There will be those who say we are obsessed by Michael Gove's pronouncements but they are irresistible. What is one to make of the following:
Michael Gove said that head teacher's should fine or dock the pay of teachers who work to rule in an up-coming strike ...
What does he not understand about the word contract?
Saturday 15 December 2012
Sunday 2 December 2012
New artwork
News from afar ... this pewter slab recently appeared in a square in Falmouth (It is the small shiny square in the middle foreground). This is a funded 'low-key intervention' by Melanie Guy with which we can interact. Each shoe impression will leave its mark as we pass - not if it has a rubber sole, according to passers-by. 
Self-serving spin?
A website called Culture Geek* recently carried an article which said:
'Concerned, as they are, with history and permanence, museums are not generally in the business of shaking things up. The idea of new blood – a youthful, invigorating force that can re-imagine an organisation – is not usually high on the Trustee agenda at established and venerable institutions. Big changes are often slow, perhaps almost generational, yet these same institutions are perpetually charged with attracting new and different types of audiences.
'In fact, one of the most consistent themes of the past decade or so of museum funding, at least in the UK, has been the push for audience development: how to reach groups that have been underrepresented amongst museum visitors.'
It went on to describe an initiative with young people in Amsterdam.
It is difficult to know how to react to much that is in this piece: it is so contentious. Of course museums are concerned with history: that is what they do. Museums are absolutely about permanence in the sense of preservation for posterity but not in the sense the article suggests: as stasis of interpretation, of unchanging displays or thinking.
'New blood is ... not usually high on Trustees' agendas'. Hardly true given the many training courses for museum staff.
'... a youthful, invigorating force that can re-imagine an organisation' ... try me. Why is 'youthful' the only solution?
'...yet these same institutions are perpetually charged with attracting new and different types of audiences ... how to reach groups that have been underrepresented amongst museum visitors'. Then we reach the nub of the issue and one that is worth talking about in a less emotional, objective and more cooperative manner.
* Culture Geek's mission espouses a lovely piece of puffery: The digital revolution is transforming the world around us, industries are shifting, companies are falling (sic: perhaps they meant 'failing') and keeping up with these changes and how they effect your organisation is a full time job. This seems to be coming from the same stable as one of our earlier postings.
'Concerned, as they are, with history and permanence, museums are not generally in the business of shaking things up. The idea of new blood – a youthful, invigorating force that can re-imagine an organisation – is not usually high on the Trustee agenda at established and venerable institutions. Big changes are often slow, perhaps almost generational, yet these same institutions are perpetually charged with attracting new and different types of audiences.
'In fact, one of the most consistent themes of the past decade or so of museum funding, at least in the UK, has been the push for audience development: how to reach groups that have been underrepresented amongst museum visitors.'
It went on to describe an initiative with young people in Amsterdam.
It is difficult to know how to react to much that is in this piece: it is so contentious. Of course museums are concerned with history: that is what they do. Museums are absolutely about permanence in the sense of preservation for posterity but not in the sense the article suggests: as stasis of interpretation, of unchanging displays or thinking.
'New blood is ... not usually high on Trustees' agendas'. Hardly true given the many training courses for museum staff.
'... a youthful, invigorating force that can re-imagine an organisation' ... try me. Why is 'youthful' the only solution?
'...yet these same institutions are perpetually charged with attracting new and different types of audiences ... how to reach groups that have been underrepresented amongst museum visitors'. Then we reach the nub of the issue and one that is worth talking about in a less emotional, objective and more cooperative manner.
* Culture Geek's mission espouses a lovely piece of puffery: The digital revolution is transforming the world around us, industries are shifting, companies are falling (sic: perhaps they meant 'failing') and keeping up with these changes and how they effect your organisation is a full time job. This seems to be coming from the same stable as one of our earlier postings.
Sunday 25 November 2012
Grayling's at it too
Chris Grayling, who daily demonstrates how out of touch he is with the way the law works, is at it too.
Prisoner rehabilitation, he proposed, will be handed over to companies or charities who would be paid by results ie non re-offending. Each prisoner will have a mentor to help them find housing and training opportunities.
It sounds an excellent idea in principle.
Let's not ask difficult questions about 'not re-offending on what timescale?' and 'What responsible body would take on a job like that when the risks of failure and thus not getting paid were so high?' Let's ask an expert.
Baroness Corston, who admittedly had something of a political axe to grind being a Labour peer, but has the very slight benefit of having carried out a major review of rehabilitation, publishing her report in 2007, has pointed out that what he is proposing is exactly the opposite of what everyone had been working towards: a single scheme coordinated at the centre. She thinks it will not work.
Why ask someone who knows what is needed before announcing something completely out of the blue?
Prisoner rehabilitation, he proposed, will be handed over to companies or charities who would be paid by results ie non re-offending. Each prisoner will have a mentor to help them find housing and training opportunities.
It sounds an excellent idea in principle.
Let's not ask difficult questions about 'not re-offending on what timescale?' and 'What responsible body would take on a job like that when the risks of failure and thus not getting paid were so high?' Let's ask an expert.
Baroness Corston, who admittedly had something of a political axe to grind being a Labour peer, but has the very slight benefit of having carried out a major review of rehabilitation, publishing her report in 2007, has pointed out that what he is proposing is exactly the opposite of what everyone had been working towards: a single scheme coordinated at the centre. She thinks it will not work.
Why ask someone who knows what is needed before announcing something completely out of the blue?
