I think your approach is absolutely right Rupert, start from where you are,
work with what you've got. the alternative is to say if only i lived in x,
or had y then i could do everthing and end up doing nothing.
for me one of the most interesting aspects of experimental art is that
relationship between the local and the international, which bypasses the
mainstream international routes. its about people working with other people,
not country working with country. gets rid of that bureaucratic british
council type classification of international artist as being at the top of
the local/regional/national tree. so i'd make a virtue out of the it being
in lowestoft and the fact that it isn't on the map of major artistic cities
of the world. seems to me as well you've got all the resources you need. as
well as that lovely east coast light.
hard to know about the arts council/funding stuff. if you get it, of course
it was a good idea, but if you don't it ends up being a kind of great
expectations where you spend ages filling in forms and don't do much in
expectation of the pennies from heaven and just holds you back.
don't know if trevor joyce might comment about the early days of Cork,
although they were weekends.
sorry, this is all a bit obvious and banal and what i really wanted to say
is
good luck.
ian
>From: mallin1 <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: mallin1 <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Staging an event: any ideas?
>Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 18:10:51 +0100
>
>Hi
>
>I'm seeking your thoughts/ideas on staging a five/six day event here in
>Lowestoft, UK, October 2006.
>
>Surprisingly, Lowestoft has some good resources. One of these is the
>Seagull Theatre. It has a raked auditorium (110 capacity), a dance studio
>(120 capacity), a large work/classroom, an audio recording studio, a video
>editing suite, a small bar, a foyer (large enough for an exhibition),
>changing rooms (which double as work rooms) and a well equipped workshop.
>On the otherside of town is Crown St Hall (a 19th C Fisher Theatre). Both
>are very inexpensive to hire as they are so under used.
>
>While Art seems to be imposed on the town, few come into contact with
>national/international practitioners. The 'idea' of the event/small
>festival is to bring together the best of indiginous arts/artists with
>national/international arts/artists, and, via a forum, to bring together
>those working in 'collaboration' in the area with a view to creating
>opportunities in the area, linked to work 'beyond the borders' of this run
>down East Coast.
>
>I envisage a range of dramatic performances, performance art, screenings,
>poetry readings/performances, music, visual art, small press fair,
>workshops and forums.
>
>Two concerns spring to mind: how far to go down the funding route and,
>thereby, how independent could it be from councils and funding bodies?
>
>We've no university and Lowestoft College is now no centre of creativity!
>However, it is increasingly likely that Lowestoft will become a 'centre'
>for recycling and renewable energy via a proposed 16 acre Californian style
>village, an enlarged CEFAS (marine research laboratory) and a turn in
>manufacturing to produce wind and sea turbines. That's the future.
>
>My motives for the event are simple: unless I emigrate I'm stuck here and
>could end up being a dreadful moaner thereby, unless I seriously engage in
>realising my 'dreams,' even in this dusty-minded place. Further to this,
>I've two seriously good and intelligent actors who want to help me develop
>my Black Box Broken Theatre (so that's my selfish bid).
>
>Lowestoft is only 35 mins by train from Norwich and now has direct trains
>to/from London. Also, it has some of the cheapest hotels and B&Bs in the
>country!
>
>What do you think?
>
>Best, Rupert
>
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