The road to hell is a very long paved one if you go by my good intentions, so I started a blog and then got blog block. Its not that I hadn’t got anything to reflect on, the last two months have been extremely busy at The Ropewalk, just that I hadn’t actually got time to reflect.
Last night comedian Rich Hall performed to a very full, hot Ropery Hall. He was excellent and a really nice guy as well. I always marvel at the ability of performers, especially stand ups to get up in front of a room full of people. The confidence required is immense and yet most of the comedians I have met over the years I have found to be quite normal beings off stage, with a few exceptions. What made the night so special was that Rich Hall was willing to play such a small venue and did so with such relish. I have shied away from promoting top flight comedians on the whole as the ticket price has to reflect the fee to capacity ratio. I have seen comedians this year in large 1000 plus venues for more than £18 a ticket and it made me realise that the actual experience in a small venue is worth the same money if not more – I hope others agree and that we can continue to attract sell out audiences, which we need to do to just break even!
I am just putting the finishing touches to the autumn programme which has a good mix of films, poetry, comedy and music. Mark Keable from mtm promotions has again done us proud with a great line up including Martin Simpson in September and the Carthys in December whilst I am looking forward to a Jazz autumn with the welcome return of Snake Davis and a first time visit by Gwyneth Herbert. Not to be left out the wonderful Mark Steel returns to Barton for the third time and just what I’ve always wanted…. Mari Wilson on the stage at Ropery Hall. The full details will be in print soon but it looks like Janine and I will be behind bars for a long stretch this autumn.
I hope people who read this have had the opportunity over the last year to read Article, the arts listings guide for Northern Lincolnshire which Nick, Richard and I put together with contributions from Damien, Cheryl and Loz. Article is loved by all that read it if the feedback is anything to go by and we had a meeting to round up the first year and discuss year two earlier this week. Article has been in Richard’s head for some years - a gap that needed filling, something that people can sit and read to find out what is going on arts wise in this area. There is such a lot that within one year we have found it impossible to fit it all in and we (well, Nick actually) have the unenviable task of cutting and trimming pieces to fit. To solve this problem we would like to increase the size of the publication but therein lies a problem, the one that blights most arts events/organisations ……. money. So if you have read it and enjoyed it and want to make sure it continues and increases in size please consider subscribing – for just £10 it will be delivered to your door for a year. What value!
Friday, 25 July 2008
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
A busy bank holiday weekend at The Ropewalk reminds me of what is to come in the summer.
Being a building open to the public - free of charge 7 days a week - means that we are accessible and available to all, which from the point of view of introducing art to the public and developing audiences is seen as a good thing.
However it also means that we have to deal with large numbers of people who are not particularly interested in what’s on view but are just looking for a venue that fills the criteria for somewhere to take mother for a visit. Yes we have toilets, free adjacent parking, a coffee shop and oh yes, art but that is just incidental.
Bank holidays can be the busiest days of the year with several hundred people visiting but they are without exception the quietest sales days. I think if I did an analysis of the quantities of toilet rolls used together with the cost of utilities versus sales we could possibly be subsidizing the public ‘day trip’. Maybe I should apply for a grant to the council as a public toilet.
Cynicism over we have had some great moments this weekend. As part of the Museums and Galleries Month, print and paper maker Jonathan Korejko hosted a drop in session in Gallery One on how to make paper from old rope. He had plenty of takers and explained in his enthusiastic and knowledgeable way how paper can be made from most kinds of fibres. Visitors had the chance to get messy and create their own paper with many pleasing results.
Taking in for the open print exhibition went well with over 200 entries coming in from as far a field as London, Leicester and Sheffield. The selectors will make their decisions this Friday and the exhibition opens on Saturday June 7.
Sunday afternoon was the first date of the summer ‘Performance in the Park’ season held in Baysgarth Park, Barton. Now in its 4th year the programme started as in previous years with a concert by Barton Town Band. Although a touch chilly in the wind, approximately 100 people turned up to listen to a varied programme from rousing show tunes to more melodic sombre pieces, something for everyone. The interval was filled with a 15 minute performance by the junior band who performed well with a programme including a piece by Westlife –one way to keep the younger members interested. The band has a fantastic youth policy and the results are to be admired - a testament to all the efforts of tutors and young people involved.