He's at it again
Michael Gove is working overtime. His latest idea is that vulnerable children could be removed from their parents and placed in care or adopted to prevent them suffering 'a life of soiled nappies, scummy baths, chaos and hunger'.
As the newspaper reported 'Tearing up two decades of child protection orthodoxy, Mr Gove said the state had far too long exposed children to appalling neglect and criminal mistreatment because of its preoccupation with the rights of biological parents'.
He apparently went on to suggest that most of us see the care system as being responsible '... for the numbers in prison, or suffering mental health problems, or without qualifications, or who are unemployed ...'
No Michael, we don't suggest that the care system is responsible for all the ills of society but the evidence is clear: children brought up by their biological parents are likely to do best in the long term. Not all biological parents expose their children to neglect and criminal mistreatment, even if they have not got a nanny to change the nappies, a cleaner to sort out the bath, a life coach to ensure harmony or a cook to provide meals: as you must have had.
Welcome to planet earth.
Late entry: we note that the Academies programme is a tiny bit overspent: only about £1bn. So, having stuffed money into them at a cost/pupil that is higher than other state schools, presumably Gove will now bleed even more money out of the other state schools and then justify the creation of the academies on the basis that the others are 'failing'.
As the newspaper reported 'Tearing up two decades of child protection orthodoxy, Mr Gove said the state had far too long exposed children to appalling neglect and criminal mistreatment because of its preoccupation with the rights of biological parents'.
He apparently went on to suggest that most of us see the care system as being responsible '... for the numbers in prison, or suffering mental health problems, or without qualifications, or who are unemployed ...'
No Michael, we don't suggest that the care system is responsible for all the ills of society but the evidence is clear: children brought up by their biological parents are likely to do best in the long term. Not all biological parents expose their children to neglect and criminal mistreatment, even if they have not got a nanny to change the nappies, a cleaner to sort out the bath, a life coach to ensure harmony or a cook to provide meals: as you must have had.
Welcome to planet earth.
Late entry: we note that the Academies programme is a tiny bit overspent: only about £1bn. So, having stuffed money into them at a cost/pupil that is higher than other state schools, presumably Gove will now bleed even more money out of the other state schools and then justify the creation of the academies on the basis that the others are 'failing'.
Friday 23 November 2012
Govian logic
The problem with being a minister is that you need to make announcements so that people think you are doing something. The 'I am today announcing that ...' strategy which will be rubbished the following day by those in the know by which time the original idea will be buried in chip paper.
A recent letter to the papers highlighted this.
In July, on the eve of the Olympics ('OMG we have four weeks coming up when we cannot announce anything controversial, people will think I am not doing anything'; or was it 'a good time to bury a difficult announcement'?) Michael Gove announced that academies and free schools could employ unqualified teachers if they were felt to be competent enough (discuss).
In October, he announced a more rigorous pre-entry assessment of potential teachers to make sure that the entry process was sufficiently challenging that anyone who gains a place would be likely to go on to become an excellent teacher. Evidence from around the world, he said, made it clear that this was the key to raising the standard and status of teaching.
But the government already had a carefully-considered policy on recruitment, drawn up after consultation with teachers and other professionals, and Gove's suggestions ran counter to that.
And then we had David Laws blaming staff and carers for the 'depressingly low expectations' of many young people. Apparently things were so bad that they did not think they were up to being an investment banker. No evidence was offered of course. Another London dinner party?
Perhaps it was not that they did not think they were up to it. Perhaps it was that they simply did not want to be an investment banker. After all, banking and being a politician, unlike teaching, are probably the most reviled professions in the country.
A recent letter to the papers highlighted this.
In July, on the eve of the Olympics ('OMG we have four weeks coming up when we cannot announce anything controversial, people will think I am not doing anything'; or was it 'a good time to bury a difficult announcement'?) Michael Gove announced that academies and free schools could employ unqualified teachers if they were felt to be competent enough (discuss).
In October, he announced a more rigorous pre-entry assessment of potential teachers to make sure that the entry process was sufficiently challenging that anyone who gains a place would be likely to go on to become an excellent teacher. Evidence from around the world, he said, made it clear that this was the key to raising the standard and status of teaching.
But the government already had a carefully-considered policy on recruitment, drawn up after consultation with teachers and other professionals, and Gove's suggestions ran counter to that.
And then we had David Laws blaming staff and carers for the 'depressingly low expectations' of many young people. Apparently things were so bad that they did not think they were up to being an investment banker. No evidence was offered of course. Another London dinner party?
Perhaps it was not that they did not think they were up to it. Perhaps it was that they simply did not want to be an investment banker. After all, banking and being a politician, unlike teaching, are probably the most reviled professions in the country.
Thursday 1 November 2012
Book prices
There was a time when diesel was cheaper than petrol. Manufacturers worked to improve the performance of diesel engines, people switched to cars which did a better mileage per gallon and hey presto: diesel is more expensive than petrol.
The recent news that Amazon sold more e-books in a month than 'paper' books has led to the obvious result. Here is a snip from Amazon of a pre-publication offer: the Kindle edition is more expensive than the paperback one.
Our government has given preferential road tax rates to cars which emit fewer pollutants and is now worried that it is not making enough money from road tax revenue. Let's see how it reacts.
The recent news that Amazon sold more e-books in a month than 'paper' books has led to the obvious result. Here is a snip from Amazon of a pre-publication offer: the Kindle edition is more expensive than the paperback one.
