Some bad, but not altogether unexpected news with regard to funding for Art Space yesterday. I am quite sure that none of us had envisaged that it would be quite as extreme. I have been reading through the proposed budget cuts last night. They are itemised in some detail – I would like to see the same level of detail given to proposed expenditure. Are we seeing genuinely measured reductions or the picking off of easy targets? It pisses me off. What stupidity and profligacy continues?
I was thinking about the cuts again this morning, specifically on my initial reaction that it will be difficult to conscientiously argue a case for ourselves when, for example, children’s services are lined up for a real hammering. But I cannot respect councillors’ choice of cuts that do not include themselves.
Off to the studio shortly. Experiments and more reflection. Stopping and re-assessing a work – how can it be better?
I went to studio 22 realising more and more the benefits of having a large-ish white wall to work with – something I don’t have in my studio at home. If my studio here was twice the size, and all I had in it were the materials I need and space to stand back and look (or sit and think), that would be approaching ideal. I wonder if they will mind if I knock through to next door?
The white wall proved itself. I was able to develop a sketchbook idea in ways that would not have been possible otherwise. Having the means to lay the work out actual size meant that not only was I able to fine-tune details, significantly I was also able to visualise a development to the work that I had not previously conceived. This transformed the piece. It is clear that I will have to take steps to ensure that I have a similar facility somehow. As things stand that could be a problem.
Here’s a curious thing: on Twitter, has anyone else noticed how many of a certain ‘tier’ of arts professionals follow no, or almost no, artists?
Susan’s comment is spot on. Thinking about this afterwards, there are a few other prerequisites I could have added: resourcefulness, adaptability, and a sense of the possible.
I can’t think of any other profession that requires quite such a wide range of abilities and skills: an artist needs more than just their talent: we need to be adept at marketing, financial management, and at least some ability to present a sound ‘business’ case; we need self motivation, dedication, specialist technical skills (as well as the ability to learn new skills at the drop of a hat), and – uniquely, I think, the need to constantly conceive and develop new ‘product’.