With so many exhibitions, events and shows going on at the moment it’s a job to choose what to go to. If you do one thing cultural this week check out Midge Ure at The Plowright in Scunthorpe on Wednesday May 28. When Midge played at The Ropewalk last November he held the audience spell bound with his rich vocal tones and charisma, the introductions and stories between songs were so entertaining and it was a delight to see someone perform who obviously enjoys what he does.
Its half term this week so The Ropewalk turns its focus to ST-ART the charity based here that promote creative activities for the young. Unfortunately most of the activities are for the under 12’s but I may sneak into ‘How the Giraffe got its neck’ a production by Tall Stories in Ropery Hall, yes the target audience is four to seven year olds but I always find children’s theatre magical and can always explain my attendance as an evaluation visit!
Finally, on a very sad note I was distressed to hear of the untimely death of Barry Nettleton, arts manager for East Riding Council last Thursday night. Barry was a much loved character on the regional arts scene and he will be sadly missed by many.
Thanks for reading my first ever blog, I intend to write weekly on events at The Ropewalk and the arts in this area, I hope you find it interesting, if not don’t read it , you have a choice!
Being a building open to the public - free of charge 7 days a week - means that we are accessible and available to all, which from the point of view of introducing art to the public and developing audiences is seen as a good thing.
However it also means that we have to deal with large numbers of people who are not particularly interested in what’s on view but are just looking for a venue that fills the criteria for somewhere to take mother for a visit. Yes we have toilets, free adjacent parking, a coffee shop and oh yes, art but that is just incidental.
Bank holidays can be the busiest days of the year with several hundred people visiting but they are without exception the quietest sales days. I think if I did an analysis of the quantities of toilet rolls used together with the cost of utilities versus sales we could possibly be subsidizing the public ‘day trip’. Maybe I should apply for a grant to the council as a public toilet.
Cynicism over we have had some great moments this weekend. As part of the Museums and Galleries Month, print and paper maker Jonathan Korejko hosted a drop in session in Gallery One on how to make paper from old rope. He had plenty of takers and explained in his enthusiastic and knowledgeable way how paper can be made from most kinds of fibres. Visitors had the chance to get messy and create their own paper with many pleasing results.
Taking in for the open print exhibition went well with over 200 entries coming in from as far a field as London, Leicester and Sheffield. The selectors will make their decisions this Friday and the exhibition opens on Saturday June 7.
Sunday afternoon was the first date of the summer ‘Performance in the Park’ season held in Baysgarth Park, Barton. Now in its 4th year the programme started as in previous years with a concert by Barton Town Band. Although a touch chilly in the wind, approximately 100 people turned up to listen to a varied programme from rousing show tunes to more melodic sombre pieces, something for everyone. The interval was filled with a 15 minute performance by the junior band who performed well with a programme including a piece by Westlife –one way to keep the younger members interested. The band has a fantastic youth policy and the results are to be admired - a testament to all the efforts of tutors and young people involved.
With so many exhibitions, events and shows going on at the moment it’s a job to choose what to go to. If you do one thing cultural this week check out Midge Ure at The Plowright in Scunthorpe on Wednesday May 28. When Midge played at The Ropewalk last November he held the audience spell bound with his rich vocal tones and charisma, the introductions and stories between songs were so entertaining and it was a delight to see someone perform who obviously enjoys what he does.
Its half term this week so The Ropewalk turns its focus to ST-ART the charity based here that promote creative activities for the young. Unfortunately most of the activities are for the under 12’s but I may sneak into ‘How the Giraffe got its neck’ a production by Tall Stories in Ropery Hall, yes the target audience is four to seven year olds but I always find children’s theatre magical and can always explain my attendance as an evaluation visit!
Finally, on a very sad note I was distressed to hear of the untimely death of Barry Nettleton, arts manager for East Riding Council last Thursday night. Barry was a much loved character on the regional arts scene and he will be sadly missed by many.
Thanks for reading my first ever blog, I intend to write weekly on events at The Ropewalk and the arts in this area, I hope you find it interesting, if not don’t read it , you have a choice!
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