Last week the Fresh Start team made a series of public presentations on
the recommendations it will be making on a new and dynamic future for the
region’s creative sector.
Some 46 artists, writers, photographers, poets, administrators and
others came along – representing a superb cross section of the region’s skills
and talents.One of the really pleasing aspects of the sessions was the high quality
of debate, discussion and insight into the challenges and opportunities that
lie ahead if the region is to further build on its identity as a centre of
creativity.
Peter Stark OBE and Fresh Start project manager Kathleen O’Neill led the
two-hour sessions, in Eskdalemuir, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright and Dumfries.There was an especially warm endorsement for Fresh Start’s agreement
with the sectors ambition to push itself forward nationally and develop strong
international connections.
The presentations emphasised the need for a strong and united regional
voice for the arts, built on firm local foundations and allied to an international
ambition, ensuring that it can achieve the best possible results, in areas such
as winning funding and attracting cultural tourism.
A variety of issues were raised by participants, ranging from concerns
about lack of out-of-hours school provision for dance and performing arts
through to the problems caused by lack of transport and by the high cost of
hiring venues. Other issues raised included the importance of the voluntary as well as
the professional sector.
Over the last two years the arts
sector in the region has contributed to some genuinely ground-breaking
developments in the way it works with itself, partners and audiences –
participants at last weeks session recognised the way Fresh Start had assessed
and understood this groundwork and had shaped their proposals to help Dumfries
and Galloway best reach its undoubted potential.
There was warm appreciation for the amount of time that the Fresh Start
team has devoted to its listening exercise. In addition to 10 presentations to
date, over 100 face to face discussions have been held and more meetings are
planned across the region throughout June.
Peter and Kathleen were extremely grateful to all those who took the time
to attend last week’s events, some travelling a great distance to take part in
discussion
If anyone wants to have a chat with Kathleen to find out more about the
Fresh Start proposals they can send her an email at culturematters@btinternet.com and she’ll get
in touch.
I was able to attend one of the first 'round' of presentations and was impressed with the quality of expertise around the table. However, I am unable to attend any of the follow-up meetings so am keen to find out what is happening, so reading Reports on this blog is very convenient, thanks.
ReplyDeleteOne of my main concerns has been that the listening exercise will go the same way as the others and ideas/suggestions put forward will disappear once the exrercise has been completed and reported, that actions will be funded for only a year or so, which means there is very little continuity and the whole process starts all over again. Hopefully these fears will be allayed and we'll see a firm establishment of an infrastructure that's accessible and supportive