Our government has given preferential road tax rates to cars which emit fewer pollutants and is now worried that it is not making enough money from road tax revenue. Let's see how it reacts.
Monday 29 October 2012
So that's clear then
We are becoming very familiar with intermediary organisations - or 'bridge' organisations are they are now known. These are the sorts of bodies which get between you and a main funder and syphon off money which could go to the frontline in the interests of 'coordinating' and 'bringing together'. In reality, they are stepping into the gaps left by the bonfire of the quangos who have had to reduce staff and reach, and in so doing have retired into their ivory towers. See our earlier post
We were offered the following summary paragraphs about one bridge organisation today:
Greater fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em ...
We were offered the following summary paragraphs about one bridge organisation today:
- In places of least engagement, it will strengthen networks and working relationships to develop innovative solutions to the variety of challenges that these areas face
- It will be looking to support and build strong connections and relationships across the region to ensure they provide the best possible offer to ... in our region
Greater fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em ...
The Regions
We enjoyed the Independent's '50 Best Museums and galleries' which identified the following regions of the the UK:
Wales: no argument here. It is the standard by which everywhere else is measured even though no one actually knows the size of Wales, even if you live there: there is North Wales and South Wales and lots of lambs in between. Still, it is good to know that Ruritania is half the size of Wales.
South-west and London: this is the well-known region which runs from Lands End to Ilford. Out of the twelve museums and galleries selected in thie region, nine are in London and three in the south-west: one in Bath, one in Bristol and one in Exeter. Good call, that's one within three hours' drive.
South-east and Midlands: anyone going near London will have to shut their eyes for a bit.
North: no argument here either. You start to notice it in North London where the signs used to say Hatfield and the North and Aylesbury and the North West. I have never quite worked out why these two particular towns were singled out: they seem an odd choice. You know you have arrived in the North, not when you pass Watford but when you reach the M18 Doncaster bypass where a sign used to say simply The North. When you see angels you are beginning to run out of North ... and are heading for ...
Scotland and Northern Ireland: a real gem of political correctness. Had we been back 2000 years with the Picti and Scoti then this might have been credible but I wonder if they have noticed that the plantation of Northern Ireland by Lowland Scots five hundred years ago did not go down terribly well and has been a source of tension ever since?
Wars have been fought for less. Perhaps it is not only Apple who needs a geography lesson.
Wales: no argument here. It is the standard by which everywhere else is measured even though no one actually knows the size of Wales, even if you live there: there is North Wales and South Wales and lots of lambs in between. Still, it is good to know that Ruritania is half the size of Wales.
South-west and London: this is the well-known region which runs from Lands End to Ilford. Out of the twelve museums and galleries selected in thie region, nine are in London and three in the south-west: one in Bath, one in Bristol and one in Exeter. Good call, that's one within three hours' drive.
South-east and Midlands: anyone going near London will have to shut their eyes for a bit.
North: no argument here either. You start to notice it in North London where the signs used to say Hatfield and the North and Aylesbury and the North West. I have never quite worked out why these two particular towns were singled out: they seem an odd choice. You know you have arrived in the North, not when you pass Watford but when you reach the M18 Doncaster bypass where a sign used to say simply The North. When you see angels you are beginning to run out of North ... and are heading for ...
Scotland and Northern Ireland: a real gem of political correctness. Had we been back 2000 years with the Picti and Scoti then this might have been credible but I wonder if they have noticed that the plantation of Northern Ireland by Lowland Scots five hundred years ago did not go down terribly well and has been a source of tension ever since?
Wars have been fought for less. Perhaps it is not only Apple who needs a geography lesson.
Tuesday 9 October 2012
Why we love curators
It looks as though we have had a month off ... let's call it a holiday or a break when it has actually been because September has done its usual trick of disappearing in a flash. However, we are back and here are two reasons why we love curators: museum ones, that is.
It is difficult to know where curators come in the hierarchy of reincarnation. Are they auditors or accountants who have lived blameless lives or somewhere below risk assessors? While individually charming and knowledgeable, they can occasionally show a devotion to paperwork and process which makes the USA Immigration Service look relaxed and imaginative.
Consider the example of a local museum building which used to be a bank. Like most such buildings, it has a strongroom with a wonderful thick door, dials and handles. Does the museum store its priceless Ming vase in the vault? its original Leonardo? its unique 14th century hand-crafted book? No. After much trouble de-activating the alarms, skipping past the infra-red beams and cracking the combination, the ambitious and inventive burglar will find ... the curator's paperwork. Nuff said?
Paperwork is evidence of title and so they can perhaps be forgiven but, more worryingly for scholarship, they can be equally jealous of knowledge and interpretation.
We had identified a large collection of historic images in a large remote museum and offered to help digitise and catalogue them. There were real reasons for wanting do the work soon: the material was fairly unstable and would therefore be at risk of decay, and the pictures were of things local to us and of a period for which there were local people who might be able to help identify the scenes.
Back came the answer: they were not a priority for funding - well all the more reason to allow us to help - and there was not sufficient curator time to analyse the images.
We did not actually want a curator; we were offering to do the work ourselves, with volunteers. How a curator, sitting in a remote office, could possibly identify the images was not explained. People on the ground might have done so, from memory or from other publications but that would not be of an acceptable standard. Could we have a look at the images and come up with some suggestions for the curator? No, not acceptable. We even offered to assemble a partnership bid to a funding body to do the digitisation work.
