First meeting of Artists of the Resistance (AoR) The Lucas Arms, Kings Cross, 15 Dec 2010
By David Wilson
Those who attended represented a wide spectrum of those who work in the ‘Arts’. Actors, writers, playwrights, opera reviewers, art therapists, teachers, animators, booksellers, musicians and others (sorry if I have missed anyone out).
It was agreed that we should take the title of ‘Artists of the Resistance’. We need to use our talents to defend the Arts ( from theatre to libraries) and to support the wider anti-cuts movement.
The cuts are ideological and we need to counter the view that the ‘deficit’ and the ‘debt’ are absolutes and ‘God-Givens’; that jobs, services and the quality of life are to be sacrificed for a problem created by the bankers and not by the people.
A fightback against cuts is an opportunity to reach out to the wider community and create a different and better society.
If the present cuts continue the arts will become more not less exclusive with access limited to those who have the money to pay. The closing of public libraries is the most obvious example. They are where literature, art and culture are available to everyone without charge. Some authorities are selling them off, others offering them to the ‘consumer’ on the principle of ‘if you want them buy them’.
The public are told that the cuts are as inevitable as rain and that their only choice is to prioritise services when we must fight to keep all services and refuse to take part in this ‘choice’. It’s not a matter of libraries or care for the elderly, but libraries and care for the elderly. Indeed more and better libraries and better care for the elderly!
The arts are integrated with the wider economy so that any cuts negatively affects that economy. This was well put by two animators who had learned their skills as a result of receiving the soon to be abolished Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA). They now work in the animation industry (games and video production) which would now be starved of future talent.
An art therapist, working with the most disdvantaged, said she was now viewed as an ‘extra’ and therefore ‘expendable’. Everything that is not immediately of use to the corporate agenda is to be placed on a ‘pay as you go’ principle. Funding is to return to the Victorian notion of finding patrons, drawn from the very people and corporations who benefit from the cuts and who have their own agenda of how to define the ‘Arts’. The Metropolitan Opera in NYC was offered as an example. Totally dependent on the wealthy and their corporate sponsors their programme is conservative and unadventurous.
Those who have a ‘voice’ in the arts need to be contacted and mobilised in support of our campaign. For example, Colin Firth has broken his support for the Lib Dems and spoken out against the cuts. He and others like him need to be contacted and asked to publicly support our work.
We need to be active in our respective areas, but also come together as writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, animators etc. We should work on propaganda making slogans, posters, YouTube clips, anmimated manifestos etc. We should go to places threatened with closure and speak, act, dance, play, perform, read.
The suffragettes sent artists and performers into the communities where they wanted to be politically active and many people became politicised long before the activists appeared on the streets. We must do the same.
Already there are people doing this, an example being Arts Against the Cuts (_http://artsagainstcuts.wordpress.com/_) who we should work with and support.
It would be good to have a film team ensuring a wider public get to see and hear about the anti-cuts campaign. Two filmmakers present are eager to do this.
We need to produce a regular e-newsletter in all formats, mixing political argument with animation, music and film.
We need to be at anti-cuts protests using our skills to entertain and perform. Perhaps we should organise a ‘radical circus’ with ‘flash’ performances.
We need to create our own symbols that will become recognisable to the widest possible public.
We must do much of this in the build-up to the national anti-cuts demo on 26 March.
We must remember that we are not just artists but fighting against all cuts. We need a Manifesto, but we also need to be serial producers of many manifestos.
In the face of those who choose to exercise their power to destroy we need to create.
I run the Campaign for the Book, blogging against cuts each day. I have a database of about three thousand writers, librarians, publishers, teachers and can forward material in my mailing.
Hi Alan, have heard lots about Campaign for the Book. The day of action on the 5th of Feb sounds fantastic. It would be good if AoR could offer some creative support for this. Perhaps we could discuss more? alistaircartwright@gmail.com
This is much needed. Would be most interested in joining and taking part in whatever is necessary to prevent these cuts destroying the essential joy we all get from the arts and all connected, as well as the cuts that will make life so hard for young people, families, the elderly and vulnerable.
So count me in.
Cecily Bomberg
Hi Cecily, you’re dead right – the con-dems seem to want us to believe that joy is a luxury we can’t afford, while their own decadence know no limits.
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
hope you can make it!
Email us a phone number if you want to stay in touch about getting involved – artistsresist@gmail.com
I am an artist,poet/performer. Here is a protest poem (written originally for my daughter)and performed by myself. “WHEN (Rebel – Revolt – Resist) [REVISED VERSION]” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYCGuqv09b4
I am a sufferer of ME/cfs so cannot be as ‘active’ as I would wish in other ways but I am happy to perform for at any events if and when as long as I get good notice to charge up my energies and prepare.
You may use the video above in any way you please and feel free to do so as long as it is for non-profit purposes and or appropriate benefits. Best Wishes – John x
Hi John, Artists of the Resistance is looking to set up a youtube channel. If you’d be interested in contributing poems etc maybe this could be one avenue?
Btw, AoR is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, WC1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Anything you can do to spread the word about it would be great.
Email us a phone number if you want to stay in touch about getting involved – artistsresist@gmail.com
Alistair
I am a singer song writer and would be very agreeable to playing at any related gathering / benefit. I would also be happy to voulunteer in any other useful way that I could.
Hi Edgar, Fantastic. We could definitely use some musical talent.
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
hope you can make it!
Email us a phone number if you want to stay in touch about getting involved – artistsresist@gmail.com
The Campaign for the Book is proposing a series of coordinated protests against library closures on Saturday, February 5th. Join the Campaign for the Book Facebook site for further information.
