Progress Report April 2008

Progress Report 11April 2008
Oscar Watson and Richard Neville
  1. Overview
  • Our work to initiate the regional forum came to fruition this month with the successful event at the Lecture Theatre at the Mining Institute adjacent to the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle. It has been gratifying to see that more and more people are “getting” NECDAF- understand what we are trying to do and are willing to participate in its activities and aims. As we worked to deliver the Regional Forum we rationalised its relationship with the Board of Trustees:
    • The quarterly meetings are “Regional Meetings” of the North East Cultural Diversity Arts Forum.
    • Their function is to initiate dialogue between arts practitioners from minority ethnic communities and their cross-sector partners toward the development of the sector in the region and to advise the Board of Trustees.
    • The Regional Meeting will elect a chair and secretary. We request that these individuals be invited to sit on the Board of Trustees as members’ representatives.
    • Sub-Groups and Working Groups will meet between quarterly meetings to develop work streams to be discussed and ratified at the quarterly meetings.
 
  1. Financial Summary.
i.                   CONFIDENTIAL
 
  1. Project Coordinator’s Report
Richard attended the Developing Sustainable Business Models in the Creative and Cultural Sector seminar at Newcastle Business School and the Regional Information Event relating to the new round of European Social Fund funding at Newcastle’s Civic Centre.  Richard will collate and present the information on the NECDAF website from both of these events in due course.The NECDAF website continues to be updated on a daily basis and Richard continues to liaise with other project coordinators and administrators about NECDAF being informed on a regular basis about culturally diverse events and programmes.  In particular, this month NECDAF has forged strong links with Northern Stage.
Total Visitors New Visitors Total Visits Pageviews (average) Time Spent (average)
461 232 777 5.85 3:56 mins
Richard designed and commissioned the NECDAF exhibition bag, specifically for the transportation of the All 4 Corners Exhibition.  One of the artists on the NECDAF database, Anh Mao, undertook the commission and the bags were used to transport the exhibition to Customs House in South Shields where it will be displayed until the end of July.In a general capacity, Richard’s help was invaluable in the preparation of the NECDAF Spring Meeting, and then in the meeting itself where he undertook the role of facilitator for one of the sub-group sessions.  Richard was also responsible for the preparation and dissemination of the notes from the Spring Meeting. 
  1. Director’s Report
i.                   Accounts: last year’s accounts have been audited. We await the final report from the auditors (Community Accounting).

ii.                BME Regional Theatre Research: We received three proposals to deliver the research. The proposal from Caroline Routh, former manager at Northern Stage and currently running a theatre project called Empty Space scored highest on the selection criteria grid. We have offered her the contract and she has started to deliver the work which we expect will be completed in two months. The research will inform the several BME theatre projects in development that we are aware of and be a resource for theatre projects seeking sponsorship and funding.

iii.              Black History Month: Meeting with Sue Hurrell to discuss joint activities during October and the possibilities of linking activities in the developing NECDAF Biennial Review programme. We have discussed the possibility of ending the Biennial project with a Diverse Arts Ball (working title) at the Gateshead Old Town Hall in mid December.iv.              Refugee Week Event: In liaison with Nadeem Ahmed at the Strategic Immigration Partnership to deliver an event on June 20th at the banqueting suite of Newcastle Civic Centre: The “World Music Young DJ Challenge” where young DJs will be encouraged to present 20 minute ‘sets’ of dance (i.e. Club) music from around the world at a youth event. They will be judged by a panel of promoters etc and by the number of people they encourage to dance –in order to win a prize and a title. This event is to be a pilot for an event aimed to engage a broader spectrum of participants at the Diverse Arts Ball (see above).

v.                 Changing Perspectives 2: Oscar has resigned from the Steering Group after the breakdown in relations with the Project Manager and because of the lack of clarity of the relationship between the Steering Group and the Board of Trustees of NEEACA. NECDAF will of course continue to offer support to the project, but we welcome the opportunity to put more energy into other projects. CP2 has received a significant amount of direct NECDAF input for over a year. The Steering Group are engaged in establishing a working relationship with the NEEACA Board of Trustees.

