Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

If the gallery is attracting a poor, however that's decided, visitor count, that is down to bad promotion, and as I said earlier, an uninspiring curatorship. It certainly wasn't the case thirty years ago, when it was in more imaginative hands.

In the linked thread you informed us that funded by the council tax payer, H.B.C. employs a team of four salaried 'arts development' officers.

Either the people that gave them the job aren't very good at deciding who to employ, or the four people they employed aren't particularly good.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...s-18809-5.html

Perhaps if we employed fewer people, but someone of a higher caliber, who is more able to promote a very beautiful gallery, which has a collection of world reknown, then the place would be buzzing.

I know you don't have much knowledge of the cut and thrust and reality of the business world, but with the right product, promotion, and price, which in this case is free, people come flocking.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

For those who have never been inside the HAworth (dog keeps moving keys around) here is a picture of the entrance hall. The statue on the left of the fireplace used to be at the top of the stairs in Oak Hill Museum.
Retlaw.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

Garri the staff at the Haworth are restricted on what they can do by their bosses, they do try to put on exhibitions, they do run workshops for schools on a regular basis.
Accrington Photo Club regularly exibit their work, and they recently ran an exhibition of electronic art, I know it sounds daft, but it kept me entertained in its complexity.

Retlaw.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

Must say, when I went there three or four weeks ago to see my mate's exhibition, I was introduced to the curator and she seemed to be absolutely bubbling over with ideas and enthusiasm.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

Thirty years ago is a long time.
HBC does not employ four 'arts development' officers, that thread is three years old and now it does not emply one arts development officer. It does employ me on a part time basis and I am trying very hard to get the Year of Culture up and running and changing the way the arts are being handled.

There are people who work at the gallery who curate exhibitions and who run education programmes. There is also a relatively new marketing officer who works part time. As part of my contract with HBC I am advising them on marketing initiatives - which are starting to be implemented - banners on the park outside, a new website being developed, leaflets which are changed monthly etc.

As for me not having any knowledge of the cut and thrust of the business world - how extremely patronising of you. Prior to me leaving the cut and thrust of the business world and having children I worked for a large PLC called SSL International - I managed a yearly budget of £21 million of own label and branded pharmaceutical products. Please do not treat me like some little poppet who is just playing at working for a living!

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

Gayle, I'm not having a go at you, honest. I have no idea if you know the arts development officers, but guess you do.

I'm just disappointed that the gallery isn't showing the same quality and diversity of shows, as it did in the not too distant past, and this seems to be mirrored by the fact you say the is poor attendance.

I honestly can't see that being improved by being run by a distant body in Preston. Most people agree that Britain isn't best governed from Brussels, this is the same principle.

Not my particular cup of tea, but wildlife artists used to bring in big crowds. We have many, many artists, both professional and amateur living in the area, who'd love to be exhibited. Plus as Retlaw said, the gallery has a large in house collection that isn't rotated and exhibited enough.

What would I put on, which I think would be a popular draw?

Just pondered this, and came up with your mum.

A very talented, trained artist, who makes her professional living, unlike many, by practicing her skill. An exhibition of photographs of her works hanging in-situ, works she still has, works in progress. A talk, telling how she researches her subject etc. It would appeal not just to art lovers, but historians, and those interested in the pubs of the northwest.

I digress.

Even if attendance numbers are considered 'poor', I don't think the gallery would be better run by L.C.C. It won't be the jewel in their crown, just a small bauble.

I apologise if you think I was having a go.

I do know we both sing from the same hymn sheet, it's just that you sing tenor, and I'm contralto.:D

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

It's not the staff that are at fault then, but those with higher control.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

There are no arts development officers in Hyndburn at the moment - I'm the nearest thing to it and that isn't strictly speaking my role.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

How many members on here have been to haworth art gallery .. i know i never have ..i'll admit it .. even though its only 10 mins walk away .. go past it regular on the bus when going to accy shopping .. spug does say he's going to remedy this .. he says he going to take me when hes down next ... and i will have fun with my camera he says ... hes been in .. many years ago so thats 2 extra visitors in next month or so ..

Rindy and gayle and retlaw go in regular .. so who else has been in?

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

Time's relative.

Thirty years ago isn't a long time in the history of art.

Even twenty five years ago, as I've mentioned before, Hyndburn had a varied and diverse art scene. Something that it doesn't have today, fact, no mater how it's dressed up. If your role improves this situation, I'll applaud it.

I apologise for not being fully aware of your full c.v. That was rude, and wrong.

I guess I'm still in shock that a Guardian reader, who stood as a Labour councilor, against the leader of the council, thought the N.H.S. was created by a Liberal government.:eek::D:eek:

However, the gallery shouldn't be sold to L.C.C., and if numbers are poor, again I'll state I've never once been asked where I was from, then the quality of curatorsip isn't good enough, and we should be employing someone with a more impressive c.v., and a wider background in the arts.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

So three or four years we had four art development workers, acording to your old post, and now we have you in a part time position?

Not being rude, but when did the other posts finish, and was the job you have advertised?

The whole thing sounds a shambles.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

To say there's apparently so little local interest in art, and the exhibits at the Haworth, this thread has been one of the fastest growing, and most widely read for quite a while.

Probably since the Panopticon thread.

Perhaps Hyndburn isn't inhabited by such Philistines after all.

It's just they aren't being given the right art.

:D

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

i was yon the day after wynonie to what i termed a good little exhibition, staff were very pleasant n pointed me in right direction, before that its probably about 12/13 years since i was there, only found out about this little exhibition on accyweb or i wouldn't have been there a few weeks ago, i think that small fact that theres little publicity contributes somewhat to small attendances. probably will not help a great deal wi observor being a out of town publication these days.:confused:

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

That certainly won't help.

There always used to be an article and photograph when the new monthly exhibitions opened. It usually featured the opening night party, thus giving ample notice to the public of what was going to be on over the coming weeks, but there hasn't been anything like that for quite some time, and well before the Observer's Accy office closed.

Re: Howarth Art gallery
 

What I would be interested in is why people don't visit the Haworth Do some people think it's not for them. Maybe they think it's too elitist.