We asked the question ‘Who are the Cultural Champions in Yorkshire?’ What followed was a rapid debate on twitter about champions and evangelists, we’ll hand over to guest blogger Alex to expand further…
I was sat in work, hurriedly looking at twitter whilst munching on some scotch pancakes, and found myself butting into a conversation about cultural champions (you can do that on Twitter. I’d never be so rude in *real* life). Next thing you know, Emma asks me to expand a 140 character thought into 500 words.
The discussion was ‘Do we need cultural champions?’ Nationally, there isn’t a government position called ‘cultural champion’, thank goodness; the Minister for Culture does quite enough busy-body interfering already.
I understand the term as those individuals who have taken it upon themselves to inspire, promote and influence either a genre of culture, or within a region, because they are passionate about it and want to share that with others who are not as engaged. They have the ability to galvanise people, to unify differing organisations, to inspire locals, possessing a ‘reach’ that extends beyond the normal arts world, and, importantly, are independent of political parties and influences.
The reason I butted in? I am a Liverpudlian, and 3 years ago I watched in dismay as the Capital of Culture that the city had so proudly won, was descending to bickering, infighting between stakeholders and ineffectuality. Then, like some great shaggy-haired Mersey Monster, in steps Phil Redmond. Yes, he of Grange Hill and Brookie fame. What happened next?
Well, the Turner Prize left London for the first time, the first ever UK Klimt exhibition, premiers by John Tavener and Karl Jenkins, ‘Of Time and the City’ was created, Ben Johnson painted his new great Mersey panorama in front our eyes. Thousands followed a giant spider through the streets. And, what I think was the most successful of all: Go Superlambananas. Over 100 superlambanana statues were painted by professional artists, community groups and children, with statues then located in the Tate, Walker, St Georges Hall, hospitals, shopping centres, streets and even on top of a mountain. Leeds Light Night encourages you to explore Leeds for a night. This was encouraging everyone to go and explore their city for an entire summer; lots of people voluntarily entering some of the most respected cultural institutions in the land, for the first time. The partnership work that went into this one venture was astonishing.
Research from the University of Liverpool found that 85% of locals believed that 08 had made the city a better place to live. The perception of a city of deprivation had begun to transform in the national consciousness to a city of vibrant and exciting culture. Nearly 10 million extra visits were made. Importantly, every child, in every school, got involved. Regardless of your opinion on the relative artistic and cultural merits of 08, let there be no doubt that this success was down to one man. Not a politician, a financier or even an ‘arts officer’. It was a cultural champion. As a consequence, I can even forgive Phil Redmond for Hollyoaks.
The Children’s Laureate are excellent evangelists for the importance and joy of reading. Yes, they have the ‘authority’ of a title, but that is a very recent invention and those who have been awarded it are already known as passionate advocates of education. What child wouldn’t be besides themselves with excitement when Children’s Laureate Quentin Blake or Jacqueline Wilson turned up at their school? Carol Ann Duffy has thrown herself into her role as Poet Laureate and all for a few bottles of sherry. These individuals are significant figures, who possess media presence and are respected both for their talents, but also their lack of affiliation.
Other champions could include Ian McMillan, the Barnsley Poet, and Tony Wilson for Manchester. Imagine what it would be like to have someone in Leeds who was able to rise above council restrictions, organisational agendas, financial targets, who possess national media presence, institutional respect and local passion.
However, a hero of culture is always going to be too dependent on personality, and an individuals own motivations and actions to ensure it is something that can be relied upon, or even hoped for. Someone who is unrestricted by political or organisational boundaries could become un-restricted by censorship. Their agenda may not be anyone else’s. The position itself is too ambiguous, bestowed upon an individual either by the media/ by locals or by themselves. With a lack of resources, there are limits to what can be achieved.
A cultural evangelist can never be more than a nebulous, optimistic hope that ‘maybe one day, one will emerge’. But, when one is successful, their ability to inspire and promote a city/genre to itself and to outsiders is undeniable. So, maybe we all have a responsibility to listen, encourage and act, to evangelise and champion to others in our local communities who are not as engaged. It could be lots of fun.
Alexandra Boyle is a little bit obsessed with heritage, history and local communities. And cake. She has no authority to say anything on any of these subjects, but will sometimes get a bit overexcited about them anyway. Twitters as @sewhipfolkie
You’re absolutely correct – a Champion could do so much to promote the cultural life in Leeds and surrounding areas.
