OPEN AIR
I’ve just got back from the AIR forum and wanted to say a little bit about it before I go home in the morning and get sucked into the next thing and forget – State of The Arts on Monday…
First, it was a great day and although I didn’t meet all the virtual friends I hoped, it was really good to have some face to face contact with people.
After presenting at a conference yesterday, it was incredible to feel the change in the environment today – rather than an intimidating academic environment, it felt like hierarchy was irrelevant and that people were really listening to each other on an equal footing.
The speakers were all amazing – some truly inspiring stuff happening – not all art, some hacking, some social, some local government, some lobbying. I’m pretty sure the talks were recorded so I shan’t try and do them justice here.
What I really took from all the presentation was action over whining (the description of policy as largely based on deferment seemed apt) and just starting – doing something – ANYTHING. It was also clear that small actions can build to make a big difference, especially using the Internet. The projects we were shown were also about using what you have and what you know you can do and just beginning there.
Following the presentations, we split into groups. It became clear at this point that several people were a bit confused about the purpose of the day – they knew it was supposed to be effecting change, but they didn’t know how they, as an AIR member, fit into that. A couple of people mentioned that the amazingness of the speakers actually made them feel more helpless, because they could never imagine instigating such radical projects. I feel a bit similar in that way – but I also feel confident that I will do other things in my own way; not everyone can be radical by definition right?
For me, as an AIR Council member, I saw the event as a chance to get AIR members together and hear from them what they felt strongly about and wanted to change or implement. All these views collected will play a large part in informing what the AIR council do to represent the members.
SO much came out during our discussion group and I discovered during the plenary that several themes appeared across all discussions. It was also, importantly, a very engaged and thoughtful crowd – artists who are seeing the bigger picture rather than being egocentric about what they want to improve. Some points were (from memory, not notes, so I may have to add to this):
Improving or changing art education and how art is taught in schools in order to help people value art.
Artists getting paid for the work that they do, as any other profession does. One sign from the presentation of projects in Holland stated clearly ‘ARTISTS DO NOT ENJOY BEING POOR’ True.
An artistic economy i.e. artists trading skills, resources, space. Looking at what we have available and doing something with that rather than needing to ask for external help.
Working locally – having spaces where artists can engage in dialogue/exchange. Perhaps a similar kind of event as today, but on a local scale.
Local was also contentious as the often derogatory use of ‘local artists’ was making many frustrated.
Working across the two tiers of the arts is important – so looking to get artists on the boards (and paid for being so) of large decision making bodies and organisations e.g. Turning Point steering committees. Also helping to facilitate and support smaller grass-roots or community projects that need funding. Basically AIR needs to influence the big stuff and facilitate the small stuff.
We can’t all do the same or give the same amount of time, but with a membership as big as 17,000, it seems like there’s a lot of action and influence waiting to happen.
