A manifesto for public participation in the arts & crafts
While I’m in blogging mode I think I should just drop something into this space about the above.
A couple of years ago I was on the DCMS PSA3 advisory group. The discussion was all about how to increase participation in the arts and crafts (unsurprisingly or why else would I be there?)
Anyway, those of you who know me, know I am not really one for sitting in meetings. I mostly get restlesss. I used to reproach myself about this and question what ‘calibre’ of person I must be. But nowerdays I remember that anecdote from Sir Ken Robinson (world leader on creativity) about a girl who got into trouble for never sitting still in class and the psychologist who was called in to assess what was “wrong” with her, telling both her mum and teacher “She’s not sick, she’s a dancer”. The dancer is Gillian Lynne.
So I don’t feel so bad about being a fidget now.
What I did instead of waiting for an answer coming from Government was to pose myself the question “who is best placed to increase participation in the arts?” and my answer was to decide that it is the very people tasked with making the arts happen in the first place who need to do something – ie. US.
My starting point has therefore been to concieve of developing a manifesto for public participation in the arts and crafts. We were offered seconded staff from DCMS, grant support for consultations from ACE, gained over 250 expressions of interest from organisations all over England and set up a development group with representatives who attended the original DCMS PSA3 advisory group and includes NCA, NALGAO, NCF-LL, DCP, FCD and of course ourselves.
We now have the manifesto and a website and both will be launched at the NALGAO conference on October 7th 2009.
It’s a growing wave of support and a changing tide of thought; and the manifesto works hand in hand with the developments outlined in my last post below about the work happening with the Department for Business, Innovation & skills and the informal adult learning agenda.
I hope you’ll keep your eyes ‘peeled’ for when I post the website URL and that you’ll pledge to do something to support public participation in the arts and carfts.
