How can we share the love? Action Meeting

On day two of the BSIDE topics were prioritised, converged and action were suggested by participants. Action groups then met to discuss ways forward. The following is one of the prioritised topics. For more information about the BSIDE Forum and format see the forum "About BSide".

Title: “How can we share the love?” AND “What sector/communal resources/spaces do we need to help us advance our work as independent practitioners?”

Other Related topics:
• Motivation.
• Website/publication dedicated to Wellington (+National?) Theatre. Producing House.
• Downstage.
• How can we keep ready?

Possible Actions:
• Find a way to bridge the gap between the ages to work together to motivate and accept change, building a stronger community.
• Meetings for art practitioners - motivate, share ideas, talk, vent…
• Proposal for website/publication - look at other models eg Theatre Bristol, find out The Big Idea development plans.
• Make the art centre more pro-active/user friendly/functional.
• Make our voice heard in the Downstage consultation process.
• Create arts café (at Arts Centre?) - or build on something already existing e.g. the Pit or regular meetings at Deluxe Café.
• Feasibility study about café being self-supporting and possibly also resourcing other things.
• Getting clear on the kaupapa of café, website, producers room - clarify link/difference with producing house.
• Find out what we"ve already got - pool our resources - lobby/fundraise to get what we are missing.
• Persuade WCC to help us buy BATS (the heart of NZ Theatre) from the Buffaloes and use the whole building as a hub of theatre independents in NZ.
• Approach council/cnz/enterprise NZ to fund a space.
• Embrace a more positive optimistic attitude. We love and enjoy what we do but it"s hard not to get cynical.

ACTION GROUP MEETING

Convenor: Leo Gene Peters

List of Participants: Hannah Clarke, Sherilee Kahui, James Dunlop, Daniel Musgrove, Milo Haigh, Ralph Howell, Fiona McNamara, Natasha Falconer, Stephen Townshend, Brianne Kerr, Jacqueline Coats, Jo Randerson, Thomas La Hood, Geronimo, Barry Lakeman, Emma Kinane, Briar Monro, Diane Spodarek, Bryony Skillington, James Hadley.

Discussion and recommendations:

This discussion focussed on setting up an artists café in Wellington. Questions raised were:

• How can you financially sustain such a space?

• What exactly would be useful - just an empty room with a kettle and a plunger, or a fully-staffed café with large meeting tables plus attached producers" room with wireless internet, tables, photocopier, office resources?

• Who runs it - council, independent manager, artists?

• How can we maintain the space to meet artists" needs while also being a public/open space?

• Where? In Toi Poneke? Use existing space eg. Mighty Mighty during days? Set up somewhere new? Does it need to be connected to a rehearsal/performance space? Or better not to be?

Outcomes

• employ experienced and artist- friendly café managers, and wherever possible employ artists as workers. Ensure artist presence on Trust/board/governing committee - don"t hand over reins

• make it a club! Eg. Like Maranui: join as members, artists can self-identify (eg. No need to PROVE you are an artist) - this allows easier navigation through resource consent which can make setting up venues difficult. Plus clubs are fun. Artists receive discounted food/drink. Specific focus on performing artists but all welcome.

• three-tier member ship 1. open access café-user 2. paid membership (nominal fee) to use admin/office resources 3. Board/lobby group/management committee

• important to research similar spaces eg. Luxembourg Gardens (AK), WACT (Wgtn), Maranui Surf Club (Lyall Bay).

• Space possibly becoming available in Toi Poneke, good to work with WCC in partnership to set up café there? Gain council assistance but maintain artistic input and presence in planning

ACTIONS

1. Organise a meeting to clarify the vision and create a mission statement.

2. Consultations mtgs with eg. Matt Wilson from De Luxe and Martin Rogers from WCC City Arts, Stephen Bain

3. Develop action committee and delegate specific research team

4. Send open invite to all to attend meeting and encourage responses whether able to attend or not.

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday 9th April, 7pm at Unit 10, 369 Adelaide Road. Results of meeting will be posted on TBI website. PLEASE SEND RSVPS, COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS by responding to this forum