So the images will no doubt sit there, to give the museum their due, probably stable in the expensive cared-for environment, while the people who might have been able to say what the images showed quietly leave this earth.
What will the curator of the future say when faced with the images: 'if only ...' perhaps?
It is difficult to know where curators come in the hierarchy of reincarnation. Are they auditors or accountants who have lived blameless lives or somewhere below risk assessors? While individually charming and knowledgeable, they can occasionally show a devotion to paperwork and process which makes the USA Immigration Service look relaxed and imaginative.
Consider the example of a local museum building which used to be a bank. Like most such buildings, it has a strongroom with a wonderful thick door, dials and handles. Does the museum store its priceless Ming vase in the vault? its original Leonardo? its unique 14th century hand-crafted book? No. After much trouble de-activating the alarms, skipping past the infra-red beams and cracking the combination, the ambitious and inventive burglar will find ... the curator's paperwork. Nuff said?
Paperwork is evidence of title and so they can perhaps be forgiven but, more worryingly for scholarship, they can be equally jealous of knowledge and interpretation.
We had identified a large collection of historic images in a large remote museum and offered to help digitise and catalogue them. There were real reasons for wanting do the work soon: the material was fairly unstable and would therefore be at risk of decay, and the pictures were of things local to us and of a period for which there were local people who might be able to help identify the scenes.
Back came the answer: they were not a priority for funding - well all the more reason to allow us to help - and there was not sufficient curator time to analyse the images.
We did not actually want a curator; we were offering to do the work ourselves, with volunteers. How a curator, sitting in a remote office, could possibly identify the images was not explained. People on the ground might have done so, from memory or from other publications but that would not be of an acceptable standard. Could we have a look at the images and come up with some suggestions for the curator? No, not acceptable. We even offered to assemble a partnership bid to a funding body to do the digitisation work.
So the images will no doubt sit there, to give the museum their due, probably stable in the expensive cared-for environment, while the people who might have been able to say what the images showed quietly leave this earth.
What will the curator of the future say when faced with the images: 'if only ...' perhaps?
Friday 31 August 2012
Um ...
Three new entries for our Vicar of Bray category ...
The BBC reports that 'South Africa's justice minister has demanded an explanation after 270 miners were charged with the murder of their colleagues who were shot by police.
'State prosecutors charged the miners under the apartheid-era "common purpose" doctrine.'
As you are not dead, like your friends, we will put in you in prison anyway. And ...
The news that Transport Secretary Justine Greening might have to be reshuffled out of her job for opposing a ban on a third runway at Heathrow as (strategist) George Osborne thinks it is time for a(nother) government U-turn. The fact that opposition to a third runway was in both parties' manifestos, in the coalition agreement and is current government policy is presumably no bar to a U-turn.
That was, of course, then and this, of course, is now. But you deserve a bonus item: the announcement about the English GCSE results. How come the all-important C/D grade boundary appeared to have moved between January and June?
It was Gove meddling said teachers ... A pause while OfQual looked at the results, no doubt scrabbling around for some way to absolve the Minister. Ah yes, let's retrofit. The Chief Executive then stood up to announce that it was not the June exams that were wrong but the January exams which were 'generous'. Problem solved: no re-marking necessary and the January students feeling relieved.
Hollow laughter from teachers; Sir Humphrey proud of his own.
The BBC reports that 'South Africa's justice minister has demanded an explanation after 270 miners were charged with the murder of their colleagues who were shot by police.
'State prosecutors charged the miners under the apartheid-era "common purpose" doctrine.'
As you are not dead, like your friends, we will put in you in prison anyway. And ...
The news that Transport Secretary Justine Greening might have to be reshuffled out of her job for opposing a ban on a third runway at Heathrow as (strategist) George Osborne thinks it is time for a(nother) government U-turn. The fact that opposition to a third runway was in both parties' manifestos, in the coalition agreement and is current government policy is presumably no bar to a U-turn.
That was, of course, then and this, of course, is now. But you deserve a bonus item: the announcement about the English GCSE results. How come the all-important C/D grade boundary appeared to have moved between January and June?
It was Gove meddling said teachers ... A pause while OfQual looked at the results, no doubt scrabbling around for some way to absolve the Minister. Ah yes, let's retrofit. The Chief Executive then stood up to announce that it was not the June exams that were wrong but the January exams which were 'generous'. Problem solved: no re-marking necessary and the January students feeling relieved.
Hollow laughter from teachers; Sir Humphrey proud of his own.
Thursday 30 August 2012
Can you turn the sheet of paper round?
It has been a week of forms and requests for information on forms. One particular delight came from a well-known organisation in response to a request for grant.
Please will we supply data on our visitors in the following age groups: 17-18, 19-25, 26-59 and 60+
Now why did we not think of collecting our data in such a logical format? For some silly reason, our surveys collect it in groups of 14 and under, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+. It won't take us long to change it for next year but let's hope no one asks for it in any other, less useful, groupings.
Gender: they seemed to know that there should only be a choice of two but this is not something we ask in surveys and stupidly don't record at the point of sale as visitors are not terribly keen on telling us the gender of every member of the family. The same is true for the ethnicity and disability questions they expect us to answer: we have estimates but do not ask everyone. And actually we do not distinguish how many of the Irish are Irish or Irish (travellers).
And then there are the socio-economic groups. They use the government's NS-SEC groupings: Higher managerial and profession, Intermediate, Lower supervisory and technical, Routine, Lower managerial, Small employers and own account workers, Semi-routine occupations and Long-term unemployed/never worked.
