ARTISTS TALKING

# 15 [16 March 2010]

We are excitedly planning our 2010 activity and getting the funding applications sorted. We received funding from NAN towards our activities and are planning a trip to the Southern counties, hopfully the research trip will inform the development of our future programming.

We will have on overnight trip and stay in Bristol, and there meet some of the artists we are working with this season, whilst having a look at Bristol's art spaces and activities. We also plan to sample what Frome has to offer, relating to art activities in a sparsely populated area.

I have become more familiar with art activities in smaller cities and towns, even villages since working on the Lincoln Art Programme. Despite many sceptical opinions I believe that with perseverance small places can sustain art environments, and Frome is proof of this.  

In other news we are attempting the new online ACE application system and rather hoping that there isn't an official word limit. We seem to be rather good at exceeding all word counts on applications.

We have also set up a new mailing list subscription page on our website, which should make it a lot easier for people to receive information from us.

Amelia

# 14 [10 February 2010]

After a short down time it seems to have been all hands on deck for Lincoln Art Programme over the past few weeks. We have had countless meeting which have been really helpful, many of which involve trying to find an office space free of charge, not a small order by any means. We may have hit lucky with this, but am not counting my chickens before they have hatched, there is always strings attached. It also came from an unlikely source through our business adviser who I may add is surprisingly helpful, I would recommend Business Link they are really good at what they do and seem to have time for everyone, even those asking for a free office.

Its the time of year when we are applying for funding, and dont we just know it. After many high blood pressure occasions we are about to send the first of three off in the post. This year we have gone for more of a match funding application with two main funders and one more contributory. A lot rests on these as if one funder says no the other is also likely too, which would be terrible as 2010 programme would be put on hold until we can secure the funding. The only foreseeable reason we would fall down on is that if the assessors dont think our project is art, our demand for activity is strong though, and we are doing more research to prove this.

I have updated the website so we now have a new front page which is up to date. We need to build our Facebook page now, and get lots of people directed to the site for more information. This was something that was raised recently with a meeting I had at the Collection. The Collection are about to branch into social networking as do a lot of places these days as a more cost effective and directly targeting way of communicating to people. It seems strange that the casual social networking sites that seem very unofficial are becoming places where big institutions can appeal to a mass audince, it just seems a little informal, but I see the logic.

Amelia

# 13 [8 January 2010]

Our evaluation of last years activity is now complete and we have a shiny new business plan to take us to the end of 2012 in place! That said we now need to implement the plan, and that begins with getting funding!

Last year we relied heavily on Arts Council England for funding but 2010 onwards needs to see a larger proportion of income from other sources. We have set up numerous meetings to try and raise awareness of the organisation and to secure funding. Every meeting we have had thus far has gone well, but there have been no pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. We have managed to pin down application writing to an extent but not meeting styles to sell the organisation. This has become quite a worry because with out funding from other sources we wont get Arts Council funding! What we need is a wealthy beneficiary to come our way.

The plan for this year is to secure a permanent base in the city that functions as an office and base for art work to originate or tie into. We also want to formally constitute the organisation and work towards three commissions. The first stage of this is primarily meetings and application writing, I think it will be some time before any project outwardly materialises so our presence in the city will be limited for the time being. This is really why we need a base in the city. Evan a caravan with a plot would do, in fact I quite like that idea, the Lincoln Art Programme caravan....

Amelia

# 12 [31 December 2009]

The slow crawl back into work begins this week as we pick up speed heading into the new year. Things on the to do list that remain, is to finish the ACE report form, and burn a DVD to go with it, and then to move on to planning.

We are planning on making a DVD of all the footage we have taken over the course of 2009, and I have spent what seems for ever editing footage for web versions and DVD versions, and then converting to compressed files, the next stage is to find out how to make an intro page to a DVD of which I have no clues about.

For 2010 we want to have a permanent presence in the city of Lincoln, and are making some headway into securing a base in the city which we can work from, as well as making connections around the city that will introduce the programme to people. Although this is obviously not as fun as programming its equally as important if we want to grow as an organisation, and support other fledgling groups in the city. Speaking of which DR are looking very promising as they have secured a short term gallery space in the city in spring of next year.

Just a few more late nights and we will have completed all the paper work etc from 2009, and then its all forward planning.

Amelia

# 11 [29 November 2009]

2/2

The day ended with a Whirl in Tescos. 15 participants descended on Tescos to push an empty shopping trolley around the store for an hour. Using a highly sophisticated covert surveillance technique (a camera in a bag with a hole) I set out to document the event. Dodgy footage aside we independently walked into Tescos the idea being that we would begin to find other people with empty trolleys and follow them around the store until we had a long chain. Whilst doing this we would be in a meditative state and casually browsing. After about fifteen minuets the chain had formed creating a visual spectacle down the aisles, with people say things such as ‘Are they all out on day release’ and taking a double look. There was the odd occasion when one of us accidentally cracked a smile but on the whole we were calm, especially Chris as I kept accidentally walking my trolley into the back of his heels. After thirty minuets security realised some thing odd was a foot and asked us to vacate the premises for causing obstructions to other shoppers, and not shopping properly. That’s what Buy Nothing Day is all about!

