petersoc

As 2025 slides out of view, that Arts Council England review drops in with a bottle and some food for thought, including much talk of ‘excellence’. What say you, Ghost of Christmas Past Nicholas Garnham?

In fact we are left with the unavoidable conclusion that the term “excellence” within arts policy discourse can only be a code for exclusivity, for the hierarchy of forms and activities (where excellence is found) as opposed to the normal everyday cultural products produced by the cultural/creative industries and consumed by their paying publics.

Exactly…doh!

As 2024 becomes 2025, news that Margaret Hodge will be leading a review of the Arts Council with a view to making England’s ‘cultural deserts’ lush and verdant. Has 2010s well of optimism yet to run dry? Or will the maps turn redder yet?

2024, then. 40 years since PJ Proby’s version of Love Will Tear Us Apart. 35 years since the last prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act. Oh, Manchester…

Anyway, Britain having trouble with its creative industries? Forwhy? Well,

the biggest problem, I think, is our attitude.

Uh-huh.

If any creative business out there has an idea for how we can change the mood music, they should get in touch.

goodideas@jamespurnell.com, presumably.

Another year, another post. Where does the time go? Still, I’ve heard that the creative industries have a big future ahead of them, so that’s one to watch in the coming twelve. Until 2024…

Another year. Will creativity still be doing big numbers in 2022? Well, ‘Unboxed’ (not the Festival of Brexit, oh thou cynic) promises

a groundbreaking celebration of all our creativity taking place across the UK

Which is nice. Elsewhere in ’22 news, I hope to be supervising a PhD study of ‘The Bluecoat, Liverpool and social mobility into the arts, 1960s – present’. Apply now. Don’t die wondering.

Time for my annual creative post. Last time, I had written a book. This time, some people have read it. They say:

“Much to admire”, “fascinating – if at times uncomfortable”, “useful, if excoriating”, “a pithy overview”, “accessible and fair-minded”.

Lovely stuff.

Time for an annual dip of the toe back into the ocean of creativity. Arts Council England’s new strategy, ‘Let’s Create’, emphasises our mutual ‘creative potential’, and hopes for a ‘blossoming of creativity’, noting that ‘creativity is present in all areas of life’ in ‘one of the most creative countries in the world’.

That ol’ creativity – persistent, no?

“In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” – Andy Warhol, 1968.

“In the future everyone will be famous for 15 people…” – Momus, 1991.

“It’s not the case that in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. In the future everyone will be famous all the time – but only in their own minds. It is lookalike fame, karaoke fame.” – Martin Amis, 2000.

Bully for you, chilly for me.

As I persist with creativity, a reminder of the embodiment of cultural appreciation:

A woman claims to have undergone a complete “personality transplant” after receiving a new kidney. Cheryl Johnson, 37, says she has changed completely since receiving the organ in May. […] Dostoevsky has become her author of choice since the transplant.

Aha.