Hi All

I would not have any bones about paying a membership fee if it was not too expensive and we actually got something out of it. I asked to be kept in touch with movements around the Arts festival and other stuff and have not had anything through on here or to my email addresses. Maybe we need to look at getting some solid ground based on keeping people up to date with things. Any suggestions?

Cheers

Steve

There is a cost to most networking situations - in the pub, the coffee bar or at exhibitions. We don't even think of this and rarely quantify whether the cost of a pint was worth the ammount of information gained. It's enough to just be part of a roughly similar minded group. There's obviously a cost to keeping this network communicating and in a stable financial situation, not dependent on fickle public funding. So I'm in favour of a subscription fee.
However having been a member of organisations in the past I do understand how they can rapidly become entertainment officers and audience. "What are YOU going to do for ME". Any group is only as dynamic as the members make it.
This letter was a bit of a struggle - I don't do this - and I guess 95% of this network think the same way. It's easiest to watch and way up [I've done it for the past two years]. But if this is to be a strong network and not a piece of theatre the audience should be on the stage as well.
End of ramble - I'm off to the back row again now.

I have made the unusual step, for me, of making time to actually go beyond the newsletter and read what is being said about the Network. You see I feel guilty. I fully support the network in every way but I am always so busy with my practice that I just don't get time/headspace to join in. I wonder how many other professional artists feel like this? Well we won't ever find out because they won't have time to read this!
So my wee contribution is .... lets know what we are paying for, lets keep the price low so those who are not doing so well can afford it and lets realise that there are those who love but are absent.
lovingly yours,
Jac

re suggestion of different types of membership and maybe organizations paying a fee to have access to profiles etc....it could be a way forward, i just wonder whether this would compromise the freedom of the space / forum etc.....or would it be beneficial in providing opportunities and stimulating more people to be active in the network? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

It seems that the new network has made it more complex to just find out what's going on which is my main interest as not such an active artist these days. I would suggest a basic fee is useful as it acknowledges the orgaisational work currently being done.

I dont think it is a good idea. Although it could be said that most things are worth what you pay for them, I dont think that applies here. What other support do most of us as artists get from the state?
I think a monthly update is a valuable and interesting service and if push came to shove I might pay for it, but I have to say it would be reluctantly. If it was a choice between the newsletter or the olympics, I would choose the newsletter.

We had a good Hub meeting in South Lakes today and discussed membership fees and 'membership'. Consensus was that we should shelve the idea of having to make a payment for membership, even though that shows a commitment, but recognised that there are other ways of demonstrating such a commitment and the need for events for artists to take part in was core crucial. We acknowledged that despite the need for structure and organisation, the need for creative participation was greater and more meaningful and more fun and likely to encourage more particpation and thereby more membership. So we basically agreed with the idea of shelving the idea of fee paying membership, get on with activity and review fees etc at a later date when we all can see what we woulld be asking people to buy into if that is what we want to do.

Paul