Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Full Version)

Foro Flamenco: http://www.foroflamenco.com/
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Message

gardenshed -> Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 11 2008 21:59:52)

This is a vibrant, professional, innovative centre which richly deserves to survive.
Eradicating yet another medium sized venue from the map will only promote the proliferation of homogenous, derivative programming. More tribute bands and TV spin-offs, and fewer high quality dedicated artists with something original and stimulating to say.

The obvious disfunction of Welsh arts funding is a disgrace, and will undermine the long term project to maintain what is left of Welsh culture.

On a wider British scale it will take away a vital element of medium sized flamenco companies' touring schedule, and flamenco will be confined to the massive, impersonal expensive aircraft hanger venues of the major cities.
There will be much less flamenco to see, and from much further away.

Please sign this petition, and pass the link on to everyone you know who cares about the future of the performing arts in Britain. Your favourite theatre could be next.

Save Wyeside Arts Petition



Tomás Jiménez -> [Deleted] (Jan. 12 2008 23:39:35)

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Mar. 13 2008 21:57:08



Ailsa -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 13 2008 0:20:21)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tomás Jiménez

Why should I do anything to help them?


Well I think all communities should have a place for the arts to flourish. It's too easy for people to think the arts, in the broadest sense, are just some optional extra. But they can really add to the sense of community.

When I moved to this town 12 years ago, there was an arts centre here and it's was thriving. There were dance and music classes, drama groups, art and festivals at the weekends. The main hall had those fold away seating stands, to make it into a small theatre space. There was a cafe area and a notice board where people could find out about what was going on.

Then about six years ago the building needed some repairs - leaking roof and the like. The Council refused to fund it, and they wanted the land to build flats on. And that's what happened. So we now have no arts centre and there's no doubt in my mind that there are fewer activities now because of this. We have a 1000 seat theatre, but that's too big for small productions, and it's a struggle for those groups to find anywhere suitable.

Guess what I'd do if I won the lottery?
[:)][:)]



Ailsa -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 13 2008 0:22:38)

@gardenshed given my rant above [;)] I'd be happy to sign. But is there any point as I live in England? Will my signature count for anything?



Kate -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 13 2008 1:26:54)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ailsa

Guess what I'd do if I won the lottery?
[:)][:)]


Move to Spain [:D]

Kate



Kate -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 14 2008 23:53:03)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tomás Jiménez
Were they ever going to do anything to help me?


All they are asking for is a signature. Who knows one day they may ask you to play there.

Kate



Kate -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 14 2008 23:54:37)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ailsa
But is there any point as I live in England? Will my signature count for anything?


It should, think you'll find the British tax payer funds the Welsh Arts Council.

I signed and I live in Spain.

Kate



gardenshed -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 14 2008 23:56:04)

quote:

gardenshed given my rant above I'd be happy to sign. But is there any point as I live in England? Will my signature count for anything?


Yes, absolutely.
There are people signing this petition from all over.
This is not a local issue but a national one.

Sorry to hear of your experience.
Sadly, yours is a typical story.l



gardenshed -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 0:02:29)

quote:

Why should I do anything to help them?

Were they ever going to do anything to help me?

Saludos


Tomás


Why should anyone ever do anything to help you if you are only prepared to offer conditional help?

But beyond that, if you believe that art has any effect, every time it is stifled, fewer people benefit from it, which makes the world you inhabit poorer and more debased.



Tomás Jiménez -> [Deleted] (Jan. 15 2008 1:44:21)

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Mar. 13 2008 21:57:23



Tomás Jiménez -> [Deleted] (Jan. 15 2008 1:45:28)

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Mar. 13 2008 21:57:34



gardenshed -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 2:05:14)

Join the club. You just have to keep trying.

If your marketing pack is good, and your fee right, and you manage to get the manager on the right day, you'll get the gig.

As for Wyside, I've not had serious problems with contact, and when I have the management have been especially friendly.

Don't forget, now that everyone can deliver high quality audio and video as part of their marketing pack, the amount of material arriving on a programmers' desks every day is enormous.

Keep ringing.



Kate -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 3:28:53)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tomás Jiménez
I think normally that way to play flamenco is now finished.
Tomás


I hope not. I think there is even more competetion now than Paco Peña ever had when he was starting out and fewer venues.