I know that we are a bit out of date but the standard grouping used for marketing is the familiar NRS grouping: A: Higher managerial, B Intermediate managerial, C1 Supervisory, clerical and junior managerial, C2 Skilled manual workers, D Other manual workers, E Pensioners and the unemployed - or more complicated ones like ACORN or Sagacity groups. So we need one to fill in their forms and another one for our marketing. Thanks Guys.
Oh, and can we have that data on a landscape sheet instead of portrait? Sorry, no we cannot as you have asked for the data to be submitted on an online form which we cannot print out and cannot be turned around.
Oh the joys of good, reliable, accurate data for decision-making.
Please will we supply data on our visitors in the following age groups: 17-18, 19-25, 26-59 and 60+
Now why did we not think of collecting our data in such a logical format? For some silly reason, our surveys collect it in groups of 14 and under, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+. It won't take us long to change it for next year but let's hope no one asks for it in any other, less useful, groupings.
Gender: they seemed to know that there should only be a choice of two but this is not something we ask in surveys and stupidly don't record at the point of sale as visitors are not terribly keen on telling us the gender of every member of the family. The same is true for the ethnicity and disability questions they expect us to answer: we have estimates but do not ask everyone. And actually we do not distinguish how many of the Irish are Irish or Irish (travellers).
And then there are the socio-economic groups. They use the government's NS-SEC groupings: Higher managerial and profession, Intermediate, Lower supervisory and technical, Routine, Lower managerial, Small employers and own account workers, Semi-routine occupations and Long-term unemployed/never worked.
I know that we are a bit out of date but the standard grouping used for marketing is the familiar NRS grouping: A: Higher managerial, B Intermediate managerial, C1 Supervisory, clerical and junior managerial, C2 Skilled manual workers, D Other manual workers, E Pensioners and the unemployed - or more complicated ones like ACORN or Sagacity groups. So we need one to fill in their forms and another one for our marketing. Thanks Guys.
Oh, and can we have that data on a landscape sheet instead of portrait? Sorry, no we cannot as you have asked for the data to be submitted on an online form which we cannot print out and cannot be turned around.
Oh the joys of good, reliable, accurate data for decision-making.
Tuesday 21 August 2012
Let's have some courage and conviction
OK, so you say we have not been very positive lately. Here is a really uplifting thought from Nick Poole, the chief executive of the Collections Trust.
Writing on his website, he commented on the connection with the past made in the Olympics opening ceremony. It showed that Britain truly understood the links between a proud heritage and the fabric of daily life, he said. 'Our culture is playful, inclusive and grandiose precisely because we celebrate our past as the story of our present. That is the unique thing that museums do, in every community, in every village, town and city for people of every age.'
He goes on to argue that politicians and funders still required evidence about value and impact, but also needed courage and conviction. 'Without intrinsic belief in the value of a strong museum sector, no amount of measurement will ever make up for a nagging lack of conviction.' It was time to celebrate everything that was great about Britain’s museums and galleries. 'From our venues, which inspire, educate and amaze millions of people very year, to our collections and the rich, creative online resources we provide, our dazzling cultural offer is the envy of nations worldwide.'
Well said Nick: less of the tedious measurement statistics and bit more courage and conviction.
Writing on his website, he commented on the connection with the past made in the Olympics opening ceremony. It showed that Britain truly understood the links between a proud heritage and the fabric of daily life, he said. 'Our culture is playful, inclusive and grandiose precisely because we celebrate our past as the story of our present. That is the unique thing that museums do, in every community, in every village, town and city for people of every age.'
He goes on to argue that politicians and funders still required evidence about value and impact, but also needed courage and conviction. 'Without intrinsic belief in the value of a strong museum sector, no amount of measurement will ever make up for a nagging lack of conviction.' It was time to celebrate everything that was great about Britain’s museums and galleries. 'From our venues, which inspire, educate and amaze millions of people very year, to our collections and the rich, creative online resources we provide, our dazzling cultural offer is the envy of nations worldwide.'
Well said Nick: less of the tedious measurement statistics and bit more courage and conviction.
Takeover Day
Kids in Museums is encouraging museums to register their interest for this year’s Takeover Day on 23 November, when museums and galleries invite young people to take on meaningful roles in the running of their institutions.
Oh joy! I am so glad you have included the word meaningful this year. Let me think ... you can be in charge of health and safety for the day; and for signing contracts; and how about doing some staff appraisals; or answering some customer complaints? And could you let me have a draft of the corporate plan before the end of the day?
What do you mean those are not the sort of meaningful roles you meant?
Oh joy! I am so glad you have included the word meaningful this year. Let me think ... you can be in charge of health and safety for the day; and for signing contracts; and how about doing some staff appraisals; or answering some customer complaints? And could you let me have a draft of the corporate plan before the end of the day?
What do you mean those are not the sort of meaningful roles you meant?
Oh I do love to waste time
We all know that bidding for money has a fairly random success rate; although not as bad as bidding for a contract where succeeding in one in three would be par for the course. The Directory of Social Change recently estimated that 'ineligible applications made to the largest trusts in 2010 equated to seven years of wasted effort'. It is so good to know that we have this money to burn.
Oh and praise for the Joseph Rowntree Trust who insist that bids must not cover more than four sides of paper.
Oh and praise for the Joseph Rowntree Trust who insist that bids must not cover more than four sides of paper.
Support success or reward failure?
