A turning point? Or just more of the same?

Attended the Connectivity, Diversity, Criticality conference organised by Turning Point South West at The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, Taunton yesterday. It set out to "launch and mould a regional programme" that will allow visual artists and arts organisations "to share ideas and resources".

To be honest, I'm always a little suspicious of these high-level, admin-heavy, committee-driven organisations that that seem to soak up the available arts funding like a sponge and never re-distribute it to anything that's actually creative or productive. But, in this case, there has been input from some good artist minds along the way. So I felt optimistic enough to join in and submit myself to break-out groups, flip charts, marker pens and all the other corporate guff I've worked so hard to escape over the past eight years...

There was hot, corporate air aplenty, of course, but real high points too, such as Alistair Hudson of Grizedale Arts speaking on International Links and Local Social Engagement in a Rural Context; artist Steven Paige talking about Independent Artist Initiatives and Exchange; and Curator and Producer Claire Doherty of Situations talking about the SouthWest's Cultural Olympiad Project nowhereisland

As to the outcomes, well, we'll have to wait and see....