Emilio Maya performs solo guitar as well as accompanies other singers and dancers and has his own group which performs with up to three singers and two dancers and works with a group of three guitarists ( Tres Guitarras de Granada). Last year he played in Korea, Slovakia, Mexico, Belgium and France as well as in Spain. I think you have to be flexible and ask what the venue/promotor is looking for. It's also good to keep optimistic and persistent. Sadly promotors very rarely return calls. We need them more than they need us.
Suerte
Kate



gardenshed -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 4:14:50)

There are lots of venue closures, but this is foolishly running counter to the increasing emphasis on live performance in the wake of the disintegration of the old music industry model.

Flamenco also has more competition from other equally honest genres and fusions from all over the world, and people can only be expected to absorb so much. Unfortunately, the current policy discriminates in favour of venues which programme easy safe earners like tribute bands. This is obviously bad news for flamenco and any other artform which is does not appeal to TV programmers or the rump of the showbiz industry.



Ron.M -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 8:09:23)

quote:

I think that this would not happen because most people in England do not like how I play. I play flamenco simply without other extra musics or instruments or other things not from Andalucía. I think that I try to play in a way very similar to Paco Peña and although he is very successful in the world I think normally that way to play flamenco is now finished.


Tomás,
I know what you mean, but we are really harking after a UK 30-40 years ago, when TV didn't dominate so much.
I followed Paco around in his early days when he did little school halls and Art's Council gigs up here in Scotland.
I have to agree with gardenshed that it is a pity to see small locally supported venues go.

Just recently, I heard a radio programme about how this American company had bought up a lot of the theatres in the UK and Europe for putting on Rock concerts and had got into deals with the major rock artists management for putting on shows and tours and charging about THREE TIMES what tickets used to cost a few years ago.

These little venues that gardenshed refers to were the backbone of UK culture in the old days, charging a reasonable cost (being Council subsidised) to put on shows and worldwide talent that the locals may never have a chance of ever seeing.

If the only venues for live shows now are to be National Exhibition Centres and Football Stadiums, featuring the Rolling Stones umpteenth final farewell tour..

Then God help us all!

cheers,

Ron



Adam -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 9:32:58)

I'm all for the arts, and people should go ahead and sign this if they're British taxpayers, but I can't in all good conscience sign a petition and force others to pay for it. That seems rather disingenuous to me.



gardenshed -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 21:42:47)

The proportion of foreign signatories will be noted, I'm sure. But that should not deterr anyone from registering their disapproval of the policy being implemented.

Also, the fact that this issue is being properly aired on a global stage is not a form of scrutiny an authority with international pretensions would welcome.

Location should not be an issue on matters of principle.



gardenshed -> RE: Save Wyeside Arts Centre. (Jan. 15 2008 21:56:24)

quote:

Tomás,
I know what you mean, but we are really harking after a UK 30-40 years ago, when TV didn't dominate so much.
I followed Paco around in his early days when he did little school halls and Art's Council gigs up here in Scotland. ... it is a pity to see small locally supported venues go.

Just recently, I heard a radio programme about how this American company had bought up a lot of the theatres in the UK and Europe for putting on Rock concerts and had got into deals with the major rock artists management for putting on shows and tours and charging about THREE TIMES what tickets used to cost a few years ago.

These little venues that gardenshed refers to were the backbone of UK culture in the old days, charging a reasonable cost (being Council subsidised) to put on shows and worldwide talent that the locals may never have a chance of ever seeing.

If the only venues for live shows now are to be National Exhibition Centres and Football Stadiums, featuring the Rolling Stones umpteenth final farewell tour..

Then God help us all!



There are still plenty of splendid medium sized venues.
If I had to choose one venue to take to my desert island, it would probably be The Roses in Tewkesbury for its determination to be fun and fine, and for the committment of its audience. But even they would be in danger if the Clearchannelisation of regional theatre is further encouraged.
Not only does the programmimg policy of the big combines discriminate against distinctive, original companies, but their endless contractual demands discriminate in favour of the vast global productions (Riverdunce etc.) which are probably just subsidiary companies of the company which owns the venue.

Funny old world.



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