I thought I'd put this film clip on because I found it and thought it would be good to remind ourselves of the work we have done. The preparation for the Christmas event was really hard if you remember. Trying to come up with something which was a bit different but would still work for the libary and the people who came. I met with Rachael the other day and she said we are now "Agenda free" which clearly doesn't mean we are "Agenda free" just that we can follow things through without meeting the demands of other funders. In a way this makes the project better especially if we get the funding to further develop the work. I popped into the English Cafe for a pop the other day - I had a diet coke and Rachael had a Dr Pepper it made me think about been misunderstood.
The Parson Cross blog needs something about Parson Cross in it. I grew up there, have family there and visit all the time. It is a special place but this blog makes it seem like another place for artists to hang out. It's much more than that.
ReplyDeleteyour absolutely right that parson cross is more than a place for artists to hang out.......and yes it is a special place. Steve and i are trying hard to connect honestly with residents and businesses, make appropriate useful work and not site superficial artwork. We would be really keen to talk more with you and would be interested in meeting you and your family to get to know and learn more
ReplyDeletethanks for commenting
My main concern - Kate - is that artists will connect honestly with residents and businesses yet will never connect with aspects of what a council estate - in this case Parson Cross - is about. One of the things that it is, and continues to be, about is 'despair'. This is a difficult thing to say and acknowledge - but I know from, growing up there and now regularly visiting, despair and a sense of hopelessness play a huge part in the social fabric of the estate. This is not to say that hope is not present either - it is. But to always accentuate the positive and ignore some of the realities of council estates will usually mean that some of the artistic output may remain somewhat superficial. Do you get what I mean?
ReplyDeletePaul, I don't understand why you draw the conclusion that despair and hopelessness play a huge part in the fabric of 'a council estate'. Of course there are problems brought on by unemployment and, yes, despair and a sense of hopelessness must be felt by those affected but this is not confined to council estates, such problems are countrywide and a product of political decisions. The fabric of this estate, and most others I have visited, has been woven over years of close families, friendships and shared experiences and despair and hopelessness are not words which I would attach to many people because such words suggest weakness and, in my opinion, most are resilient. Maybe I am missing something that artists in residence are seeing but I would genuinely welcome a description of what you see here that brings you to your conclusion. Maybe I have grown so used to the area that I am blind to things that fresh pairs of eyes can see. Mary Steele
DeleteLEST WE FORGET.
DeleteChanging face of the working class.
Industry gone now the working man – a 'workhorse' from the day he was born - is surplus to requirements and viewed with scorn in this technological age which, at every stage, sees the middle class advancing, under-privileged dancing to their tune in voluntary roles – many unpaid – only their time and skills to trade in exchange for a place in society. A lowly role - a serf no less but its better than lounging on the dole I guess. Yet the ones who prospered through free uni places, throw their advantage back in the faces of working men who paid through the ages, funding those uni's out of their wages. Yet few in those swollen ranks of men, entered those hallowed halls back then and now the offspring of those chosen few look down on the likes of me and you. A new generation flaunting their power, growing ever more arrogant with each passing hour. Sadly, the demise of production jobs has heightened the power of the suited snobs, the mentors advising, despising the poor and unemployed their own spirits buoyed whilst believing that somehow it's their vocation - to teach and lift us to a higher station. Blinded, they view us all as the same and keep themselves well ahead of the game because without poverty, ignorance and need their own jobs would flounder and they too would bleed – as they join the ranks of those on the dole and find themselves tumbling into the hole, joining the ones whose pride they once stole with their verses, descriptions of strangers unmet and yet …... we will never forget this land of milk and honey was built on the efforts of men making money that funded the jewels in England's crown – the NHS – the welfare state - a legacy handed down on a plate to the needy, the weak and all whose lives might otherwise be bleak. Sadly those folk with grimy clothes and blackened face have over the years now fallen from grace and given way to a suited breed manning well paid charitable jobs in their own hour of need. Charity – bah humbug – it's all a disgrace, a scar on the face of the whole human race.
Written by Mary Steele. Parson Cross.
DeleteAn aside - many residents are excluded from this blog because they don't have the technical know-how or resouces to be able to access it...
ReplyDeletePaul, The use of computers is widespread on Parson Cross but knowledge of what is happening in the area is not. As a result, people have no reason to search out sites set up by those working in the area. It appears to be a common belief amongst such people that the residents of Parson Cross do not have the ability or equipment to access such sites but this is not the case. When SRB5 brought multi millions of pounds into the area, in 1999, the people were 'consulted' about its use in line with the requirements of the funders but that involvement faded with time and though huge amounts have since been accessed, things have been happening behind the scenes without their knowledge. Therefore, agencies such as SOAR and Yorkshire Artspace have no meaning to the majority living beyond the Margetson Road boundary.
DeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteI live just down the road in Burngreave and we have our fair share of regeneration, artists, despair and hope. I am never sure of the value of any kind of art work but in some ways I just occasionally like to see something different happen. I think that maybe art should change the world but I'm not sure if it ever will. I like the small things - somedays walking the dog early in the morning in the cemetery I get a lift for the whole day just because of a quick conversation or a connection with somebody - I think it's this kind of encounter I'm interested in. The Blog is an open forum but not really something we expected people other than ourselves to read but it's great to have you there and in future I will think carefully what I put on and hope you will be able to help us do some more thinking about what kind of thing could have value for people living on the estate. I don't believe in wearing rose colored spectacles but coming from an area which has a terrible reputation I think it's important not to ignore the negatives but to really celebrate the positives and take pride in the fact that most people just get on with things and make the best of what they have.
A completely different insight into things from someone who actually lives in an area classified as 'deprived'! I totally agree with your sentiments that it's the small things that make life worthwhile. The daily meeting of people you have known for years, family and friends providing support networks and preventing people from falling into despair and hopelessness. Times are hard for most people but those of Parson Cross, Manor, Burngreave and others classified as 'deprived' have long been defamed by the press, the council and agencies drawing in multi-millions of pounds of government money to relieve this 'deprivation' on which its allocation is dependent. As you so rightly say, people in these places simply 'get on with things'. This is more their trait than to merely sink into 'despair and hopelessness'.
DeleteFor me, it is not about simply about negatives and positives - growing up on Parson X was a struggle in many different ways - and I think these have not got any better or easier. If art contents itself with 'the positives', it tends to be litle more than decoration at worst or 'craft' at best. I would like to talk to you and Kate - and I am considering putting in for one of the small art commissions. I don't want to remain an oppositionalist here. My e mail address is paulallender@live.com. Get in touch if you want. I am often on the estate on Thursday mornings.
ReplyDeleteSweeping statements are dangerous, destructive and unfair to the people included in such! I grew up on Parson Cross a lot earlier than yourself Paul but it was at a time when work was plentiful and the area was thriving. With an influx of work it can thrive again but what does it say of the agencies long involved in education, drug addiction, debt etc if this continuous stream of negative thought is focused on people here. Negativity breeds negativity but a positive word can do wonders. Paul, do you want some examples of positive things achieved by so many from Parson Cross? I am more than willing to provide some.
DeleteI have emailed - hope we can meet up.
ReplyDeleteHeton Shah: Royal Statistical Society following research conducted around Ipsos Mori poll:
ReplyDeletePerils of Perception
'Our data poses real challenges for policy makers. How can you develop good policy when public perception can be so out of kilter with the evidence?'