Arts Council England (ACE) has announced a new museums and schools programme designed to increase the number of educational visits by schools to museums (yippee!). The £3.6m programme, funded by the Department for Education, is not apparently open to applications. Instead 10 regional museums will be commissioned to work with clusters of local schools. The funding will go to areas identified as having low levels of cultural engagement.
Another conundrum: if there is a low level of cultural engagement then museums are usually accused of having failed in their task. If this is the case, then why is the new money going to museums in these areas? Do we not usually reinforce success?
Is it facile to ask exactly what the process for choosing the areas will be?
Another conundrum: if there is a low level of cultural engagement then museums are usually accused of having failed in their task. If this is the case, then why is the new money going to museums in these areas? Do we not usually reinforce success?
Is it facile to ask exactly what the process for choosing the areas will be?
Signs of tourism development ...
Under a heading 'Boost to Olympics Tourism Legacy', Jeremy Hunt has announced that he is planning a £2 million pilot scheme to create new county boundary signs to showcase the region’s best features. It will be piloted in Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Norfolk and North Yorkshire.
So that's around £300,000 per county ... we don't know whether to be amazed at the cost or dumb-struck by the genius of such a novel idea which is bound to see tourists flooding in: or more likely knowing they are there when they arrive. It is good to know we have a minister who really knows how to churn out the big ideas. Coem to think of it, Cornwall already has a sign saying It's all right, you have left Devon or something similar.
And talking of signs, he also wants to see improvements to the traditional tourist brown signs, ensuring that the process for allocating them is more consistent and transparent, focuses on genuine tourist attractions rather than on local services, and supports the growth agenda.' A review of existing guidelines is said to be underway.
How many times is it that we have reviewed brown signs? I remember one when Portillo was a cub minister. OK, so I have been around too long.
So that's around £300,000 per county ... we don't know whether to be amazed at the cost or dumb-struck by the genius of such a novel idea which is bound to see tourists flooding in: or more likely knowing they are there when they arrive. It is good to know we have a minister who really knows how to churn out the big ideas. Coem to think of it, Cornwall already has a sign saying It's all right, you have left Devon or something similar.
And talking of signs, he also wants to see improvements to the traditional tourist brown signs, ensuring that the process for allocating them is more consistent and transparent, focuses on genuine tourist attractions rather than on local services, and supports the growth agenda.' A review of existing guidelines is said to be underway.
How many times is it that we have reviewed brown signs? I remember one when Portillo was a cub minister. OK, so I have been around too long.
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Saying it as you mean it
A wonderful sentence from Lucy Mangan in the Guardian magazine this week. She points out that A Level results are due to be published this week and bemoans the usual ill-informed fuss about Oxbridge candidates 'all being from independent schools' that will be bound to emerge, conveniently filling newspaper pages during the silly season after the Olympics. She says:
The fact that '... inequalities of opportunity [in education] are further encouraged by ... policy after policy stinks. And the reek will be even worse this year than ever, as free schools and assorted other ideas farted from the ever-noxious bumhole that is Michael Gove pollute the atmosphere and fog the once-shining egalitarian comprehensive system so thoroughly that it is hard to perceive even its outline any more.'
There is something wonderfully 16th or 17th century about the directness of such language. One wonders whether the PM might notice and move the orifice to some darker corner of government come September.
The fact that '... inequalities of opportunity [in education] are further encouraged by ... policy after policy stinks. And the reek will be even worse this year than ever, as free schools and assorted other ideas farted from the ever-noxious bumhole that is Michael Gove pollute the atmosphere and fog the once-shining egalitarian comprehensive system so thoroughly that it is hard to perceive even its outline any more.'
There is something wonderfully 16th or 17th century about the directness of such language. One wonders whether the PM might notice and move the orifice to some darker corner of government come September.
Wednesday 1 August 2012
Joined-up administration
Two recent examples of real joined-up thinking amused us this week.
The first was the announcement by Treasury Minister David Gauke that it is 'morally wrong' to pay tradesmen such as plumbers, builders and cleaners in cash in the hope of avoiding tax. We assume that this means that we can pay them cash as long as we, and they, are not hoping to avoid tax. It is clearly the intent that matters.
But hang on, does this not come at the same time as the banks are talking of 'phasing out' cheques? If they succeed then the only way we can pay our window cleaner or occasional lawn-mower will be to ask for their bank account details and make suitable transfers. (Oh yes, we must make it easier/cheaper for the banks to do their work, poor loves.) I think it will be easier to carry on paying them cash and adjust our intent not to avoid tax.
The second were requests for identification under the money laundering regulations and for a CRB check. Both asked for a tickertape of pieces of paper proving we were who we are but the paperchain breaks down under any sort of detailed analysis and results in sheer irritation for the 'normal' citizen'. Much of it would be relatively easy to circumvent for the evil-hearted. (Can someone explain why one has to provide the counterpart element of the Driving Licence as well as the photocard? The proof of identity elements - name, date of birth etc - are all carried on the face of the photo card. No, don't tell us, we prefer to live in blissful, confused, ignorance).
The most problematic was the 'utility bill'. Firstly, the utility bills are all in one name; my wife has no bill in her name. Secondly, we are being encouraged to manage bills online to save the planet and so I have no utility bills. Um ... I found a Council Tax bill in the end but it was more than six months old. We await Sir Humphrey's response.