Although Anges highest figure for Whirling is 26, we were all exceptionally happy with the experience of 15 which warranted further discussion down the pub. This series of activities across three days has really bought people together in Lincoln, as they have followed the three day marathon and made connections from it, so much so that there is now in motion an Action Lincoln group that has been initiated from this, which I will be eagerly following and supporting. There is also a rumour that the challenge of beating 26 has been set, so Lincoln may see more activity to come.

MDSC were a risk to present to a Lincoln audience for a new organisation, but I am really glad that we went through with doing so, from feedback we have received people are really refreshed to see art that addresses politics and speaks its mind, that isn’t safe and cosy, and from this we have engaged a large core of people who are now instigating their own activities, I don’t think I could ask for more. Its defiantly a high to go out on for 2009, and I have loved every moment, warts and all.  

See http://www.breathingplanet.net/whirl/ for information on Whirl Mart’s and http://www.ecolincs.org/ for more information on Lincolns green activities.

MDSC can be found on http://www.mydadsstripclub.com/ , and it seems like Lincolnshire maybe seeing more of them with a few offers in the pipe line from the few days activity.

Amelia 2/2

# 10 [29 November 2009]

1/2

What a way to end the 2009 programme than with a crescendo from My Dads Strip Club. Although not everyone’s cup of tea the events over the 26-28^th November have provided an exceptionally immersive experience for some.

We began on Thursday with an event in the Dog and Bone pub, which I may add is a wonderful venue who are really keen to support art and have a fantastic book exchange scheme. The event saw MDSC present an event which I have dubbed as a stand up comedy style presentation of art and activism and the work of MDSC. Chris’s no frills attitude had the pub filled with laughter at regular intervals, exploring the exploitation of the public through corporations, particularly focusing on coke. MDSC show cased Coke Fuck and other works that highlighted the issues that are often left behind the scenes of large corporations.

The evening ended on a high with pub filled of conversations about creating work with human left over’s and the politics of presenting art that perhaps is a little risky for a Lincoln audience.

Friday’s event was made to tie in with the Mini Wave hosted by Critical Mass in Lincoln. The Mini Wave was a sibling event to the main event in London next week which is a climate protest aiming to raise awareness of the UN Copenhagen conference. After participating in the Mini Wave and narrowly avoiding blue face paint I went alongside a large crowd of protesters and some other found audience members who had assembled en route to the Healthy Hub to be entertained by MDSC presenting an event in support of the days events. Dirty Cash To Clean Green showcased Chris’s drawing whilst Ange animated it live and narrate the evening with tales of the Titanic and other nuggets of information.

The nice thing about Friday was that the event was made almost for the Mini Wave people and they really seemed to enjoy it, after Chris had finished MDSC allowed members of the audience to play with the tools, and various people rose to the challenge creating their own animated art works, on the X Box style tool kit.

The grand finale to a thoroughly entertaining and exhilarating few days finished with two happenings. The first saw Chris peddling deer shit, to willing punters in Lincoln. The premise of which was instead of buying cheap shit for Christmas you should buy deer shit, and so it came to be Chris stood in his flasher jacket in the middle of Lincoln train crossing overtly opening his coat to reveal pouches of glittery laded deer shit to sell to willing punters for £4000, unfortunately he had no takers, but many a puzzled expression. I know what’s going on my Christmas list.

Amelia (1/2)

# 9 [12 November 2009]

Last weekend saw Feng-Ru Lee's performance take place in the Collection Auditorium. The performance began with a film that saw Milee the Sheep and her Animal Orchestra preforming in a forest from dawn to dusk, which felt like the animals were contributing to the natural sounds of the forest and making it come alive. This added to the already set atmosphere and flowed into performance with Milee and the Orchestra taking to the floor to preform a live ensemble to the audince, a concofany of noise and shadows as Milee the Sheep swung a light bulb at her drum skin, vibrating the atmosphere. The performance concluded with a 60 second count down of audince participation, where each person was given a sheet of A4 paper to create a noise with whilst Milee the Sheep counted down via tearing off numbers from a paper pad.

The general reaction from the audince was that the disjointed nature of the work played on the strengths of the atmosphere and created an all encompassing event. After the performance I interviewed members of the audience with out video camera to gage their reactions, my favorite feedback came from a little girl who was talking to the camera with her mother saying how the rabbit from the orchestra was her favorite character and that they enjoyed scrumping the paper to make noises with. I am certainly keen to carry on the participation elements that some of our programming has as I feel there is more to engage with that way that having something presented to you. I am hoping that this will come across in our development day next week. We are finally going to sit down and have a presumably long discussion on our future programming and current evaluation. 

A couple of weeks time will see the My Dads Strip Club events in the city, which I am very much looking forward to. A lot of the decisions have  been relatively last minuet due to the nature of the work and the activities to co-inside with eco-groups in the city. My Dads Strips Clubs work will tie in with two national / international events that are politically and socially relevant, Buy Nothing Day on the 28th and the Mini Wave event on the 27th; http://www.ecolincs.org/, we are releasing some information with a couple of days / hours notice which I find exciting and intriguing, although the main event is being publicised as normal. 

