Arts continue to shine through gloom of cuts
Dec 30 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal
DESPITE a backdrop of financial uncertainty, there were lots of things to enjoy in 2010. DAVID WHETSTONE recalls a rebellious organ, a helicopter ride and a plane reincarnated as a bell.
THERE was an American with a suitcase of teddies who came here to blow up an organ. Then there was a lady who turned a fighter plane into a giant bell.
Extraordinary encounters, extraordinary experiences... they were what made the job worth doing through 2010.
But an account of the year wouldn’t be wholly correct without reference to a sombre backdrop.
Austerity was expected and duly arrived with the coalition government and its pledge to reduce the national debt pronto.
Arts Council England, having restructured and shed jobs, took a financial hit from the Department of Culture, Media & Sport but then earned praise from most arts organisations by softening the blow.
Having ordered an immediate but relatively modest cutback for all, it warned that fewer organisations would be funded in the future – while ensuring that those to be cut adrift would have 12 months to plan.
Quite how the North East arts landscape will look at the end of 2011 is anyone’s guess.
As well as regional development agency One North East, which pumped millions into landmark festivals, the Government killed off the UK Film Council and Museums, Libraries & Archives.
The full effect on the arts and culture from the cuts imposed on local authorities won’t be felt until the new year.
A change of personnel at the top characterised the turn of the year with Alec Coles, boss of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, heading for new pastures Down Under, Andrew Dixon of NewcastleGateshead Initiative going north of the border and Mark Robinson, executive director of Arts Council England, North East, going freelance after the restructure.
There was also, running through the year, the tale of Waygood which started as a really good idea some 15 years ago and attained tragic overtones in 2010 with a high profile industrial tribunal and accusations of delay and overspending.
Renamed High Bridge Studios, artists moved back into the refurbished complex in the summer – but quietly and without the fanfare that perhaps was once envisaged.
On this on-going saga, watch this space over the coming weeks.
But what of all the many good things that will stick in the mind for a long time?
The AV Festival brought its usual diet of surprises and delights with the odd shock thrown in. The splendidly-named Charlemagne Palestine, an American minimalist composer (the adjective referring to his work rather than his personality), came to Tyneside with a suitcase of soft toys – just some of the hundreds he has at home in New York – to play the carillon bells at Newcastle Civic Centre and the organ at St Thomas’ Church in the city.
The highlight of his visit was to be Schlingen Blängen, a sort of organ recital in slow motion, taking hours and involving notes which sounded for hours as the performer went for a stroll or a sip from his glass of the strong stuff – all the while watched by his array of tiny toys.
I arrived at St Thomas’ in the evening, just in time for an unscheduled and abrupt climax to Schlingen Blängen, brought about by the historic organ which had simply had enough.
In May, hundreds of us gathered at the Gala Theatre in Durham for the Durham Mysteries, a contemporary play cycle based on the famous Biblical tales and involving a veritable Who’s Who of North East creative talent.