The first was the announcement by Treasury Minister David Gauke that it is 'morally wrong' to pay tradesmen such as plumbers, builders and cleaners in cash in the hope of avoiding tax. We assume that this means that we can pay them cash as long as we, and they, are not hoping to avoid tax. It is clearly the intent that matters.
But hang on, does this not come at the same time as the banks are talking of 'phasing out' cheques? If they succeed then the only way we can pay our window cleaner or occasional lawn-mower will be to ask for their bank account details and make suitable transfers. (Oh yes, we must make it easier/cheaper for the banks to do their work, poor loves.) I think it will be easier to carry on paying them cash and adjust our intent not to avoid tax.
The second were requests for identification under the money laundering regulations and for a CRB check. Both asked for a tickertape of pieces of paper proving we were who we are but the paperchain breaks down under any sort of detailed analysis and results in sheer irritation for the 'normal' citizen'. Much of it would be relatively easy to circumvent for the evil-hearted. (Can someone explain why one has to provide the counterpart element of the Driving Licence as well as the photocard? The proof of identity elements - name, date of birth etc - are all carried on the face of the photo card. No, don't tell us, we prefer to live in blissful, confused, ignorance).
Friday 27 July 2012
Newspeak
A funding agency asked us to produce a more robust project plan for a consultancy.
We were not sure how this adjective could be applied to a project plan but it turned out to mean more detailed. We are still trying to work out how we can produce a detailed project plan when the project is going to be carried out by a consultant and they are meant to be 'exploring all options'.
Telling them what we would be doing on 5 September, and who would be accountable for doing it, apparently makes a project plan more robust. We think it just makes it more of a fiction.
We were not sure how this adjective could be applied to a project plan but it turned out to mean more detailed. We are still trying to work out how we can produce a detailed project plan when the project is going to be carried out by a consultant and they are meant to be 'exploring all options'.
Telling them what we would be doing on 5 September, and who would be accountable for doing it, apparently makes a project plan more robust. We think it just makes it more of a fiction.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Science Lottery funding anyone?
The report in the paper that great minds believe that Maths should be a compulsory subject up to the age of 16 prompts another thought.
Lottery money is distributed for Heritage, Arts, Awards for All and Big Lottery projects. Why do we not have a Science and Technology Lottery Fund? Nesta is the nearest we have to it but that is not targeted at the mass market.
Why not a Science and Technology Lottery Fund giving money for the advancement of these subjects? Then those of us that deal with design technology could help support this initiative. And we mean real design in the sense of making real thought-through innovations and not just things that look pretty.
Projects would have to have real technical or scientific application and/or involve learning. It would help to fund the many science centres which struggle for funding and it would meet the ambitions of the great minds to keep a knowledge and understanding of maths, physics, chemistry, biology ... alive above basic levels.
The recent launch of the boat in the Boat Project was all about the look of its hull. No one mentioned the technology behind the creation of the boat, its hydro-dynamic shape, its materials or its performance specification (no one mentioned what is going to happen to it now that it has been built at vast expense either, but that is another story).
We cannot think that Germany's economic miracle was founded on the back of a contemporary art programme.
Lottery money is distributed for Heritage, Arts, Awards for All and Big Lottery projects. Why do we not have a Science and Technology Lottery Fund? Nesta is the nearest we have to it but that is not targeted at the mass market.
Why not a Science and Technology Lottery Fund giving money for the advancement of these subjects? Then those of us that deal with design technology could help support this initiative. And we mean real design in the sense of making real thought-through innovations and not just things that look pretty.
Projects would have to have real technical or scientific application and/or involve learning. It would help to fund the many science centres which struggle for funding and it would meet the ambitions of the great minds to keep a knowledge and understanding of maths, physics, chemistry, biology ... alive above basic levels.
The recent launch of the boat in the Boat Project was all about the look of its hull. No one mentioned the technology behind the creation of the boat, its hydro-dynamic shape, its materials or its performance specification (no one mentioned what is going to happen to it now that it has been built at vast expense either, but that is another story).
We cannot think that Germany's economic miracle was founded on the back of a contemporary art programme.
Tuesday 24 July 2012
Carbon footprinting
HLF has become the first major funder to require carbon footprinting in all large projects funding applications. HLF will work ... to provide applicants with a carbon footprinting tool, already piloted at the British Museum. ... [applicants] will be required to calculate the carbon footprint of the utilities consumption and visitor travel associated with their projects and encouraged to pursue reductions.
We wonder how the British Museum has been encouraging their visitors - the vast majority of whom come from overseas and will have flown to the UK - to reduce the carbon footprint of their travel. Perhaps with well-meaning messages such as: please walk or use a bicycle (!?) or use public transport such as buses and the underground.
Museums and attractions who do not have ample public transport going past their doors will presumably be asked to close their car parks as part of their encouragement measures. Or perhaps they expect us to offer reduced price admission to those that travel by bus, thus reducing our income and making us pay for their policies. Thanks a bundle, folks.
What this well-meaning policy reminds us is that an attraction has absolutely no control over how the visitor travels: they just turn up on one's doorstep and jolly grateful we are that they do. There are enough barriers to visiting without preaching to them about climate change and making it hard for them to get here without upsetting an eco-warrior.
And how does this fit with the argument that part of the reason for the British Museum receiving government funding is that they attract a large number of overseas visitors.
Oh polly-political correctness,
Half dead and half alive.
... as the poet did not say.
We wonder how the British Museum has been encouraging their visitors - the vast majority of whom come from overseas and will have flown to the UK - to reduce the carbon footprint of their travel. Perhaps with well-meaning messages such as: please walk or use a bicycle (!?) or use public transport such as buses and the underground.