vi.                Fund-raising: Applications have been drafted and submitted to the Allen Lane Foundation, the Sir James Knott Trust, and Garfield Weston Foundation. An application to the Big Lottery will be completed and submitted by 16/05/08. Applications to Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Community Foundation (Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley), Greggs Trust, Tudor Trust and Lankelly Chase Foundation will be completed and submitted by the end of the month. [see appendix –Funding strategy]

vii.               Cultural Calendar Project: We have begun discussing this project with a freelance photographer, EMTEP and our web-master. We are drafting a proposal to initiate a pilot project that combines a digital image manipulation course to engage young people in the West End of Newcastle with a project to replace the Diversity North East desk calendar and to follow-up Yve Ngoo’s idea for an on-line calendar.

viii.             Design and Community Health Colloquium, University of Northumbria: attended an extremely disappointing event supposedly to show how design had been used to promote health issues in Uganda in association with the University. It appeared to be a long mutual congratulation with little benefit to those who had not been involved.

ix.                 Intercultural Cities Conference: Oscar attended a two day conference in Liverpool exploring the issue of Inter-culturalism –as opposed to “Multi-Culturalism”. See appendix: “Intercultural Cities Conference Report”. Appendix 1: Fund-raising Strategy


APPENDICES

Fund-raising 2008 – 2009
 
  1. Arts Council
Notification of RFO status guarantees us (as long as we continue to deliver target outcomes) £30,000 this year, £35,000 next year and £40,000 in 2010 -2011. This money is in support of ‘core costs’ We will still be able to approach ACE for additional project funds. Please note that our income from ACE last year was nearly £60,000. I intend to prepare additional requests in support of the Biennial Review, Culturally Diverse Festivals Network and the development of the Regional Meetings. Circa £25,000 
  1. CSDI
The Cultural Sector Development Initiative will end this year. I anticipate we will be able to claim £6,500 from this fund. 
  1. Local Authorities
We aim to secure support from at least 3 of the 25 local authorities in the region to subsidise our regional network development activities, in particular the Regional Meetings and the AGM. We will be seeking funds to support transporting members around the region to engage in meetings and networking events as well as to support an AGM to build on last year’s success.        Target = 3 x£2,000 
  1. Community Foundation
CF in Newcastle has rejected a request in support of Richard’s salary in service of the Regional Meeting but we are preparing a new application in support of the Biennial Review 2008. We are also researching an opportunity to fund a detached worker, (possibly working out of the BECON office) in Middlesbrough to spearhead our work in the Tees Valley funded by CF Tees Valley. The worker would particularly support the emerging Tarart Artists Community and Sade Sangawawa’s “Inspiration” and “Taste of Africa” projects.  We will seek maximum £5,000 grants. 
  1. Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
I intend to submit an application that would initiate a 3 year relationship with EFF as a key partner in our “core” funding – running costs and salaries. We will emphasise the work to develop a coherent identity for the “Diverse Arts Sector” in our region, to increase collaboration between organisations and enable more artists to practice professionally in the region. £15,000 x 3 years. 
  1. Greggs Trust
We will approach Greggs Trust to support the Calendar Project – to replace the discontinued Diversity North East cultural calendar. GT funds work that focuses on disadvantaged people and I intend to show how the Calendar project will contribute to mutual understanding of cultural activities that will counter ignorance-born prejudices that negatively impact on minority ethnic communities. £3,000 
  1. Sir James Knott Trust
We’ve targeted JKT to support the Biennial Review project as partners with ACE, Big Lottery and Garfield Weston Foundation. £4,000 
  1. Tudor Trust
TT fund “small, under resourced organisations offering direct services and which involve the people they work with in their planning”. We fit their criteria in a number of additional areas too and I will be redrafting the application to them in support of Richard’s salary to administer the Regional Meetings programme. £4,000 + 
  1. Lankelly Chase Foundation
We will be approaching LCF to support on-going and developing work to connect regional activities and work with refugee communities in particular. £4,000+ 
10.     Big LotteryWe will attempt to raise funds to support the Biennial Review project, with particular reference to the production and distribution of the publication for March 2009 11.     AdditionalWe will seek opportunities to attract sponsorship from commercial sector partners (e.g. advertising on printed materials and in the Biennial Review publication and the Diverse Arts Ball) to add value and facilities to our programme of activities. We will prepare applications to additional funders in case we are unsuccessful with the funding targets listed here. Oscar WatsonFeb 08 


