ARTISTS TALKING

# 3 [1 July 2008]

Well well well

Here is a turn up for the books - I have been project managing a project called 'Get In the Gallery' a concept similar to RCA Secret devised by Jo Del Mar. I have been working on behalf of Kennet Valley Arts Trust, Morgan Boyce, We Love Marlborough and GWR FM Kids to promote throughout the Marlborough area the chance for 4-18yr olds to get in the gallery.

As with many local arts projects we often struggle to get a share of the local paper's coverage

This week, as luck would have it, we have a celebrity entry which is sure to case a stir

Pete Doherty from Babyshambles has joined in with the project - see attached image

And you know what - not wanting to be a misry guts something about it just doesn't fit with our youth angle

Especially all the media attention we are bound to get - which no doubt will detract from the young people's efforts

I wonder what others think about this??

Answers on a postcard please...

# 2 [29 June 2008]

Enford Village Hall consultation

This a project I am blessed to be being able to deliver in partnership with James Aldridge an artist with the ecology and community very much at the heart of what he helps to create

 We have begun a series of open meetings/consultation opportunities to ask the villagers of Enford what activities they wish to see take place in the new hall due to be built April 2009

So far we have been building up a network of how to reach people which in a village of 657 population is more tricky than I had ever imagined.

 We have run 2 meetings so far one where 3 people attended and last Weds 25.06.08 9 people attended including 2 young people which really added depth to the meeting.

Check out James' sites for more background into the work he creates both in his own practice and in communities

www.creative-ecology.co.uk

http://blog.jamesaldridge-artist.co.uk/ 

 Our work is funded by Kennet District Council

# 1 [29 June 2008]

Finally I have got it together to start writing the blog which I have been meaning to start since I signed up for a new subscription to AN. I see this as a space to share my experiences, get feedback from my peers and be able to gain a wider spectrum of opinion on the work I create within communities

Something I crave is that  critical banter that is so important to shaping my viewpoint of the world.

Increasingly as my work evolves within communities and my business expands I find myself working with a wider range of peoples and that projects can become very marketing focussed and I want to get back a more arts focus. Not to say that the marketing is not important and its not totally what I am about.

I am curious to know what people out there think about sustainability and the methods us artists and arts professionals can deploy to support communities - please get in touch via the blog