Dear Artists of the Resistance, have just read your letter to the Guardian today and would draw your attention to: http://www.deardaveandnick.com/, where you can see regularly updated posts and the painted protest letters I send to Nick and Dave. They might not reply, but I will continue to make and post these pieces of work throughout the life of the Coalition, in the attempt to encourage people to think about how they might stand up against these regressive cuts. Please pass on to anyone that might be interested. Best wishes and count me in for your actions
Bern O’Donoghue
Dear Bern O’Donoghue; I only now came across this posting by you, and have posted the link for your letters into my Facebook page.
Thanks you, a real inspiration for artistic actions….
Thanks for the feedback. Let’s hope lots of people join in and make their concerns heard.
Hi Bern, hope your persistence in attacking Cam/Clegg’s mailbox is rewarded, somehow. (Maybe letters could get a wider showing somehwere…). Noticed your blog profile – artist educator involved in widening participation. We need more of that in these times when the Con-Dems are determined to push through an elitist cultural agenda!
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Hope you can make it!
Email us a phone number if you want to stay in touch about getting involved – artistsresist@gmail.com
A theatre practitioner and student, my great concern is to form links between the varied and energetic forms of protest – from students on the streets to saving Croydon Clocktower. How do I find you? Where do I join you?
In terms of manifestos, this is a riproarer – here for your inspiration and delectation: http://www.adbusters.org/files/downloads/jpgs/adb_poster_manifesto.jpg
Hi Jo, Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Can you make it?
Email us a phone number if you want to stay in touch about getting involved – artistsresist@gmail.com
p.s. Nice adbuster manifesto. There was discussion at the first meeting of AoR in december about producing a series of manifestos. If you’re up for working on this it would be good to talk more…
As a theatre designer I am already active in Equity’s campaign against the cuts. I am also a painter, and still have a toe-hold in arts higher education.
The heritage that I walked into as a teenager in a provincial town was supported by ACGB touring exhibitions that made me want to work in the visual arts.
That town, Walsall, now has an excellent art gallery but it still needs funding support which is probably directly under threat at both national and local level. We have to work together and stand together to combat this appalling cultural vandalism.
David Cockayne
Hi David, really interesting to read your comments. Just been discovering the history of the Arts Council. Makes it very clear arts funding is part of the welfare state.
Local arts organisations are being hit by both council cuts and arts council cuts. they’re about as close to the bottom of the pile as you can get.
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Are you based in walsall? would be great if you could make it to the meeting…
If you want to stay in touch about getting involved would be great if you could email us a phone number – artistsresist@gmail.com
alistair
another scheme working in a similar capacity is the ‘i value the arts’ which is linked into the ‘save the arts’ campaign.
they already have support from people within the arts community that have a strong voice. Sure your already aware of the things they have been doing..but thought it was worth posting incase there are a few who hadn’t seen it. fingers crossed we can work to incorporate the resistance that is already out there, to create a strong and diverse resistance that will celebrate our collective imagination.
Hi Kirsty, aware of ‘save the arts’. thanks for flagging it up. it’s a good sign to see all kinds of people voicing opposition to the cuts. Similar to the Science is Vital campaign, Save the Arts shows resistance can come from the most unexpected quarters… But I think both campaigns were held back by accepting the necessity of ‘some’ cuts. If we can link opposition to the cuts to culture with the opposition to the cuts in general then we’ll be much stronger.
Artists of the Resistance is trying to get recognised artists, writers, actors on board, (like save the arts) alongside grass roots creative resistance…
AoR first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Hope you can make it!
If you want to stay in touch about getting involved would be great if you could email us a phone number – artistsresist@gmail.com
Alistair
http://savethearts-uk.blogspot.com/
I’m involved in a number of arts groups and organisations in Sheffield specifically in the area of film and circus. Love the idea of a radical circus, and possibly using innovative forms of projection to get films about the protests out into the community. I could try and get more people I know up here mobilised. Anyway I can help out and volunteer I will.
Hi Kate, brilliant. Would you be up for organising something along these lines in the run up to March 26th? That might be the ideal time to test out the ‘circus’ model – going ahead of the demo, raising awareness.
Guess an actual circus would be a major thing to organise while a projection would be relatively simple…? both sound great.
Artists of the Resistance could put you in touch with some others who were keen on the idea.
Would also be good to talk about arts organisations in Sheffield…
Btw, AoR first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Spread the word!
If you want to stay in touch about getting involved, would be great if you could email us a phone number – artistsresist@gmail.com
Alistair
I would like to contribute to Artists of the Resistance…could u let me know about the next event
thanx
Hi Mina,
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Can you make it?
If you want to stay in touch about getting involved, would be great if you could email us a phone number – artistsresist@gmail.com
All the best,
Alistair
so what’s this we hear about you using artists’ names who didn’t actually consent to signing the letter in the guardian?
did you just assume they’d consent?
Hi. My name is Neil Devlin. I’m in the Raised Voices choir. We are thinking about joining AOR, & we ask for some more details: what’s coming up & when, please? When is the next organising meeting?
best,
Neil
Hi Neil,
That’s great news.
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Do you think you can make it?
If you want to stay in touch about working together, would be great if you could email us a phone number – artistsresist@gmail.com
Alistair
When is the next meeting? Is there anywhere with more information about this group?
Hi Ralph,
Artists of the Resistance is having its first meeting of the new year, wed 26th Jan. Marchmont community centre, 62 marchmont st, wc1.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181389888561976
Hope you can make it.
There’s some info on the Facebook event about a rough outline for what we’ll be discussing. AoR open to ideas for the new year!
If you want to stay in touch about working together, would be great if you could email us a phone number – artistsresist@gmail.com
All the best,
Alistair