I'm not sure what else people were expecting from the Arts Council review
of policy for poetry funding, other than what has emerged - a fairly bland
statement of the present position with some vague promises.
For the record, like Ric, I too submitted to the consultation process. The
points I made, among others: vital importance of small presses, therefore
need for increased funding; need for fast-track small grants for very small
presses, with a minimum of bureaucracy; inadequacy of present distribution
system (ie Signature, formerly known as Password) and need for
expansion/rethink of criteria; more funding for literature at the interface
with other artforms.
I think it's important to respond to these exercises, even if the result is
frustrating. Keep plugging away at the bastards, don't allow them to ignore
you, and don't wallow in self-marginalisation.
BTW can cris or someone tell us if they know what's happened to that
Lottery Publications and Recordings fund, which is again mentioned in the
report as "proposed"? It seems to have been proposed for years now.
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