What kind of a year has 2012 been for you and your organisation?
It was Craftspace’s first operational year since the withdrawal of long term revenue funding from Birmingham City Council. Fortunately, prudent financial management meant we didn’t panic and have risen to the challenge of finding different ways to work and generate income and investment. Having lots of fingers in lots of pies, together with an open and continuously curious mindset, is how we got through the year.
What has changed for the better and what, if anything, has changed for the worse?
There is a burgeoning interest in craft, crafting and the handmade and that’s good for our business. I deplore this government’s divisive policy to privilege and invest in sciences over the arts and humanities – surely they are interdependent and the progression of society will be hugely impoverished if they are not interconnected. The lack of arts subjects in the proposed EBacc is a travesty and will deprive future generations of the chance to fulfill their creative potential.
What do you wish hadn’t happened this year?
That the government hadn’t made it illegal for the Church of England to conduct same-sex marriages. Where is the equality in that?
What do you wish had happened this year, but didn’t?
That the wishes of the majority of the Church of England Synod to have women Bishops had been rightly granted.
What would you characterise as your organisation’s major achievement this year?
We were delighted that Craftspace and our corporate partner of six years VSM UK Ltd won a Business in the Community Responsible Business Award. Sponsored by Arts & Business, the award is for companies who have developed a sustained partnership with a cultural organisation that demonstrates significant benefit and engagement with local communities and its own employees.
Is there anything you’d have liked to have done but haven’t?
Got tickets for the Olympics or Paralympics – if I’d been quicker off the mark – instead of weeks of fruitless effort to buy some whilst watching it on TV. I’d like to have judged for myself the design of the Olympic park and experienced the feeling of mass collective enthusiasm.
What would make 2013 a better year than 2012?
An Arab Spring that turns into a beautiful, warm and pleasant summer and that millions of refugees can go home.
Craftspace is a crafts development organisation based in Birmingham. www.craftspace.co.uk