Museums and attractions who do not have ample public transport going past their doors will presumably be asked to close their car parks as part of their encouragement measures. Or perhaps they expect us to offer reduced price admission to those that travel by bus, thus reducing our income and making us pay for their policies. Thanks a bundle, folks.
What this well-meaning policy reminds us is that an attraction has absolutely no control over how the visitor travels: they just turn up on one's doorstep and jolly grateful we are that they do. There are enough barriers to visiting without preaching to them about climate change and making it hard for them to get here without upsetting an eco-warrior.
And how does this fit with the argument that part of the reason for the British Museum receiving government funding is that they attract a large number of overseas visitors.
Oh polly-political correctness,
Half dead and half alive.
... as the poet did not say.
Tuesday 10 July 2012
Another (little) word
We do not want to seem derogatory about enthusiasm which is a quality we admire greatly but just occasionally it does not stand up to the harsh glare of reality.
The latest example to catch our eye is the group Action for Children's Arts. who appear to consist of a group of enthusiasts. In a recent conference, they argued that as children up to the age of 12 made up 15% of the country's population, so 15% should be adopted as a benchmark for their fair share of public funding of the arts.
It is hard to disagree with the proposal that children should be recognised in cultural programming. But let's unpack the proposal in a bit more detail. Is childhood not a time when the balance between learning and doing should be tipped in favour of the former? Producing or showing works which appeal to, and/or are comprehensible to children, is one thing but the small print suggests that '15% of the total budget on performance or exhibition of original work by children'.
Ouch! This goes further than the original proposition. Yet again, one tiny word suggests a different agenda: one of setting a stage for children to show off their skills and receive notice and praise, rather than offering something for them to experience or admire.
No doubt arts providers will now have to fill in yet another form quantifying the level of provision for and by children, taking valuable time away from 'doing' things for all audiences. And help me out, how do we quantify what is 'for children' when one produces something for a general or family market? Is Harry Potter a children's book or a family story?
We look forward to the National Gallery and British Museum devoting 15% of their budgets to works by children. That will set a good example for us all to follow.
And at least they did not talk about 'kids'.
The latest example to catch our eye is the group Action for Children's Arts. who appear to consist of a group of enthusiasts. In a recent conference, they argued that as children up to the age of 12 made up 15% of the country's population, so 15% should be adopted as a benchmark for their fair share of public funding of the arts.
It is hard to disagree with the proposal that children should be recognised in cultural programming. But let's unpack the proposal in a bit more detail. Is childhood not a time when the balance between learning and doing should be tipped in favour of the former? Producing or showing works which appeal to, and/or are comprehensible to children, is one thing but the small print suggests that '15% of the total budget on performance or exhibition of original work by children'.
Ouch! This goes further than the original proposition. Yet again, one tiny word suggests a different agenda: one of setting a stage for children to show off their skills and receive notice and praise, rather than offering something for them to experience or admire.
No doubt arts providers will now have to fill in yet another form quantifying the level of provision for and by children, taking valuable time away from 'doing' things for all audiences. And help me out, how do we quantify what is 'for children' when one produces something for a general or family market? Is Harry Potter a children's book or a family story?
We look forward to the National Gallery and British Museum devoting 15% of their budgets to works by children. That will set a good example for us all to follow.
And at least they did not talk about 'kids'.
The Arts Council at it again
£6m additional Lottery funding for libraries, says the Arts Council. This fund will support projects that stimulate ambitious and innovative partnerships between libraries and artists and/or arts organisations, encouraging communities to participate in cultural activities.
At a time when libraries all over the country are closing because their core grants are being reduced, the Arts Council is pushing a growth agenda of ambitious and innovative projects (sorry, partnerships - a much more buzzy phrase) designed to encourage communities (not people?) to participate in cultural activities.
Funny, we thought that libraries had something to do with cultural activities already: reading books. They have been involving artists - a.k.a. authors - for years. Can they not, one day, get their priorities right: survival first.
At a time when libraries all over the country are closing because their core grants are being reduced, the Arts Council is pushing a growth agenda of ambitious and innovative projects (sorry, partnerships - a much more buzzy phrase) designed to encourage communities (not people?) to participate in cultural activities.
Funny, we thought that libraries had something to do with cultural activities already: reading books. They have been involving artists - a.k.a. authors - for years. Can they not, one day, get their priorities right: survival first.
Monday 9 July 2012
Satisfactory?
We were amused to read a ten year old's school report from 1932. 'He has had a very satisfactory year' said his headmaster. Position in class: first in all but one subject.
We wonder how this definition of 'satisfactory' fits with Ofsted's which re-defines it as 'needs improvement'?
So much for Gove's attempt to 'go back to traditional teaching'. 1932 seems quite traditional (a.k.a. 'old fashioned').
We wonder how this definition of 'satisfactory' fits with Ofsted's which re-defines it as 'needs improvement'?
So much for Gove's attempt to 'go back to traditional teaching'. 1932 seems quite traditional (a.k.a. 'old fashioned').
Tuesday 3 July 2012
More museums to close ...
Cuts force more museums to close - a headline on the BBC website said today. Galleries and museums across the UK are shutting down or reducing their opening
hours because of ongoing budget cuts, according to a new survey.
Will someone now understand that insisting that museums meet spurious targets is not a sensible move and that ensuring their survival is. