LambethOpen.com - problems with council

[timothysutton1]

Does this help to explain the current situation-

...Also contrary to misinformation A.S.C. is happy for our tenants to take part in either or both events."

This was not always the case... email sent to me from ASC, 17 August 2009...

Dear Tim,

Could you remove ASC buildings from your ‘Lambeth Open’ website. I think this is causing a lot of confusion with our artists. As I mentioned in my previous email A.S.C. is only able to support one event.

Many thanks

Julia

Julia Rees l Artist Liaison and Project Coordinator l Artists Studio Company
Main office l 3rd Floor l 246 Stockwell Road l Brixton l London l SW9 9SP
M: 07534907031 l T: +44 (0)207 274 7474 l E: [email protected] l W: www.ascstudios.co.uk

 

[teuchter]

So the "steering committee" formed by the council to create some kind of open studio event existed previous to you starting your own open studio event?

 

[timothysutton1]

...the "steering committee"... existed previous to you starting your own... event?

Definitely not. I first spoke to Catherine Miller-Bassi (Lambeth Arts Officer) in September 2008. I registered the domain name LambethOpen.com 29th September 2008. Her "Steering Committee" was not formed until April 2009. They did not register their domain LambethWideOpen.co.uk until 14th July 2009.

 

[teuchter]

When you initially went to the council, was it to ask for funding/promotion support for your event?

When the "falling out" happened, was that because they decided they would rather run an event themselves than support yours? Was it before or after the formation of the steering committee?

 

[timothysutton1]

When you initially went to the council, was it to ask for funding/promotion support for your event?

When the "falling out" happened, was that because they decided they would rather run an event themselves than support yours? Was it before or after the formation of the steering committee?

I initially went to the council for support and promotion, not funding.

The "falling out" happened many months later, after Catherine Miller-Bassi had formed her "steering group". In my mind there was too much talk and no action, so that is when I took the event to the artists.

 

[teuchter]

I initially went to the council for support and promotion, not funding.

The "falling out" happened many months later, after Catherine Miller-Bassi had formed her "steering group". In my mind there was too much talk and no action, so that is when I took the event to the artists.

It all sounds a bit silly but I think you should just let them get on with whatever they are going to do. It doesn't seem that people are going to go to their event instead of yours. And they link to your event on their own webpage so you are advertised on there as well as your own, which is more than you would be if there was just one "event".

 

[timothysutton1]

Teuchter - I think we are going to have to agree to differ on this one.

 

[plurker]

it's a shame that, rather than trying to unite the artists in Lambeth under one banner, TimothySutton and the council don't just come together and have one event. There are Open Studios often in Lambeth without any hassle, so why all the fuss over this/these event/s?

 

[Winot]

Because wherever there are people there are egos.

 

[tarannau]

Yep. And unfortunately if it's the same timothysutton that I remember on here, objecting to a housing developing bordering Josephine Ave (ruin the character of the area, don't you know) he's quite keen on campaigning and having a general moan.

 

[free spirit]

I initially went to the council for support and promotion, not funding.

The "falling out" happened many months later, after Catherine Miller-Bassi had formed her "steering group". In my mind there was too much talk and no action, so that is when I took the event to the artists.

not sure whether you're in the mood to take advice or not, but anyway, my advice from experience...

be wary of biting the hand that has the potential to feed you

if you're wanting to run arts activities in the area in the future, then you'll benefit from having the LA arts officer on board. You'll be much more likely to get arts funding if the council is supporting you, and funders don't like funding activities that are duplicating existing activities (whichever came first doesn't really matter that much to them).

It may be too late for you to be bestest buds, but grudging respect could be salvagable, and a working relationship built based on you just getting on and proving yourself with your project this year while maintaining a professional silence about any differences you may have had with the council.

Take it from somone who knows, pissing off the council arts officer can make anything you try to do like wading through treacle for years afterwards.

 

[timothysutton1]

...my advice from experience...

...point taken.

 

[timothysutton1]

Brilliant first day

Managed to get round about two thirds of the 26 venues, took three and a half hours! Brilliant work on show, good amount of visitors considering this is a our first year. Should expect more on the Sunday so all looking good. Well done to all the artists.

 

[timothysutton1]

Really good weekend

Managed to visit the remaining venues on Sunday. Fantastic standard of work and really good feedback. Looking forward to 2010 already.

 

[banglo-saxon]

I went along to the Stockwell one. Took a couple of pics of Lucy Cassons work. If anyone is interested, linky below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=127300&id=597042889&l=bf5c8d81b8

 

[timothysutton1]

Lambeth Open The Gallery - first pilot gallery opens November and December on Streatham Hill. More info on web site www.lambethopen.com