How often are we asked to support local businesses? We all look for the best value for the cheapest price. For some of us, the trade off is no contest. We have a limited amount of money and that is the deciding factor. It is then up to the local business to match the non-local business either in terms of money, quality, standards, materials etc.
When it comes to Art local support is absolutely essential. As a writer, I dream of winning a publishing contract with a big house that will pay me millions to write. Reality tells me to get of my backside and do the hard yakka, take the plunge, risk rejection after rejection etc. There are no publishing houses in my area who will take the risk of paying me a year's wage per book, do all the marketing and wipe the loss off if it doesn't sell. So The next best thing is to get the book printed myself and do the hard yakka.
What has brought this fit of the weepies on?
Simple. The local Agricultural show was on last weekend. Now local shows do a brilliant job of competing with larger shows and theme parks. My local show is ideally located for me (Down at the end of the road in fact.) It also has an Art section for the visual artist. Some years the standard is low, other years it is high. This year the standard is high and pretty much consistent across the board. However, there is not one piece of work that leaps off the wall and says 'Buy Me or else'. And it shows in the sales. The difficulty for the organisers now lies in how to get the artists with the WOW pieces to send them along next year. And why should artists send a painting worth $2000 along when the prize money is only $50? (of course Entry fee is onlyl a few dollars). However, the point is this: if local artists do not support the local opportunities provided by local organisations how can either one survive?
Enough of the weepies!
Moreton Bay Region has produced artists (visual, literary, and performing) of national and international standing. And the one thing they have in common is the fostering they receive at the local level. However, this fostering is always in danger of being snatched from them through lack of opportunity.
So please support your local arts organisation, whenever and wherever possible.
When it comes to Art local support is absolutely essential. As a writer, I dream of winning a publishing contract with a big house that will pay me millions to write. Reality tells me to get of my backside and do the hard yakka, take the plunge, risk rejection after rejection etc. There are no publishing houses in my area who will take the risk of paying me a year's wage per book, do all the marketing and wipe the loss off if it doesn't sell. So The next best thing is to get the book printed myself and do the hard yakka.
What has brought this fit of the weepies on?
Simple. The local Agricultural show was on last weekend. Now local shows do a brilliant job of competing with larger shows and theme parks. My local show is ideally located for me (Down at the end of the road in fact.) It also has an Art section for the visual artist. Some years the standard is low, other years it is high. This year the standard is high and pretty much consistent across the board. However, there is not one piece of work that leaps off the wall and says 'Buy Me or else'. And it shows in the sales. The difficulty for the organisers now lies in how to get the artists with the WOW pieces to send them along next year. And why should artists send a painting worth $2000 along when the prize money is only $50? (of course Entry fee is onlyl a few dollars). However, the point is this: if local artists do not support the local opportunities provided by local organisations how can either one survive?
Enough of the weepies!
Moreton Bay Region has produced artists (visual, literary, and performing) of national and international standing. And the one thing they have in common is the fostering they receive at the local level. However, this fostering is always in danger of being snatched from them through lack of opportunity.
So please support your local arts organisation, whenever and wherever possible.
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