As part of the drive to better communicate the work of our network I have agreed to provide a monthly report that provides a snap-shot of what I am seeing / hearing as I move around the country.
ALTHOUGH THE IMAGE IS BY JOHNNY MAGEE AND NOT ME IT DOES GIVE A SENSE OF HOW LIFE LOOKS FROM MY 'EAST COAST' OFFICE: I WONDER HOW MANY MILES OF TRAIN TRACK WE ALL COVER IN A YEAR?Click here to download the January 2010 report...
The Visual Arts Strategy team at Arts Council England's national office led by Director, Vivienne Bennett have been working with Annabel Jackson Associates on the evaluation of the first three years of Turning Point activity.
As part of this process we have started to develop a 'Logic Model' for our work, that tests means and ends by linking what we are doing (activities), with what we produce (outputs), with intended results for both the short and medium term (outcomes), and with the long term changes we are trying to affect (impacts).
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (whose Logic Model Development Guide is recommended for anyone planning or evaluation projects) describes the Logic Model has:
"a picture of how your organization does its work – the theory and assumptions underlying the program. A program logic model links outcomes (both short- and long-term) with program activities/processes and the theoretical assumptions/principles of the program" (page 7 of the development guide).
We are sharing the DRAFT version of this logic model now, and welcome feedback. We want to know if things are missing, and whether the logic works.
Please note that this is our first attempt and we will continue to develop this in parallel to the broader national consultation the Arts Council is delivering. Our aim is that once the priorities for the arts are set, we in the Visual Arts team are clear about how our work with you is helping to achieve great art for everyone.
With a robust Logic Model in place we will also be in a position to agree clearly defined indicators for success, and powerful messages about the importance of our work as a sector to maintaining a vibrant cultural landscape.
Today the national network of Audience Development Agencies re-launches as Audiences UK.
"Audiences UK will ensure that the public’s needs and views are heard in the coming years. We will take a national and international lead in advocating for the needs of audiences and promoting the highest quality audience development practice in the cultural sector. Through our twelve national and regional Agencies, we will co-ordinate and deliver national programmes to increase levels of cultural engagement.
We believe policy-makers, funders and the cultural sector itself need to place a greater emphasis on growing and broadening audiences and making sure everyone has the opportunity to access and experience great art. In the challenging times ahead, this will not only help the financial stability of cultural organisations, it will also help to keep individuals happy and hold communities together.
To coincide with the launch of Audiences UK, we have published a ‘manifesto’ setting out five key messages for funders, policy-makers and the cultural sector in England to sustain and increase levels of cultural engagement in economically challenging times. You can download a PDF by clicking here (it may take a moment to download).
Our new website – www.audiencesuk.org – is also now live, providing a home for a vast amount of data and resources that can be accessed (free of charge) by anyone interested in growing and developing their audience."
The next few months are a crucial time for the arts. There’s a vital case to be made to secure the best deal for the arts, and we all have an important role to play.
DE LA WARR PAVILION IN BEXHILL CONTRIBUTES £16M TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY
In particular we feel that there is a critical role for the Turning Point Network to play in amplifying a strong united voice for the visual arts.
As we make our case for why the arts matter and the importance of public funding of the arts some key messages, facts and figures have been produced to support our conversations.
Why the arts matter facts include:
It is hoped that organizations and individuals will add their own contributions to this evidence base. The facts will be updated as more information becomes available.
Please visit the Why the arts matter pages of the Arts Council England website today, and help us to make the strongest case possible for the arts.
If you haven't already, please take part in the Achieving great art for everyone consultation today and share your thoughts on the priorities for the arts.
Please also see the previous post about about a national advocacy campaign being led by Visual Arts London.
East Midlands Visual Art Network (EMVAN) have announced that they will be holding a regional consultation event at QUAD in Derby, on 29th March 2010 to consider the future development of the regional visual arts strategy group.
Click here to find out more from the new EMVAN website...
Wendy Law has been appointed to the post of Visual Arts Co-ordinator for the West Midlands. Based at Birmingham City University, Wendy will be responsible for driving forwards the development of a visual arts strategy group for the West Midlands, and as part of the Turning Point Network.
Wendy is Edinburgh based so brings a new model of coordination to the network's pilot phase.
Wendy is currently based at the School of Arts & Creative Industries, Edinburgh Napier University, and will continue to work there on a part time basis. She has worked at the Scottish Arts Council, where she set up the Own Art Scheme in Scotland, the National Collecting Scheme Scotland, and was Curator of the SAC Art Collection; at Museums, Libraries and Archives; and in galleries in London specialising in modern and contemporary art. Wendy is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketers.
IMAGE: ATTENDEES OF THE FIRST MEETING IN THE SOUTH WEST REPRESENTED A CROSS SECTION OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE REGION'S VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY
On 08 February 2010 a meeting was held in Exeter, pulling together a range of people representing the many different elements of the regional visual arts ecology.
Following a series of short presentations (including one by me) gallery directors, artists, curators, network co-ordinators, local authority officers, audience development professionals, service providers ect. spent a full day debating the possibilities for a regional visual arts strategy group in the South West.
By the end of the day certain things had emerged as consensual: a group would need to be sector owned; it would need to included both Regularly Funded Organisations (RFO) and non-RFO, and should include representation from artists working in the region; it would need a level of paid co-ordination, and would need to make the most of technology but mustn't underestimate the importance of face-to-face engagement.
There were also a number of things that remained unclear: was one, or more than one group needed in such a large region; how would it complement what already exists in a network rich environment; and how would it ensure broad representation?
It was proposed to the group by the Arts Council at the end of the day that further work could be undertaken, as happened in the early days of other groups (like Yorkshire), by an interim group. This group would be charged, by the sector as a whole, with doing a fast and focussed piece of work to determine possible models for the group and also to consider areas of priority for future focus, informed by the research undertaken across three sub-regional areas by Audiences South West and commissioned by the Arts Council: http://www.audiencessw.org/page.php?id=205.
A self-selected group came forwards and agreed to take forward this initial piece of work. The membership of this group will be posted in the next week or so.
This group's work will lead to a further region-wide consultation event in April / May at which constituents will have an opportunity to debate the proposals / options, and will make final decisions about if and how a South West addition to the Turning Point Network will form.
The Contemporary Visual Arts Network’s ultimate goal is to nurture contemporary visual artists and organisations in order to produce internationally regarded, critically engaged work that is valued by our society.
