Action Planning Session: How can we overcome Birminghamitis/West Midlandsitis?

Convenor:

Moqapi Selassie

Attendees:

Moqapi Selassie, James Pogson, Oluwatoyin Odunsu, Laura McDermott

Description:

Birminghamitis/West Midlanditis is where ones in the region don’t value or cherish coming from the region and see other regions as better. They see what other regions are doing and feel that they can’t do it, that the grass is greener over there. Inferiority Complex?

Is the problem that artists are holding themselves back? That is, they are not putting themselves out there.

There is too much emphasis on funding not on going out there and doing it.

There needs to be a critical dialogue between artists and audiences/funders.

West Midland Artists don’t like being critiqued and are not up to standard, that is, national and international.

There is a lack of promotion of West Midland based artists with many having to leave the region to get the backing and exposure they need to make it on a national level.

West Midland Artists need to promote and market their works.

Investors within the region need to invest in West Midlands artists.

Birmingham/ West Midlands need to shout about the positive things that are happening in the region. Be proud of what we’ve got.

The Cultural Arts is an industry and a revenue generator and needs to be promoted as such. The City Councils and investors/funding agencies need to have the vision to see this and strive to develop this area to an international level.

The different artistic communities within the West Midlands need to link, to communicate what’s going on (listings). There should be more listings of what’s going on.

There should be a cultural hub, where artists, practitioners, poets, actors, etc. hang out.

Artists need to support each others’ shows.