We live in London but have travelled with many other fans for Leeds band hope and social (hopeandsocial.com). They have proved to be wonderful ambassadors for the North with their musical all day Events that have attracted support Nationally. The latest was the #hssnowball on 4th December where around 170 fans came from all over the UK to sample a Leeds beer “Ho-Ho-Hope and social” brewed especially for the occasion, rehearse in four Leeds pubs, sing Christmas songs on the steps of Leeds town hall in blue santa hats and enjoy a musical evening with 2010 BASCA award-winning jazz composer with the band James Hamilton. This was a perfect opportunity to show what a great place Leeds is for music and social events and should have been covered by local news/radio at least but needs a local co-ordinating figure.
Excellent article. Thanks Alexandra.
So… surely there’s someone we can hassle into doing the not-job?
There are lots of proud yorkshire men & women who regularily praise their cultural roots but without financial backing it is likely it will always be just on the back of their latest project as a role like this could take up a lot of time.
Maybe someone like Welcome to Yorkshire should be employing some local cultural greats to promote events etc.
Culture bewilders the people who are not involved in it and to some extent its up to the cultural sector to tell its own story. But is Alex right- is this where Leeds is weakest? Lack of a high profile cultural champion with popular appeal? I hope anyone interested in this topic will come to Leeds Arts Partnership’s open space on 13th January.
Culture has come a long way on the radar of decision-makers in the last ten years and is now recognised as central to the future well-being of the city.
What will the scene look like in ten years time? And how do we tell the rest of the world about Leeds’ artistic scene? What do we tell them? Are we a city of broad excellence or do we need to focus on some iconic stories, one or two tall trees that soar up high and attract attention from afar? So how will we retain and nurture our next generation of artists and cultural entrepeneurs?
In my experience Leeds has many cultural champions – maybe we’re further along the process of telling Leeds story than we realise – I’m definitely anticipating a roomful of cultural champions to be at this event anyway!
#LeedsArtsFuture is part of the WhatIf Leeds debates around shaping the future of the city. Let me know -ideally by Christmas- if you want to come to it.
This post has really got us thinking! Who are the real cultural champions? ‘Name’ (as in famous important people) or no name (as in the unsung, unknown), the people who really bring sparkle, change, excitement, momentum. Those that seem to help a wide group of people get stuck in to doing the stuff that we perceive to be the stuff of life, but to the many isn’t likely to register on their radar.
We’d love to run a monthly feature, from your nominations, where the people who are doing the stuff that helps those not already getting excited by the possibilities to really enjoy a cultual/creative life. Whether they are names like Phil Redmond (and whoever he cites as inspirational to him) or the likes of Hope and Social above…
What would you like to see as our parameters for choosing our #culturalchampions?
How far is the geographic remit? The North where we focus our gaze, or the UK?
Should we ask for nominations each month publicly and then ask twitter to choose which one we interview and spotlight? Or shall we do it privately and surprise you all?
Theres definitely scope for Emma’s proposal to celebrate #cultural champions. Involving a pop up awards event? – keep the scope broad (past or present) (famous and not famous ) – but make the occasion lighthearted not heavy. Steer clear of ghastly trophies unless from ebay. I guess who the MC is would be crucial. Could you move the event around to different parts of the city – ….. I would love to be involved in working up the idea. cheers
I’d really like to see this driven by recognising people from across the UK maybe with the potential of an event that’s held in Leeds? This would be a quite different beast to my UnAwards which are all about gentle micky taking!
Perhaps we could discuss this at the next cultural conversation event, which will be in February date tbc, themed ‘We are all Jim’ I’ll leave it to you to guess what that might mean!!!
I’ve set up a new category on the blog and will be asking shortly for a list of nominations for our first months featured cultural champion.
Really good article! I am also a native of Merseyside and when I go back it looks like money has been well spent in Liverpool… and it’s about time! i miss Quiggins though….
Hi,
Not wanting to sound too curmudgeonly (as the idea of cultural champions is excellent and would be perfect to raise the visibility of Leeds as a ‘cultural’ city) I think you overstate the role of Prof Redmond in Liverpool. Impacts08’s research certainly indicates an important shift occurred when he became the figurehead
http://www.liv.ac.uk/impacts08/Publications/publications.htm
But it’s important to realise the infrastructure behind Phil as a figurehead (esp. LARC, which is the group of the 8 largest cultural institutions in the city). When Phil took over he came in with two senior members of the NWRDA who were instrumental in getting ECoC 2008 back on track and most of the ‘big’ exhibitions, etc were set in stone by then anyway.
Not to sound too much like a sociologist, but there’s a bit of structure and agency here. A cultural champion for Leeds needs the support (and really a position) from key organisations to be successful, or else they become a little bit peripheral (as you could argue Phil has done in Lpool post 2008.)
I’ve written on this type of thing, but it’s all in academic journals, so you might not be able to get access. If you can there’s stuff in last year’s Cultural Trends, Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events and the latest issue of Town Planning Review.
Feel free to email me for more info: