Body Talks (Mind, Bodies & Thoughts)

Spill Folk Academy, Day I (2/2)

Soon after the beginning of the first session, I intended to blog about my SFA experience – mainly about the inmportant points which were said in the two sessions – but that message was so strong that, even if we’ve been talking about specific matters or ideas to take the work forward (especially in the afternoon session), I couldn’t help thinking that it was all down to attitude, perception & culture towards our own craft. And once again, I couldn’t separate the fact that unless each of us accept we have a certain level of responsibility in this situation, we wouldn’t be able to go far with any changes we want to implement.

This belief became even more obvious when, in the second session, we were asked what we have got. We came up with some very good answers but too often, these valid answers, I felt, were undermined by this need of self-victimization. For a reason I just can’t understand, we seem to buy into a certain myth of the artist and its role in Society. Certainly, that was the case decades, even a century ago. But what about now? Are we really seen as a threat? Or a nuisance? Or as a waste of money? Or as lazy F****rs who can’t get a***d to get a “job” because we see ourselves as being above the rest? Or is it, instead, a convenient way to avoid a simple reality?

Hearing some of the constant issues being brought up – such as being instutionalized, presenting work-in-progress without being paid, being misunderstood by audiences, being against the rest of the Society – it prompted me to ask myself then, if we’re that much of a problem, how come, prior to this recession period, we’re in a (Funding) Golden Age? Also if we’re that much of a problem within our society how come we’ve still got people – punters even! – who made a great deal to come and see our work, let alone nowadays tweet about it??

The reality is establishing ourselves as potential artists is tough. Sustaining a living successfully is even tougher, especially now that funding is virtually non-existent. Money will always be a factor, a problem to juggle with. And, yes, we’ll always be facing stigmas about our value in Society. We all know that. But, does it mean we have to act like victims? Does it mean we have to portray ourselves as being vulnerable or the Society’s pet? Does it mean we have to accept the rules (which actually seem tnot exist in most cases I’ve heard today)? If we artists does it mean we can’t have our own code of conduct? And if the potential partner we’re approaching doesn’t want to pay us, does it mean we can’t say no? In other words, if we are professional artists why do we feel the need to avoid acting like one?

I’ve probably lost my line of thought along the way, as result of blogging after what was an intense but powerful brainstorming day, but this sense of responsibility associated to our identity kept coming to my mind throughout the day. And whether it was intentional or not, I have the strong feeling one of the main agendas behind Spill Folk Academy is to remind us, (live) artists, we are the change. If we have to fight to be valued, culturally & socially, then it has to come from us. If we have to protect ourselves with a support system, then it has to come from us. And so if we have to a strong individuality, we should confidently use it to move forward.

Spill Folk Academy – Day I (1/2)

Where to start? My head is spinning right now. I feel estatic. I feel empowered. I feel positive. I feel on fire. I feel GOOD – read it as: “Goooood!!!”. Yet, I’m realistic. More than ever. There’s a storm out there we found ourselves right in and so victims of. And if there’re any changes to come as soon as possible, they won’t be happening overnight. They won’t even be happening in a month time. But whatever solution we’ll come up with tomorrow. It’ll be a fresher start. A solid start. A powerful start! A start to a change that we’ll help us – (live) artists – to protect ourselves, to sustain ourselves, to navigate along the bumpy road that’s upon us that the subeaquent series of cuts to the Arts is creating, to work together better against adversity, to redefine ourselves as professionnals & practioners. (Most importantly?) A start to a change that we’ll allow us to reposition ourselves as a fundamental part of our society. And firmly believe in that! Why? because that’s the message I’ve got from today’s sessions at Spill Folk Academy.

SFA, hosted by Robert Pacitti & his company, is an opportunity for us, members of the arts industry (be individual artists, venues, cultural workers, companies, funders and so on) to talk openly about the situation we’re facing and about what we need to do to tackle. I came to today’s sessions with a total open mind. Sure, I had things to say about the cuts andhow I feel about it. But that wasn’t the reason why I was here. I’m not going to lie about it, since I’m in the middle of re-building myself as a live art practioner (or performance artist – not sure which one describes me best right now), I also joined the debate in hope to see new faces, possibly make new contacts & rekindle with the usual key players within the field. But what convinced me to actually take part in the event was the genuine concern from Pacitti Company about the state of our industry as the result of the funding cuts. Of course, Pacitti’s Company is not the only one tackling this threat & Spill Festival won’t be the last inititive giving space to artists to come up with the ideas to function safely under the Storm, for how long it may last. But, what made this gathering so special is not only its message but the way it made us face the reality we are in as artists: we can moan as much as we want about how the system crushes us and/or how it undermines our value, role both as members and shapers of our modern Society but the FACT is unless we don’t stand our ground for who we are and what we’re worth, nobody is going to do it for us. And that message was really transparent throughout the day. There was a constant reminder from Pacitti himself that we don’t have the luxury to faff around, that there’s a real sense of urgency we cannot take for granted, therefore that we’re in this room to come up with A solution that will, if not eradicate the problem, provide a support system much needed for us to live.

This reminder was given to the assembly frequently, firmly but respectfully. And most importantly with a sense of generosity. Not once, I felt patronized by this message. Not once, I felt like I was a disciple being shown the light by my Savior. It was about going beyond the traditional intellectual exercise of debating on what’s wrong in the world (of arts). It was, to put it bluntly, a question of our sense of responsibility being put into the test.