Invitation for all Artists to contribute to WAN-AA.
From 2002 to 2005, Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales undertook a series of symposia across Wales to elicit artists concerns.
This blog aims to further this discussion and create an online dialogue.
To contribute to this discussion you will have to create a google account, just follow the steps described at blogger.com/start
or click on the comments / pencil icon or copy and paste the link below in a new window:
https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount?naui=8&service=blogger&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.blogger.com%2Floginz%3Fd%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww2.blogger.com%252Fcomment.g%253FblogID%253D8772411097578409332%2526postID%253D1323538150823412235&sendvemail=true&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.blogger.com%2Floginz%3Fd%3D%252Fhome
If you are new to this please consider the following points:
1. Do you want to blog with your real name or made up name (both are allowed)?
2. All you need is a useable valid email address to receive confirmation of your password.
3. To add to the debate click on the comments button and, once signed in, write your comments in a comments box and upload.
4. If you are an Artist or arts administrator, we are interested in your opinion regardless of where you come from, please do add your comment. This is a learning curve and information exchange for all involved.
Thankyou
posted by Anghenion Artistiaid - What Artists Need? @ 04:20
12 Comments
12 Comments:
“There is a need for a gallery that reflects what happens in Wales.“
“There’s a need for a marketing revamp of the whole presentation of Welsh culture.”
“Unemployment benefit could be renamed as an artist’s bursary!”
“There is no promotional tool for Welsh artists so people don’t know about Welsh artists and their work.”
What Artists Need Anghenion Artistiaid will be launched at Glyn Vivian Art Gallery on 12 March 2007 Monday by Stephen West, Co-Director Cywaith C ymru and Iwan Bala Special Project Manager Cywaith Cymru at the ACW Visual Art Seminar starting 11am. Discussion and questions
As a young and fairly inexpereinecd artist in Cardiff, it appears that a lot of the efforts towards promoting the arts are geared toward international arts or Wales' place within international arts. I understand that it is crucial that the arts are promoted and appreciated by the public and that these events etc can help that, but there a few opportunities for emerging artists and few places to show.
Last year we started an organisation that would help emerging artists, many of whom are struggling for time undr the burden of numerous part time jobs, to show work by taking the pressure of publicising themselves and finding exhibition spaces, but in the end we failed to find the support to enable us to even do this. The main problem we found was in convincing anyone that hosting a temporary exhibition of emerging artists could be of any benefit to their venue, or failing to find or find the time to trawl through the funding process to secure funding to hire venues.
We need to look at the entry points to an arts career. How does someone becomes an artist in Cardiff? Because without private resources it seems nigh on impossible and this cant be right.
In addition, the demise of Arts Training Wales, in particular their website with the fantastic jobs and opportunities section, has left an even bigger gap for emerging artists to try and bridge to actually become involved in the Cardiff arts scene and secure commissions and exhibtions.
Ah, quit worrying.
Galleries, audiences and little red dots are all well and good, but all an artist, 'emerging' or otherwise, really needs is one intelligent person remarking now and then that their work isn't shit. If you've got that (and, ideally, the person isn't your mum), be happy; if not, try to work out why - either way, time's a-wastin' and there's work to be done...
What artists need is a union so that they are protected in the same way that musicians are.
Beverley Carpenter
www.beverleycarpenter.co.uk
I am not sure whether I am doing something wrong., but it seems like there is very little on this blog.
I hate to sound cynical of creative enterprise, but it appears like yet another project that has a lot of energy and funding put into it, and the main benifactors are the administrators who have used precious arts funding to pay themselves, while offering the artistic community very little in substance.
Anyway, befor I get too carried away with digging a proffesional hole of slagging off anyone who I may later rely on for moral support in my life as an artist, does anyone know where ther on-going political discusion of this blog is? I can only see a handful of comments (8), and most of them are from WAN-AA. surly extensive research, a series of conferences and the publication of a book have generated more then this.
Is anyone out there?
Sympathise with Rob's sentiments, but don't have any useful rejoiners - except that I'm not sure it's entirely fair to point the finger at WAN-AA (assuming that they've done a good job publicising the site among potential contributors). If people don't see any value in this and choose to stay silent, that's up to them - and the project will fold - but I'm sure the intentions are good.
What I do have are a couple of practical questions, so I'll throw them out there and wait for the flood of responses:
Does anyone who know where to find decent painting materials in south Wales? Particularly brushes, unprimed linen and stretchers. Still having to get them by post from elsewhere, but I'd rather give my cash to someone local.
Also looking for life models. Found some excellent women, but very few blokes, though they must be out there.
If anyone has advice, please let me know.
While I'm here I'll just respond to the "artist's bursary" proposal. As far as I understand, JSA is for 'job seekers', and some Benefits Offices can be quite strict about that. If state money is being used for anything else, such as paying for a lifestyle that can't otherwise be funded, it might be an idea to keep that under your hat. This ain't France.
I read somewhere that this blogging lark is in its infancy and will grow in to something very powerful, something that will remind people that we have the power and can influence and change our shared environment.
It will be a long wait.
This particular blog has a potential to form a voice that will have to be noted. Noted by ACW, Assembly ministers, curators, art administrators etc????
The only thing is is that the artists here in Wales will have to use this blog, talk about it and share the information. Otherwise it will fall flat on its face...
You can lead a horse to water...
I have lived in Wales for the last 6 years: very much enjoyed the culture, language, people and landscape, but found very frustrating the little opportunities for emerging artists. I have been forced to take my work else ware and have recently moved out. While working as a self-employed artist, I have registered at the various art organisations, which send me their bulletin or newsletter with opportunities (see my links on website www.eflerovah.com). Then I apply for 15 things per month. I fell quit exhausted working 12 hrs per day and 7days per week filled with artist’s job like: admin; marketing, archive, documentation, setting up a studio + my own exhibition space, keep working on current projects and rolling new ideas. I wonder how other artists can manage it. Being a woman doesn’t help. To be honest, I can forget having a family this lifetime that’s for sure. Anyway could anybody tell me what else shell I do to become a professional artist with regular commissions, which would support my income and how to become a part of art community? I fell quit isolated and the fact: ‘artist life is a lonely journey does not applies to me.’
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home