play my cards right V house of cards

I put my blog behind a privacy setting for a while because journalists have started banging down my door. I didn't want to want to involve the press. I didn't want them to get their hands on the blog and muddy the waters. I wanted to do this properly, work the system. Play the council game, play by the council rules. Play my cards right, essentially. It hasn't got me very far. House of cards.

Since then my blog has been picked up by another blogger whom I've been following, weirdly enough 'Live From the Heygate'. He/she called me on it. Made me think - do I have anything to hide? No. What I do have is a really short timeline. I am hoping we can connect. He/she has the voice of the people. It would be an interesting meeting. I am sure I would learn a lot.

creative services team attempt to crush me

I had my meeting with the Cultural Services Team on Friday 24 July. I was nervous. They were late. I got up to their third floor flimsy three-sides-mdf-one-side-perspex box of a meeting room. Two monkeys and not an organ grinder to speak of. I knew then. In the absence of the decision makers the outlook was not good for me and my little project.

I won't recount the exchange, I can't bring myself to go over it again. The two resounding and depressing nuggets of a take home message were, and I quote:

(1) "Frankly we're exhausted with art projects for the Heygate. We have enough art projects already".

[This is your Cultural Service speaking, Southwark.]

(2) "The Heygate estate is a sensitive issue. The people have been through a lot. We could not now subject them to this."

I could stand it no more. It was at that point I interjected and told them that, yes, given what they've put the people through I agree. It would be absolutely ludicrous for Southwark Council to suggest they now ask people to come and paint a building, their former home, that was going to be demolished. Not for an independent, surely. Not with all these amazing artist that what to come and help them. Let's bring this disbanded community together again.

I ask them to imagine the aesthetic for a minute - the end result. An expanse of colour. The smiles on people’s faces. The chest-swell pride of the community as it stands back to inspect its achievements - for the greater good but above all, for themselves. Imagine the final imprint in people's minds before the bricks and mortar dissolve forever. And imagine what we will have learnt from the community of the Heygate Estate.

They looked each other and looked back at me. The good cop showed me to the lift, whist dancing a victory jig in her head. For about a week I felt catatonic. I had to have a little break. I had to regroup and ask myself a few questions. I now realise I need the people's approval more than ever. Phase two starts here.

wandsworth community council presenting

Finally got the meeting with the council. It took 9 weeks. And get this, they called me! You know you are getting somewhere when they call you, I thought to myself. The initial contact wasn't what I would call a pleasant exchange. I think it would be fair to say it was more of a, "back off". It came the day after I presented at the Wandsworth Community Council.

You see, I wanted to reach the people. Talk to the people - tell them about my idea and how I thought it would play out. See if it had legs, from the peoples' perspective. It was only courtesy since my proposal concern the people of Heygate and the Elephant & Castle Community at large.

I have tried to reach the people through the more traditional channels, Southwark outreach workers and committee members et al but to no avail. So I asked for a deputization (guest speaker) slot at the community meeting. I presented to 65 members of the community. When I got to the 'coloured in' building slide (pictured above, original by Kim Laughton) I got an audiable wow. No kidding! A, "WOW" like a giant comic book speech bubble rose and formed above their heads. And after my last slide - I don't think it would be lying to say the applause was raptuous. They felt it. The saw the potential. Oh one women shouted in my face and gave me a few things to think about. She was marginally calmer when I told her that I would not be using tax payers money.

Anyway, it prompted this call from the Cultural Services Team the next day. I didn't take the bait. I just listened to the senseless polemic that lasted about three and a half minutes. I was polite. They hung up. Another call came two days later form the same person. I was asked to submit a proposal for a meeting with the creative services team.

all about the politics

Was getting slightly impatient with the council not getting back to me only because time is of the essence. I emailed the Conservative Shadow Arts Minister, last night. I get his newsletters - really worth getting on that list they are excellent. Anyway, he just got back to me, he copied in another Councilor's PA and asked her to put my email under her boss' nose. He also went on to say, if I don't hear anything he has a meeting with him on 20th anyway and will raise the project proposal then. Oh, and he thinks it sounds like a great project.

In other news, I have a slot - 5 minutes - at the next local Walworth Community Council meeting on 14 July.