Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Roberts anto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour Simon Biggs si...@littlepig.org.uk http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ s.bi...@eca.ac.uk http://www.elmcip.net/ http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Roberts anto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour Simon Biggs si...@littlepig.org.uk http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ s.bi...@eca.ac.uk http://www.elmcip.net/ http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrett marc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Roberts anto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour Simon Biggs si...@littlepig.org.uk http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ s.bi...@eca.ac.uk http://www.elmcip.net/ http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
So, should we shut down furtherfield on-line projects and the gallery? marc Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrettmarc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Robertsanto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour Simon Biggs si...@littlepig.org.uk http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ s.bi...@eca.ac.uk http://www.elmcip.net/ http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
Not talking about Furtherfield, Marc. Unless you are part of the Wall Street propelled Art Market. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrett marc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 8:05 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore So, should we shut down furtherfield on-line projects and the gallery? marc Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrettmarc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Robertsanto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
Aha... Get your drift ;-) marc Not talking about Furtherfield, Marc. Unless you are part of the Wall Street propelled Art Market. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrettmarc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 8:05 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore So, should we shut down furtherfield on-line projects and the gallery? marc Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrettmarc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Robertsanto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
On 31/03/11 16:05, marc garrett wrote: So, should we shut down furtherfield on-line projects and the gallery? o_O - Rob. signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
... when things get worst, humans are able to move to higher levels of equilibrium ... and not feed the monster. How many out there? [quote] get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world [/quote] (Mr. Mark, that's powerful) i would take this sentence and build a reactive world around it. another burned pixel, r On 31/03/2011 16:59, Joel Weishaus wrote: Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrettmarc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Robertsanto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
just a little reminder of how things probably developed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HyRtdu1o0 On 31 Mar 2011, at 16:38, renato wrote: ... when things get worst, humans are able to move to higher levels of equilibrium ... and not feed the monster. How many out there? [quote] get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world [/quote] (Mr. Mark, that's powerful) i would take this sentence and build a reactive world around it. another burned pixel, r On 31/03/2011 16:59, Joel Weishaus wrote: Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrett marc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot. They went for the latter option. There are arguments for and against either option. Understanding why this has happened doesn't dull the pain for those that have lost out. Best Simon On 30/03/2011 23:09, Antonio Roberts anto...@hellocatfood.com wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment
Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
In January I was talking with my lecturer about the cuts and the effect they'd have and he said to me that I'm probably in a better position than older artists: I don't have anything (still in studies) so I have nothing to lose, whereas the older generation of artists who may have their own business and/or practice that is reliant on funding have everything to lose. I should state that he wasn't being completely serious with that remark, though there is some truth to it. The unfortunate side is that my/the younger generation of artists will grow up in a (art) world lacking funding and they'll believe that this is just how it is and I'm sure people/organisations will exploit that. Ant On 31 March 2011 17:29, Simon Mclennan mitjafash...@hotmail.com wrote: just a little reminder of how things probably developed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HyRtdu1o0 On 31 Mar 2011, at 16:38, renato wrote: ... when things get worst, humans are able to move to higher levels of equilibrium ... and not feed the monster. How many out there? [quote] get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world [/quote] (Mr. Mark, that's powerful) i would take this sentence and build a reactive world around it. another burned pixel, r On 31/03/2011 16:59, Joel Weishaus wrote: Marc; I think what's happening was inevitable, as wealth and power becomes concentrated into a few hands, the population grows, and resources become scarce. So perhaps its time for artists to drop out of the art scene and not feed the monster. Not a bad thing, as it can mean a rebirth of work over which the Art Market has no power. -Joel - Original Message - From: marc garrett marc.garr...@furtherfield.org To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 2:09 AM Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore Hi Simon Antonio, Yesterday was a significant day. A big shift politically, where the ideology of a neo-liberalist agenda successfully disarmed half of the media art world in the UK. Some excellent groups who were grass roots, doing amazing stuff were attacked. I can't even bring myself to mention their names at present, because it feels too raw. Already in the UK, artist groups have been just about surviving on minimal amounts of income. This recent attack has lessened their power to make 'real' change in the world. Currently, my toleration for those who say that 'if you are arts council funded you are not radical', as they themselves are about as socially engaged as a wet muppet - all mouth no trousers. There has been some excellent art collectives and groups receiving revenue in the UK from Arts Council funding, whilst actively changing things via their own, critical approaches. What has happened is, those who are already supported by and part of, an established elite have gained even more power. If we thought that things were bad before, get ready for next wave of corporatized zombie led manouvering, implementations of conservative ideologies flooding the art world. Already the established art world was propping up useless and culturally vapid artists via protocols, defined from top-down initiatives. It was already hard to convince galleries and art magazines to allow media context and its practice to be seen in their frameworks, now they have yet another excuse to stay in the same state of denial, and escape the responsibility of having an awareness of work more relevant than their own limited remits, let alone a small glimmer of imagination. marc. wishing you well. The days when an artist could rely on ACE for an income are long gone. 1998/99 was the key period, when major restructuring of ACE (at the behest of the new Labour government) meant that direct funding to artists was replaced by a focus on funding institutions and regional areas. The closing off of the tap for direct funding to artists from the National Lottery, specifically the closure of the Film Councils support for experimental practice, was the single most negative hit the new media arts sector has taken over the past decades (along with the closure of the Film and Video unit of ACE). Since that time it hasn't been possible for an artist to make a living from ACE supported activities. Artists that had benefitted from ACE's prior largesse (happily I was amongst them) had to find alternate means to support their work. That doesn't make what happened yesterday any more palatable. The cuts made are amongst the most profound that I can remember and many worthy groups and companies have suffered. This has happened as the direct result of government policy. ACE had little choice when its budget was cut by a third - the big question was whether to cut everyone a little or a few a lot
[NetBehaviour] I don't know what to think anymore
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellocatfood/5575389294/ After reading the Arts Council's funding decisions today I'm really not sure how I feel about them and the whole art world in general. I should just give up now. An artists' income is largely dependent on the government/Arts Council and they currently are more keen on cutting funding and trying to convince us that it'll be great challenge for our creativity. What a load of crap. A challenge is good, unemployment is not. What a crap day ___ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
