The Liverpool Branch of the Arts Council Closes down

By Darren Guy

This may seem strange to many people in a city that is gearing itself up to being City of Culture 2008 – but one of the most important resources and support systems for local artists - the Liverpool Branch of the North West Arts Board - based at Graphic House on Duke Street/Slater Street has closed down. The Liverpool branch and its administrator Neil Morrin have helped hundreds or even thousands of grassroots artists/writers, over the years. A yearly average of 7,500 people have passed through its doors. Those doors closed for good on Friday 31st October. Word had slipped out into grassroots arts circles late last year that this could be a possibility, this forced NWArts Board executive director Michael Eakin to hold a meeting in the Bluecoat Chambers in January to explain the reasons. At this meeting Mr. Eakin promised artists that an alternative service would be provided – but up to date no such facility has surfaced. this leaves local artists - many on low incomes - with no resource centre, and no expert advice. Joe McLaughlin - one of these artists from the experimental music project ‘Kling Klang’ - said ‘I’ve used the arts board as a resource centre – now its gone I don’t know what I’ll do, a lot of artists will be lost. Most local artists work with little or no budget, yet they still manage to organise some of the best grassroots events in this city. Without the support and resources the arts board offered, many of these projects will be erased’. Mr Eakin at the meeting in January, when challenged by other grassroots artists about the loss of support, suggested that they could phone the Manchester office, and arrange a meeting. Many local artists believe that will just not work, most local artists just like to get stuck into a project, and the Liverpool office was perfect for that, you could walk straight in off the street, meet others artists, get advice off Neil and get on with your project’ said Joe. Many other artists agreed with these sentiments, believing that the very structure of the Manchester Office would put artists off from approaching North West Arts. ‘First you have to get past reception, then you have to arrange a meeting, it could take months just to get anything done,’ said Michelle Green, a local writer/film maker.

So now North West Arts Board has closed, what will artists on low budgets do? Many local artists find applying for funding for their projects a daunting task. ‘You take one look at the form and you feel like giving up, you need a Masters in business studies to get through the application,’ said John, a local writer.

What do you think?
Do you believe that in a city that is gearing itself up to being the European city of culture that there should be a resource centre for local artist/writers? Let us know?

Catalyst would like to thank Neil Morrin, the Liverpool Administrator of North West Arts for all his hard work, support and advice. Without him Catalyst would have had a longer battle getting established. Good Luck to Neil and his family.

With North West Arts gone - we believe local artists need to get themselves organized. The only established forum at the moment to do this is Creative Lets. By all means get involved, have your say – meet other grassroots artists/writers. Being an Artist is only part of it, you have to get out there, make the contacts, meet others in the same boat - and get your work shown & known.

CREATIVE LETS
85 - 89 Duke Street
L1 5AP
07759 525 075