyone who would be interested and
encourage
them to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to define what is
needed –
from funds to facilities – to support visual art practice into the
future at
a national and local level. We need to safeguard grass roots
production as a
vital part of the visual art ‘ecology’ and to ensure that there is
room for
future investment in visual art specialisation and experimentation. If
we
are able to formulate a coherent visual art strategy among ourselves,
perhaps we can make sure that the steps are taken to implement the
necessary
changes. The ideas raised in this meeting will form the basis of a
forum,
planned for October, 2004, hopefully part funded by SAC, which aims to
lobby
cultural policy makers about the needs of visual artists.
Some background about the necessity of such a discussion follows and
makes
this a unique opportunity to shape future policy.
Please take the time to read the relevant documents and come to make
your
views heard on 24 May (let us know if you are able to attend so we know
about numbers for tea & coffee).
1. The Local Element: Threatened Loss of Visual Arts Provision at
Tramway,
Glasgow
Following the surprise announcement last autumn that a lottery bid by
Scottish Ballet placed the visual art programme at Tramway in
jeopardy, a
number of issues came to light, primarily the lack of a visual art
strategy
for Glasgow. The future of visual art at Tramway now seems a little
more
secure – Bonnar Keenlyside Consultants have been speaking to members
of the
‘cultural community’ which has hopefully emphasised the significance of
Tramway as the cornerstone of Glasgow’s claim to be a centre of
excellence
for international visual art. Minutes of the recent meeting with Bonnar
Keenlyside will shortly be available at HYPERLINK
"http://sostramway.org.uk/"http://sostramway.org.uk. It remains to be
seen
how Glasgow City Council will interpret these findings. It is clear
that
they would benefit hugely from an overview of the past decade’s
grassroots
activity in the city and from being involved in constructive
discussions
about the various future needs of the visual art communities in the
city
(and beyond).
2. The National Element: Scottish Executive Commission – Cultural
Policy
Statement: HYPERLINK
"http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/ncs04-00.asp"http://
www.scotl
and.gov.uk/library5/education/ncs04-00.asp
In June, the Scottish Executive embarks on a one-year cultural review
process, led by James Boyle (former chair of the Scottish Arts
Council). The
results of this process are expected to be a total change of the way in
which the arts are funded in Scotland, including a substantial review
of the
role of the Scottish Arts Council (see the SAC draft corporate plan at
HYPERLINK "http://www.sac.org.uk/"www.sac.org.uk), which currently has
only
one part-time visual art officer in post. This review will possibly
lead to
more local control of funds. Within the next year, it is important that
discussions take place within the various visual art communities that
can
steer the Executive review group in the right direction. The Visual
Arts &
Galleries Association (VAGA - HYPERLINK
"http://www.vaga.co.uk/"http://www.vaga.co.uk) will be looking at
things
from an institutional perspective, beginning with a meeting on 27 May,
the
results of which are likely to be followed up by the Scottish Arts
Council.
With the establishment of the Scottish Artists’ Union and the crisis
that
Tramway has precipitated, it is vital that artists have a voice in the
future of cultural policy in Scotland. It is clear that knowledge of
how to
achieve this is required by the Scottish Executive as part of their
review
process. Therefore, our meeting on 24 May aims to draw up an agenda
for a
forum in October which will be used to lobby policy-makers. In this
way, we
can set the agenda for the future of visual arts rather than adopting a
top-down model. The key to making this work will be for our objectives
to be
presented in a way that fulfils the criteria outlined in the Cultural
Policy
Statement.
3. The International Element – Glasgow as a Centre of Excellence for
International Visual Art
Glasgow has consistently positioned itself as an international city
and it
is clear that this profile is being nurtured as part of international
cultural marketing. But, little knowledge exists of international
precedents
for visual art provision. The forum in October would be an opportunity
for
viable international models to be discussed for the benefit of local
and
national funders– please bring any ideas to the table on 24 May.
Invited so far – please forward liberally
Transmission members & as many independent artists as possible
Nick Evans, Lynn Hynd, Charlie Hammond, Lotte Gertz and Jane Topping,
Committee of Transmission Gallery, Glasgow
Mick Peter Glasgow Project Room/Glasgow Independent Studios
Amy Sales and Lucy Gibson EmergeD, Glasgow
Hannah Robinson/ Sara Barker/Harriet, Mary Mary Tritton
Tim Facey, James Hodgeson, Sara Barker, Committee of Market Gallery
Scott Myles, Lorna McIntyre, Alex Frost, Callum Stirling, Beth Forde
and
Katy Dove Committee of the Glasgow Sculpture Studio Gallery
Anne Marie Watson at 273 High Street
Dan Miller, Christy Cole Paradise studios
Lucy McKenzie, Flourish
Graham McKenzie Director, Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow
Will Bradley Board of Directors, The Modern Institute, Glasgow
Toby Webster, Director, The Modern Institute, Glasgow
Seona Reid, Head of Glasgow School of Art
Professor Klaus Jung Head of School of Fine Art, Glasgow School of Art
Sam Ainsley Head of Master of Fine Arts Course, Glasgow School of Art
Francis McKee, Ross Sinclair, Christine Borland, Smith + Stewart,
researchers Glasgow School of Art
Peter McGaughey, Environmental Art, Glasgow School of Art
David Harding, former head of Environmental Art
Angus Farquar, NVA
Ben Harman, GoMA
Gerrie van Noord
Jenny Brownrigg, DJCAD Galleries, Dundee
Richard Calvocoressi Director, Scottish National Galleries of Modern
Art
Guyan Porter, President, Scottish Artists' Union
Leigh French, Editor, Variant magazine, Glasgow
Lorraine Wilson Co-ordinator, Glasgow Sculpture Studios
Malcolm Dickson, Director, Street Level Photoworks
Deidre McKenna, General Co-ordinator, Stills Gallery, Edinburgh
Paul Nesbitt, Director, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh
Robb Mitchell, The Chateau, Glasgow
Sorcha Dallas and Marianne Greated, Switchspace, Glasgow
Susanna Beaumont, Director, Doggerfisher Gallery, Edinburgh
Moira Jeffrey & Phil Miller, The Herald
Andrew Eaton, The Scotsman
Karin Goodwin, The Sunday Times
Katrina Brown Curator, Dundee Contemporary Arts
Fiona Bradley Director, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh
Neil Mulholland, Edinburgh College of Art
Andrew Patrizio, Edinburgh College of Art
Protoacademy
Barnaby Drabble, researcher Edinburgh College of Art
Bonnar Keenlyside & other consultants
Claire Simpson, Glasgow City Council and invited guests
Amanda Catto, Scottish Arts Council
Alexia Holt, Director, Cove Park
Christine Hamilton, Centre for Cultural Policy Research
Patricia Flemming
Rebecca Gordon Nesbitt
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