Quote:
Originally Posted by keetah_992000
Garinda- I am coming to the end of a Graphic design degree. Some people may feel the need to start harping on about how myself, being a student, is just wasting your taxes etc.
Let me assure you that no money for my education has come from your wallets/purses or anyone elses but my own. I have worked from the age of 16, full time once I left college and have never been out of work. So I think enough of my own taxes would cover that. But I am a self-funding student. Do I get a loan, yes but it has to be paid back-every penny.
(Gordon) So the cuts have been discussed with us (lucky us eh?) and the future of many courses looks bleak. That includes design, multi-media (film makers, web designers, product designers etc). Although there are plenty of professionals out there quite capable of doing the job and not needing funding, eventually the trades may diminish like many before and I just wonder where that will leave us.
'A child's first painting at school will be impossible without arts grant support? Don't be foolish.' I didn't actually say that. 
With regards to something that might be worthwhile, how about using an old derelict building for a creative hub, (artists, designers, sculptors musicians etc) which would not only generate local income through visitors, but would also give employment and volunteer opportunities to those in the 'local mill towns'. Cafe, local workshops.
It's main aim would be to improve community solidarity and give people of all ages the skills to become partially sufficient from the land.
Rather than having an empty building that once served as a mill, why not use it for a new kind of employment opportunity?
What if it was developed mainly from private funds- not government funding, but the local community had a say in it's development?
Rather than a profit making company, it would be a social enterprise- non profit, putting back in to the local area. |
keetah, I admire you for the things you say in your first paragraph(although don't forget the universities are heavily subsidised by the state ie.other taxpayers, over and above what it has cost you).Good for you and I hope you're never out of work!
However, you then start your fantasizing again- do you realize what converting an 'old derelict building/mill' to meet current Health and Safety standards would cost? We then, I assume, subsidise your artists, designers, sculptors, musicians etc. so that they can generate a little local income, hopefully. You're not talking about employment opportunity, you're talking about subsidised opportunity.
Community solidarity is created by men and women working together in something that generates wealth for their country and having hopes for their future, I remember it well. The only way we can repay the money we are borrowing is by exporting things to countries who will pay us for them,whether it's banking, services,cars or even guns. See Germany!
We can't afford your dreams at the moment. Sorry.