Arts Award on Voice

OK so I will give you a run down of my arts story, but the prevailing point I want to make is that everybody is unique. You will have your own experiences, your own opportunities, and can master your own arts story.

Outreach programmes and 'making art accessible' are not about belittling it, relying on 'amateur' work, or squeezing it into strange places.

Defining popular culture is an interesting feat. Here's my interpretation and how it helps you achieve Gold.

I consider film to be one of the most useful arts mediums that can be used by any artist. Why?

Through December Arts Award Voice has been running a theme selected by the Ikon Youth Programme, hidden cities. When I was in conversations with them over 2 months ago (wow time has flown) there were all sorts of ideas for a theme, food art being one. But this post isn't about what could have been, it's about what is.

My usual ramblings this month are joined by what I hope is of some interest to some of you, an outline of how we arrived at the new homepage we launched recently.

Well here we are, embracing 2014 with a vengeance. Is this the year you'll achieve your artistic ambitions? Perhaps it will be the year you get your Gold Arts Award!

Well, here on Voice it's 'affordable art' month and I know that's handy after the Christmas splurge. For me it's not about the Boxing Day spend bonanza, or even the cost of presents. It's the cost of travel to see everyone and the meals out!

I've enjoyed reading the articles and items posted to voice just in the first week or so of the month. I'm sure there's many more to come!

The team have covered numerous festivals which have all ranged in shape and style so much that what 'defines a festival' cannot be anything material. For me I think it must be about the passion and shared values of the audience & creators.

I'm doing something unusual right now, creating a short blog post direct to Arts Award Voice. I've just been spurred straight in to action

Polictics is key to life. Our democratic system is the cornerstone of our society. And arts are a foundation upon which to build. You should embrace politics, and make of it what you will.