Appendix 2: Intercultural Cities Conference, Liverpool May 1-2 2008
Outline of EventThe conference was over 4 days: I attended days 2&3 which were the core of the event. The first day consisted of an opening/introductory lecture and dinner. The fourth day involved visiting projects in Liverpool that illustrate key conference themes. Liverpool is European Capital of Culture 2008 and the conference was in St. George’s Hall which lay derelict for over 20 years but was restored and reopened on New Year’s Eve 2008 to be a core venue for Capital of Culture events. In my opinion, this building is a cultural jewel and well worth the EC assisted renovation – a riot of early Victorian excess, displaying the pride and former affluence of the former Slave-Trade capital of Britain. Main Themes“Interculturalism” is a development of ideas of “Multiculturalism”. The key idea is that whereas multiculturalism at least acknowledges that different cultures exist within nations it allows isolation and a lack of connection between them. Assessments of the riots in Bradford in 2005 suggested that “Britain is sleepwalking into segregation” [1] by allowing parallel development of communities with little or no interaction between them. Research by Manchester University has identified NO evidence of any English “output areas[2]” where a single minority ethnic group exists without representation and participation from other groups. Local authorities are now required to address Community Cohesion issues to address this. Interculturalism is the activity to facilitate interaction between cultural groups in communities; this conference addressed how that could be achieved within cities – How to create an intercultural city. Much of the discussion and debate was about how to make an intercultural city.
  • What are the advantages and for whom?
  • Are there dangers in ignoring the issues?
  • Is there political will to achieve interculturalism in cities?
 2008 is European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID).
  • Opportunity to raise profile of NECDAF aims and activities by linking with this European programme.
  • Potential source of additional funding.
  • Promotional and profile-raising opportunities.
  • Information resource (on-line and network development).
 There was much of discussion re minority communities with much presentation of the positive contributions of migrant populations including several examples of where anti immigrant policies brought serious problems to local and regional economies in USA and some European cities.
  • Laws re illegal migrant workers ignored by US cities creating areas where these workers can be hired openly rather than a completely invisible casual labour market.
  • Deliberate targeting of illiterate workers unable to articulate problems of poor working conditions and pay in Germany.
  • British government claim that annual contribution of migrants to UK economy =£6bn.
  • Additional ‘measures’ of cultural contribution are more intangible: to do with cultural practices and production e.g. food, music, fashion etc.
  • Fastest-growing “ethnic” group in Europe = those of mixed parentage, is this an obvious expression of cultural integration?
 An over-reliance on the economic justification for the contribution of migrants was cautioned against: The danger is that it allows policy-makers to initiate quotas that only value incomers in relation to their potential contribution to the city/region/national economy. –There are surely a wider range of contributions that migrants potentially offer their target communities.
  • Cultural Diversity benefits
  • Addressing specific skills shortages
  • Contributing to the general labour market
  • Helping the integration of existing minority communities.
  • Interculturalism= “the freedom to be different”.
  • “Immigrants account for 50% of popular culture”[3] British Council works to promote British culture & cultural partnerships world-wide.
  Interculturalism threatens to clash with issues of Cultural Identity:
  • There are issues about the experiences of older migrants that are likely to differ greatly from those of their children. The extent to which older migrants can be said to be integrated into mainstream can often be questioned.
  • Fear that integration erodes cultural identity.
  • Increasing levels of awareness of difference e.g. around patriarchy and the oppression of women (as perceived by “western culture”) sexual minorities etc can generate significant tensions within minority communities – does an acceptance of the ethics and moralities of the “host” nation mean a loss of cultural identity?
  • To what extent does migration include buying into the cultural values of the host nation?
 Cities (and communities) need to be convinced of the advantages of interculturalism.
  • There needs to be the (political) will to embrace new cultures.
  • Tendency for Local Authorities to avoid issues by claiming lack of understanding and/or unrealistic, under-resourced demands from central government.
    • Power of council officers to countermand/undermine policies of elected officials.
  • Majority communities need to be convinced that they will not lose anything from engaging with new workers and that they will ultimately gain from the experience.
  • The short term pain of receiving migrants is replaced by long-term gain[4]. Migrant communities increase productivity which ultimately mitigates against increased social costs and leads to increases in wages.
 [Research “Agenda 21” for Culture, United Cities and Local Government] [Research Lyon Signed Convention on Diversity] [Research Vancouver Declaration on Immigration]    

[1] Trevor Phillips

[2] Approx 800 homes

[3] CEO British Council – but what does it mean?

[4] Research reference