Dear Geraldine,

This sounds disconcerting.  Do you have the exact facts in the case,
the policy of the granting organization as worded?  Has the source of
their own funding changed?
We're all ethnic kids if looked at through sufficiently other eyes
though in my case they would have to be Methusaleh's.

Mairead

On 8/16/05, Tilla Brading <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> If they're into minorities they could start by positive discrimination of
> supporting the 'minority' termed innovative poets but that's a minority they
> might not have heard of?
> Tilla
> 
> 
> On 16/8/05 2:22 am, "Geraldine Monk" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> 
> Just heard the most outrageous news that Glenn Storhaugh of Five Seasons
> Press has had any future grants from West Midlands Arts put in jeopardy if
> not on permanent hold unless he dishes his personal poetic aesthetics and
> includes writers from 'young ethnic minorities'.  (Young is my italics - the
> fecking age-ist twats - I've a good mind to get them on that alone).  
> 
> This is so ludicrous and condescending to everyone I can hardly find the
> words.  O.K. we are all used to having to say to the arts bods how our work
> will benefit the community at large but this is really a step too far.  This
> is insisting we invite the community at large into our bedrooms no matter
> what their talent or poetic aesthetic as long as they are tokens that's all
> that matters.  That sucks.  On all sides that sucks.   And not pleasantly. 
> 
> Like all of us Glenn doesn't make a profit from his books or at best he may
> break even - after many years and inflation.  But unlike most of us Glenn
> produces books of a quality that are unparalleled in the small press world. 
> All down to his own formula of recycled Five Seasons paper and so
> meticulously produced the end results are a joy to behold. And all pretty
> impossible to finance personally.  To start dictating he has to publish some
> ethnic kid to qualify for any further grants is a pernicious form a
> censorship. 
> 
> The whole point of grants is to assist the none commercially viable arts to
> flourish.  O.K.  blah blah about the rights and wrongs of the market place
> and if we can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen and die.  But
> therefore dies the opera, the galleries, the ballet, your local arts centre,
> the rag-mags and sad-mags  - just about everything - the arts aren't a
> commercial viability (tell that to the Marines) but it's always been
> recognised they are a cultural necessity. It's shivilishayshon - gedit. 
> 
> But this isn't about art, it's about social engineering at it's most scary
> level.  As Glenn said he would willing publish some 'young ethnic minority'
> if he knew one/some and loved their work.  That's the only criterion for
> him.  And would - it has to be asked, some  'young ethnic minority'
> want to be published by that boring, careful, ever so precise, very old
> white fecker Glenn? If you follow my drift.  
> 
> How dare these dickheads start to dictate who we should publish- or Master
> and Mistress Ethnic Minority (as they so insist on separating them out from
> us) should be published by. What the fecks going on.  
> 
> Oh yes wouldn't it be lovely if there were more young people, ethnic people,
> minority people, people people on the scence - as if we'd reject anybody
> whose work didn't excite us. But we can't publish the world to sort out its
> wrongs.  That's a nonsense and a dangerous nonsense.  It's withdrawing arts
> funding for a social reason rather than awarding artistic excellence or
> diversity. 
> 
> I'm in a mind to get up a petition.  How's it done?  Email wise?  Is it
> valid? 
> 
>  
> A not so young (53 next Monday - all greetings, presents, floral bouquets
> welcome with open arms)  but still bloody furious at the stupidity of the
> world,
> 
> Geraldine x
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> Geraldine Monk
> www.westhousebooks.co.uk <http://www.westhousebooks.co.uk> 
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