AB+ New Cultural Organisation
This is to update you on the progress of the planning group charged at the end of the AB+ Conference with taking forward the proposal to set up a new independent body representative of cultural organisations and individuals in the North East.
At the end of February we shared our initial thoughts about what this new organisation might look like and invited comments and suggestions. In the event, we received only three replies. Undaunted, we have continued our planning, with the additional help of Alison Chandler (lead officer for Enterprise and Sustainability at Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations), reporting in March to the AB+ Steering Group.
Since then I have had a helpful discussion with Valerie Watts about the role that the new organisation might play in the development of the bid by Aberdeen City Council for UK City of Culture 2017, as well as with Barclay Price (Arts & Business Scotland) about how local business might be encouraged to increase its support for the cultural life and ambitions of Aberdeen.
The planning group are agreed that the new organisation (current working title Arts Aberdeen) should be an independent membership body representing organisations and individuals in Aberdeen and the North East whose activities fall into one or more of the following categories: visual arts, digital arts, performing arts, literary arts, traditional arts and crafts; or who support one or more of these activities through education or other promotional activities.
The objectives of the new organisation would be to provide leadership and advocacy for this sector from within the sector and to work with partners (such as the local authorities, the corporate sector and Creative Scotland) to develop and promote arts-based activities, services and opportunities in Aberdeen and the North East. It could also provide a forum through which smaller arts organisations and individual practitioners could contribute to the development of Aberdeen’s City of Culture bid.
In order to help us draft the new organisation’s constitution, however, we are surveying those who attended the AB+ Conference or who are on various other relevant local databases. This will enable us, amongst other things, to assess likely interest in the new organisation as well as the range and kinds of artistic activities that should be reflected in the composition of its Management Group.
Since we would like to give the opportunity for as many relevant organisations and individuals as possible to respond to this survey, we would be grateful if you could forward it to any others you think might be interested.
The deadline for receipt of responses to this survey is Friday 17 August.
Meanwhile, the AB+ Steering Group is working on plans to launch the new organisation in the autumn and will keep you informed of progress.
Graeme Roberts (on behalf of the planning group)