>Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 12:22:42 +0100 >From: "Tracey Kelly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >CCA STATEMENT > >Following the recent dialogue via the ambit e-mail list concerning CCA, >I feel it would be useful to clarify the exact nature of the event under >discussion. > >Firstly this event was a private hire and did not constitute in any way >part of CCA's artistic or cultural programme. CCA5 was hired by Scottish >Enterprise Glasgow for an event which forms part of their Business >Ventures programme. This series of seminars aims to help growth >companies and individuals with business start-up and to encourage a >dialogue and training for innovators who require advice and assistance >with their venture. The Defence Diversification Agency (DDA), were >contributors to the day's programme. The DDA's aim 'Connecting Business >to Technology' represents ways in which a specially created arm of >Ministry of Defence can offer technological advice on a range of >business ideas and services at innovation stage. The seminar I believe >was promoted by SEG to support new and innovative, products and services >over a wide area of topics. Further information on these initiatives I >would assume can be sourced from SEG. There was no question of any >secrecy agreement being required or asked for, and all the materials >which were freely given to delegates on the day can be accessed >publicly. What was happening was purely a dialogue for the benefit of >technological innovators on how to progress their ideas into business. >Whether it is seen as a positive or negative for a body such as SEG to >promote this form of development initiative is not for me to comment. I >can say quite categorically however that CCA has NO affiliation >whatsoever with the DDA or any of its research strands. It is however a >fact that you may wish to consider that many of our further educational >institutions, plus many national bodies that regularly support artists >DO have research contracts with the DDA. CCA was not motivated by >finance as has been suggested to allow an event such as this to take >place in the building. Rather as a public building and as a publicly >funded building, it is extremely difficult to impose any policy of >censorship or make moral judgements in relation to who can and who >cannot use the premises. > >CCA takes the position that the hire of the space to corporate clients >is a necessary part of the ongoing running of the building and of the >organisation. More and more post lottery revenue funded arts venues are >being asked to self-generate a greater proportion of their finances. It >is through the hiring of space and the use of CCA in various guises to a >business audience that enables, in part, the financing of an ongoing >programme. It can be difficult to achieve the ideal balance, and I >believe that this is an issue in which arts institutions and artists >should work together to constructively articulate shared concerns in >relation to the extent to which arts buildings should be required to >diversify from their core purpose. > >Collective lobbying in Scotland for increased long-term and serious >funding for contemporary arts, would reduce the emphasis on commercial >activity in favour of increased resources for artists. > >The dialogue around the Scottish Enterprise Glasgow event has raised >important points and allowed some individuals to make open and public >comment about CCA. Rather than shy from artists' input, CCA genuinly >encourages this interaction and welcomes opinion on the artistic >programme, future planning, priorities and direction. After year one, we >have views on how the spaces at CCA can be best utilised to support >artists, that will undoubtedly mean changes, and I sincerely look >forward to working in tandem with the artistic community to explore the >kinds of new work that can be included in CCA's future programme. I >openly welcome your views and suggestions for relevant and constructive >forums that will enable us all to share in this dialogue. > >Yours Sincerely > >Graham McKenzie >Director >CCA > > > >t > > > > > > > > > >intY has scanned this email for all known viruses (www.inty.com)
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