The following two posts to the Portfolio NW blog have been written by Dr Katrin Joost. In her text, Dr Joost discusses the challenges of developing the arts infrastructure in Carlisle:
Portfolio NW is not only an interesting exhibition, but very much a valuable venture. This blog is a short reflection on the importance of such schemes, not only supporting the arts, but also furthering audience development. In this light, I will share some thoughts reflecting on the arts and the importance of audience development in Carlisle.
We all know and have read much about the problematic economical situation resulting in austerity measures affecting the arts. Times are difficult for artists and audiences everywhere. However, it could be argued that in a region like Cumbria with a large proportion of rural areas there is a less established culture of supporting and appreciating contemporary and challenging art.
Institutional support is limited – Carlisle is one of the few British cities, (perhaps the only?) without a publicly funded contemporary art gallery. The local museum Tullie House recently became a trust fund and cut staff, resulting in the loss of their contemporary exhibitions officer.
There is also, perhaps, a tendency in Britain, and more so in Carlisle, to view the arts as a luxury only a small section of the population is interested in. Of course, not everybody likes all art. [1] However, similarly not everybody is interested in sports. Sport too could be considered a luxury, yet, Carlisle manages to maintain comprehensive sporting facilities encompassing a football stadium, rugby ground, numerous tennis courts, a running track and swimming pool, etc.
So clearly there seems to be a perception that there is no audience for the arts in Carlisle. The independent cinema was closed several years ago, leaving only one small multiplex cinema, showing a limited selection of 3D blockbusters and animations. Yet, the alternative cinema club, which shows a small selection of art films once a week in Tullie House, is practically always sold out.
This understanding of the arts as an elitist interest which bypasses the majority of people is a common misperception. Frank Zappa [2] noted that more people visit art galleries and museums than football and baseball events combined. More recently (2006) the British museums report by the LSE states that “over 42 million visit… major museums and art galleries [each year]…more than the attendance at the Premier League plus the whole of the rest of league football. … 43% of the population visited a museum or art gallery at least once a year.” [3]
[1] And there is, of course, an ongoing debate about what falls under the umbrella of contemporary art I do not want to get into here.
[2] Donn Menn, The Mother of All Interviews Part 1 from A Definitive Tribute to Frank Zappa (Best of Guitar Players 1994), available at www.home.online.no/~cornelin/mother1.htm
[3] available at www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives2006/MuseumReport.aspx
