2012 october ig nm historical evolution of cultural intermediaries birmingham
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Transcript of 2012 october ig nm historical evolution of cultural intermediaries birmingham
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF
CULTURAL INTERMEDIARIES
Ian Grosvenor
Natasha Macnab
Overview
Scoping and data collection Birmingham City Archives closure likely
to be brought forward from Jan 2013 Initial scoping of Manchester Archives
Issues I
Periodisation:
… every period historians identify segments the continuum of time … [and] there are continuities that connect the 1970s with earlier and later decades [Walker 2002: 8].
Movement – Ted Little: Brum, London, Brum.
Issues II
Contexts
Place (Hayden & Massey)
Cultural Policy
Social, cultural, economic and political events
Birmingham
Arthur Young called Birmingham 'the first manufacturing town in the world‘ (1791).
Beginning of the 19th C, Birmingham industry based on a multitude of workshops using hand-operated machinery (Hopkins, 2002).
‘The city of a thousand trades’
Expanded quickly in the 19th century, developing specialities in four employment areas:
*Guns*Jewellery*Buttons and *Brass products
Industrial sector in Birmingham and WM distinctive in the UK as it was founded on small firms with highly skilled workers
By 1950s Birmingham (and Coventry) fastest UK growing economies behind London.
By 1970s employment in the West Midlands was directed in four areas of industry –
*Metal Manufacture
*Engineering and Electrical Goods,
*Vehicles and
*Other Metal Goods.
1970s and 1980s, Birmingham experienced relentless de-industrialization
Lost 191,000 jobs between 1971 and 1987, which accounted for almost 30% of its employment total and almost 50% of all manufacturing service (Henry et al., 2002, p. 117; Spencer et al., 1986).
The city’s response to this employment crash was considerable investment in the service industries, especially business tourism (Henry et al, 2002).
Culture and creativity key factors in urban regeneration
Population change
1811.................
1821.................
1831.................
1841.................
1851.................
1861.................
1871.................
1881.................
1891.................
1901…………….
1911……………
1921……………
1931……………
1939……………
1951…………..
1961…………..
2001……………
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
Series1
Source – BCC; Spencer, 2010; ONS
Migration to Birmingham
Bangladesh*
India Jamaica Kenya Pakistan Republic of Ireland
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
50000
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
Source – Connecting Histories
Cultural Intermediation 1955-1965 Many community organisations developed
in response to the particular needs of migrants particularly in relation to the issues of housing, employment, racism and education:
*Pakistani Welfare Association (1945)
*Afro-Caribbean Organisation (1966).
*Charles Parker involved with Harborne Players and CCARD (1961)
Cultural Intermediation 1975-1985 Political activism of 1960s, 1970s and
1980s huge impact on cultural activity. Wider manifestation of “arts for everyone”
(King, 2004) - Democratising the arts. Chance to depict groups who would have
been unrepresented or misrepresented. Community groups associated themselves
with socialism and class/equality struggles.
Indicative Cultural Intermediation in Birmingham
Birmingham Arts Lab Banner Theatre The Triangle Community Photography eg:
WELD
Ten:8
Trinity Arts
Community Photography & Cultural Intermediation
Social issues, such as race, riots, gender equality, strikes, unemployment and deprivation were highlighted by community photographers.
Additionally, the skills that were needed to take photographs were being taught in the community, making it possible for members of the community to become part of the growing community photography movement (James, 2002).
… community photographers continue both a photographic and communal tradition … we think that community photography can actively involve people in social change. We believe that it can be a vital step in taking control of our own lives. [Editorial Camerawork 17, January/February 1980: 2]
Structure I Documentary Photography 1930s-1960s Community Photography as Cultural
Intermediation 1975-1985: Contexts Community Photography as Social Practice
1975-1985 Birmingham: WELD, Ten:8, Handsworth Cultural
Centre, Born to Work, Vanley Burke & Tarik Chawdry
Manchester: Daniel Meadows, Martin Parr, David Chadwick, Manchester Studies Archive
1976 Policy Selected Social, Cultural and Political events
Vanley Burke’s documentation of the Black community in Birmingham, Handsworth from Inside, is exhibited in the foyer of the Alexander Theatre, Birmingham
Redcliffe-Maud report Support for the Arts in England and Wales published
Formation of Rock against Racism to combat the rise of neo-Fascism in politics and popular music
David Chadwick , Hulme Housing Estate photography project
Death of Mao Zedong
Rioting at Notting Hill carnival Nick Hedges Fellowship from West Midlands Arts
Arts Council, Gulbenkian Foundation and Community Relations Commission commissioned report The Arts Britain Ignores by Naseem Khan published
First ‘Right to Work March’ from Manchester to London organized by unemployed
Minorities Advisory Service (MAAS) established
First issues of Camerawork, Artscribe, Arts Monthly and History Workshop Journal published
Peace Movement demonstrations in Ireland and England Sterling crisis forces UK to seek loan from IMF Anarchy in the UK released European Commission on Human Rights found Britain guilty of
torturing internees Grunwick dispute begins with walkout of photography
processors
Connections: Photography Workshop, Leeds Pavilion Project, Watershed Bristol
Community Photography & CI in decline
*Fragmenting of alternative photographing practice (access v representation)
*Fragmenting of the left
*Neo con attacks on the arts
*Reduction in funding
Structure II
WELD (Westminster Endeavour, Liaison and Development) 1968 Community arts project began as a small
organisation based at Westminster Junior School.
Sponsored by a range of organisations in Birmingham*The Inner City Partnership
*The City of Birmingham Education Committee *Leisure Services Subcommittee
*The Social Services Committee
*WM Arts
*Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust.
Ten:8 magazine1975-1985 (1979) Founded by Bishton, Brian Homer and
John Reardon in 1979. Title derived from the standard size of photographic paper. Initially funded by WM Arts later Arts Council GB.Inspired by Camerawork, East London photographers' collective.
Aim was ‘to represent the working class and migrant communities’ (Brittain in Dewdney, 2011, p.263) of Birmingham.
Daniel Meadows: ‘Free photographic omnibus’
David Chadwick: ‘Hulme Estate Project’
Discussion Points Level of detail? Breadth of coverage? Wider Context – what to include? Intention to track a type of cultural intermediary
through three time frames eg Parker and Banner Theatre Birmingham; Community Photography through two time frames; CI which began in our third time frame eg Birmingham Opera Company?
Manchester – same approach?