Excellent thanks. Very interesting. I like watching films via the National Library of Scotland, 'moving image archive' and indeed there are many made by Scotish film makers of days gone by, some women though not many. As an ex artist I have a few things to say re this article, when I have time.
One thing though, I wholly agree about the lack of arts funding and it is so much worse since the pandemic. I found the arts scene far too competetive as it was, before Covid, no doubt Brexit has had a negtive effect too. I know someone who teaches at Leith school of art, says the intake is going down, sadly. Why study art when there are no opportunities post study, not worth it unless you are very well off.
Frantz Fanon wrote that "every culture is first and foremost national". In a colonial society it is never the done thing to promote the culture of the colonized, for that indigenous culture is the basis of the native's national consciousness. Rather, "cultural obliteration" is the aim of the colonizer, who promotes only cultural assimilation. Which explains why culture is an important determinant of independence for an oppressed people:
Just a few more thoughts on the arts in Scotland. Certainly when it comes to the visual arts in my opinion it's a club, you won't get your work shown if you are not in the club. I questioned a young woman putting on an 'open show' some time back (you have to pay to apply as usual in these so called open shows) because she rejected my work on the grounds it didn't fit in with other work she wanted to exhibit, it would look out of place. Maybe because it's a bit political, a map with nuke subs in it, but she became a bit defensive and not very nice when I pointed out it shouldn't be about what looks nice on the walls. There is nepotism in every sphere but in the arts, it's particularly rife in my experience. It also seems so many arts jobs in museums and galleries are filled by people who not Scottish, in other words mostly English, and as we know most top jobs go to English people who are installed even when there are capable, experienced Scottish people who could do the job just as well. Most funding opportunitites are geared towards younger artists, ('emerging artists'. I always imagine a butterfly with a paintbrush or engraving tool!)
whereas in the past it was geared more towards experienced artists.
A good friend of mine, who collected wood engravings, and small press books, (whose amazing collection was bequeathed to Yale university in the US, because here in Scotland the galleries had no interest in it!) used to say, 'the best move for an artist is when they die', meaning they are unlikely to succeed while alive! Most do not 'succeed' even when deid!
Practising visual art is self funded usually, and artists are expected to give their time for free, then they might just might get to sell some work which will not ever cover their costs over a peroid of time.
It's big business though, very lucrative for some but low paid or no paid for most.
Scotland needs to fund the arts (and not just for 'emerging artists'), including visual arts in order to maintain a cultural identity, it should be challenging and question the status quo. with a little space for the pretty landscapes etc as well. ;-)
That's my thoughts on it anyway, if somewhat cynical.
As Albert Memmi described the colonizer: "You go to a colony because jobs are guaranteed, wages high, careers more rapid and business more profitable". In other words "it is a voyage towards an easier life".
Professor Michael Hechter likewise defined Scotland as corresponding to what he termed the "UK Internal Colonialism Model" and hence subject to "a cultural division of labour" favouring the colonizer.
Excellent thanks. Very interesting. I like watching films via the National Library of Scotland, 'moving image archive' and indeed there are many made by Scotish film makers of days gone by, some women though not many. As an ex artist I have a few things to say re this article, when I have time.
One thing though, I wholly agree about the lack of arts funding and it is so much worse since the pandemic. I found the arts scene far too competetive as it was, before Covid, no doubt Brexit has had a negtive effect too. I know someone who teaches at Leith school of art, says the intake is going down, sadly. Why study art when there are no opportunities post study, not worth it unless you are very well off.
Frantz Fanon wrote that "every culture is first and foremost national". In a colonial society it is never the done thing to promote the culture of the colonized, for that indigenous culture is the basis of the native's national consciousness. Rather, "cultural obliteration" is the aim of the colonizer, who promotes only cultural assimilation. Which explains why culture is an important determinant of independence for an oppressed people:
https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2021/06/27/paper-one-in-the-10-part-baird-series/
thank you for shedding light on such an important issue. We need the arts more than ever.
Brilliant
Just a few more thoughts on the arts in Scotland. Certainly when it comes to the visual arts in my opinion it's a club, you won't get your work shown if you are not in the club. I questioned a young woman putting on an 'open show' some time back (you have to pay to apply as usual in these so called open shows) because she rejected my work on the grounds it didn't fit in with other work she wanted to exhibit, it would look out of place. Maybe because it's a bit political, a map with nuke subs in it, but she became a bit defensive and not very nice when I pointed out it shouldn't be about what looks nice on the walls. There is nepotism in every sphere but in the arts, it's particularly rife in my experience. It also seems so many arts jobs in museums and galleries are filled by people who not Scottish, in other words mostly English, and as we know most top jobs go to English people who are installed even when there are capable, experienced Scottish people who could do the job just as well. Most funding opportunitites are geared towards younger artists, ('emerging artists'. I always imagine a butterfly with a paintbrush or engraving tool!)
whereas in the past it was geared more towards experienced artists.
A good friend of mine, who collected wood engravings, and small press books, (whose amazing collection was bequeathed to Yale university in the US, because here in Scotland the galleries had no interest in it!) used to say, 'the best move for an artist is when they die', meaning they are unlikely to succeed while alive! Most do not 'succeed' even when deid!
Practising visual art is self funded usually, and artists are expected to give their time for free, then they might just might get to sell some work which will not ever cover their costs over a peroid of time.
It's big business though, very lucrative for some but low paid or no paid for most.
Scotland needs to fund the arts (and not just for 'emerging artists'), including visual arts in order to maintain a cultural identity, it should be challenging and question the status quo. with a little space for the pretty landscapes etc as well. ;-)
That's my thoughts on it anyway, if somewhat cynical.
:-)
As Albert Memmi described the colonizer: "You go to a colony because jobs are guaranteed, wages high, careers more rapid and business more profitable". In other words "it is a voyage towards an easier life".
Professor Michael Hechter likewise defined Scotland as corresponding to what he termed the "UK Internal Colonialism Model" and hence subject to "a cultural division of labour" favouring the colonizer.