South Lakes Hub meeting – Saturday, 16th February 2008

Present were: Kate Brundrett, Paul Clark, Ann Duffy, Margaret James-Barber, Steve Messam, Jill Pemberton, Rosie Wates.

Apologies received from: Monica Metsers, Rob Fraser, & Bryan Eccleshall

Network fees for membership? – brief discussion about whether membership should require payment of a fee. Consensus was that although a fee would confirm a commitment, such a commitment could also be made by way of involvement and that it could also mean that fewer artists become members which would be counter-productive.

Wider membership

Discussed need to, and ways of, making connections with wider groups such as student courses. Agreed that a flyer would be a good way of making this connection.

Hub actions for the coming year

We discussed possibilities which included:

· A second tour round Cumbria via Settle to Carlisle railway.

· Art Auction - Dependent on funding, for a standard fee for hub artists to provide a piece of their art for auction. ‘Bids’ will be made for individual works. Bids will have no financial element but consist of reasons why the bidder is justified in winning the artwork. The aim of the auction is to engage the public in art activity and art ownership, that might otherwise not engage and to promote the individual Hub artists work.

· Trip to Liverpool biennal – possibility of a Fred run trip.

· Showcase evening – an evening open to work being shown and discussed amid socilali networking.

· Guerilla art shops – taking over empty shop premises in Kendal town centre for short –term ‘guerilla’ art events.

· Network art camp in Cockermouth/Bassenthwaite area.

Berlin and beyond

Discussed planned trip for five artists to Berlin as a research project to explore possibility of a joint exhibition for Cumbria and Berlin with invited Berlin artists as well as researching possibilities for future residency exchanges between Cumbria and Berlin.

A funding bid is being prepared for Arts Council funding application.

Members current art practice

Towards the end of the meeting, Kate asked what we were all doing currently with our own art. This was interesting, as we had all become focused on our plans for actions and the need to discuss ‘business’ issues that we had not talked about our own practice. We agree that this should be more of an up front focus for next time and future meetings.

Date of next Hub meeting – 22nd March 2008 at 11am in the Intro Bar at the Brewery Arts Centre.