Amelia   

# 8 [25 October 2009]

Last week both the flyers and posters arrived for Feng-Ru Lee's forthcoming performance. So we're distributing those at the moment as well as sending out e-flyers left, right and centre. Have sent some lovely cotton bags to print with one of her perfomance drawings on the side so can't wait to see how those come out.

For this perfomance, we're hoping to attract a Lincoln audience as well as those from further afield. We've had a couple of articles in the local press this week and The Collection are going to help with our e-marketing, which should both help in this respect. Fingers crossed for a good turn-out.

Amelia and I had a catch-up meeting with Feng-Ru (Milee) last week in the oldest pub in England to see how things are progressing and talk through how things will pan out on the day. Also arranging things like her filming day in Thieves Woods and  transport for all her equipment/props and things on the day (courtesy of a kindly offer from a lovely white van man). Also trying to sort out volunteers and things to help out on the day as we were a bit rushed off our feet at Art-jacking.

Amelia and I also visited Broad St in Nottingham as part of Hatch Abroad, an evening of performances in bars and restaurants etc along the length of the road. I had to leave early but managed to squeeze in two fantastic and extremely bizarre performances from Nottingham-founded Reckless Sleepers in a beautiful old theatre and Nottingham based Daniel Hunt and his chum in a dark and dingy pub basement. Highly recommended.

All very exciting! Anyway, must go, must send out more e-flyers.......

Anneka

# 7 [15 October 2009]

Looking to the future is a funny thing, ambition and realistic ambition can often be two very different things. Aiming high is definitely essential for progression but its important to realise the immediate capabilities that we have.

The reason I say this is the Lincoln Art Programme has set its self a bar, and in my opinion a high bar to progress from, the Art Jacking debate was most definitely a success, but yes there is room for improvement. The pressure is on to put bums on seats but that can often be a distraction. Feng-Ru Lee's performance is only a few weeks away and the hard work of marketing is kicking in now. We are behind with flyer printing as we had a custom size created but they are due back any day now, so its not too much of a problem.

One thing that has stuck in all of our heads ever since John (Plowman) (our mentor) mentioned it is that printed publicity is not always necessary. I am beginning to agree, making use of distribution networks and the excessive amount of online marketing facilities is creating way for cheaper and potentially more direct marketing. This is one of the successes of the debate, however the problem still lies with attracting a local audince. I tend to think that a local audince would be the ones the printed publicity is for.

Next week we are getting together to develop the future into 2010, and we are going to pay a visit to Hatch, a live art platform in Nottingham, on the way. There is a strange tension in the group about inclusivity and having a range of high profile works and that of emerging artists for our programme. My initial reaction is to have a big impact in Lincoln, and less so to worry about level of development, but we shall see.

Amelia

# 6 [9 October 2009]

I thought I would reflect on the Lincoln Art Programmes most recent event 'Art Jacking'. As the Lincoln Art Programme is focusing on initiating a live art orientated programme, we decided to initiate a debate on the role of live art in public environments. We invited various speakers to be involved in an open debate with our audience, including Lois Keidan from the Liver Art Development Agency, and Laura Eldret from Collecting Live Art.

The discussion began with the various speakers talking about their own relationships with live art and how they feel it fits with unexpected audiences and public environments. With a-n review editor Hugh Dichmont getting a few laughs from the audience explaining his embarrassment and pity for live art performers an participants. Before the audience got the opportunity to explain their own thoughts and experiences on live art events.

The event was a great success, specifically in terms of the audience who attended, we understand that we are building new audiences in a city that has little other artistic activity, but the interest in the Lincoln Art Programme is really high, attracting both local audiences and arts professionals from across the country, its great that we had people travelling from London, Liverpool, Norwich and Manchester all to Lincoln, as well as people from East Midlands arts bodies who are interested to see the Lincoln art programme develop. I think people are excited to see the Lincoln art programme, and watch how it grows and develops.  

There is always the worry when hosting a debate that the discussion will trial off and speakers will struggle to draw out a discussion. But this debate seemed to grow as the event went on, the audience became actively involved in the discussion, and with various conflicting opinions

We had one blunt comment from the audience which I quite like;

"Lincoln's a pretty crusty place. Things like this is only going to make it better"

I was trying to think during the debate about how I’m meant to interpret the word ‘crusty’. But I think he meant crusty as in a ‘bit stale’, a bit behind maybe, and that this is only going to freshen things up, bringing innovative contemporary activity to the city.  

A noticeable group absentee was students from the University. I’ve being told by other course leaders from other universities that they also have difficulties in raising enthusiasms from their students. and maybe when I was a  student i was guilty of the same thing, this is something we at the Lincoln Art programme are going to have to re-address, and find better strategies for attracting their attention.   

Next up, event number two out of three is Feng-Ru Lee’s performance on Saturady 7^th November, Mille will underkae her alter ego, milee the sheep, and is bringing with her, her own ‘animal orchestra’ for a surreal musical performance.  check out the website for more details.