Art: a bigger and bigger business

First congrats to Phil Thompson whose sculpture won pride of place in front of the new Stroud college building - let's not forget that Stroud College school of Art, Design & Media is now regarded as one of the best in the country. Anyhow Phil Thompson's piece aims to suggest people coming together and sharing experiences and emotions.

Photo: mosaic done by local children

There were an extraordinary 42 local entries to the competition - these were wittled down to 6 including Simon Packard whose daughter goes to Randwick School. Then the public voted and a panel of judges decided. Among the judges was Nick Capaldi - Chief Exec of Arts Council South West - he was also one of the presenters as last nights meeting at Twigworth.

So what was this meeting? Well, a seminar for Gloucestershire councillors on the creative industries and art....Nick Capaldi was there to set the scene then Fred Brookes of Comedia shared their huge research project on arts in Gloucestershire - I have to say I was disappointed as I was expecting new stuff but it was a repeat of Comedia's 2005 work - I was fortunate to have read that in connection with some Parish Plan work and it is great that it is now getting pushed to a wider audience. Indeed all councillors should really hear it - and in truth no harm in hearing it again!

“The creative energy that surges through Stroud and the surrounding valleys is extraordinary, stimulating and exhilarating at the same time.” Matthew Fort, journalist and Guardian Food Editor

I'll come to some of the facts and figures in a moment but have to say first it is such a pity that everything has to be analysed in terms of it's economic value and that was the angle being pushed....basically that there is significant potential to develop these industries.....


In terms of the creative industries Gloucestershire has:

- 1900 companies and small businesses ie 9.8% of all enterprises
- 9000 jobs ie 4.8% of all employed
- £808million annual turnover ie 4.2% of total turnover
- at least 600-700 very small businesses/individuals with £11-12 million turnover
- an estimated £50 million economic impact of subsidised art
- turnover increased by 62% in real terms between 1997 and 2005
- strongest were software, arts and antiques, publishing and advertising
- 50 to 60% of residents had accesseda subsidised arts event with 25-44 age group being under-represented

Marcus Moore, a performance poet led the debate at the end and also treated us to two short poems. It was interesting the stories he told and indeed others were often about the self-esteem and confidence that was gained from taking part in art - for some it was literally life changing from a world of crime to a very different more positive place - yet as noted how can you put a price on that?

My concerns are that we tend to focus on the money - and yes it is important but we also need to take risks and see what happens - what abouty instead of another Neighbourhood Warden in Stroud we appoint a Community Artist or theatre group to work with different sections of the population??

Art is too often provided for people rather than involving them - it is no wonder not all sections of the population get involved - participatory arts is what we need more of - as local Cashes Green-based artist Lis Parker says: “Art by the people as opposed to ‘art for the people’ is a good way forward.”

Certainly things are getting better but there is still a lack of recognition amongst many about the role the arts can play. As someone else wrote: "Good art, design and cultural events can all enormously enhance an area and help celebrate the cultural expression, history and values upon which economic and social confidence depends."

The County seem to be seeing the unelected Gloucestershire First group, made up mainly of local businesses, as being the ones to take the strategy forward. Clearly partnership working is great but the over-emphasis of business could be worrying.

All of this stuff re arts and development is really common sense and my work on the Shared Spaces project only emphasises that successful regeneration plans have made art a crucial component: promoting local cultural projects, celebrating local distinctiveness, encouraging more contemporary sculptures in public spaces and using art as a tool to promote their area. Research as we heard again last night confirms the social and economic benefits of arts programmes - but we should not expect art to cure all social ills or all artists to be cheap social workers.

"The arts sector is huge around here and makes a major contribution to the local economy. That heritage is one of the reasons I set up my workshop in Chalford."
Damien Hirst, artist

Lastly I cannot finish this hastily thrown together blog without mentioning that all of our creativity is going to be essential if we are serious about moving from the way we live now to something else. Art is surely one of the most important ways to communicate - there are projects out there but we need much more to tackle and help people get over the fears and dismay around our future - only by tackling those fears can we galvinise people into action.

Stroud especially should be well placed to do this - The Telegraph a while back said Stroud is to art what Hay-on-Wye is to books. The Open Studio with over a 100 venues in the summer is just one manifestation of that - we also have great theater groups, art galleries and much more - I feel very fortunate living here.

I would welcome thoughts and debate on how best to take all this forward.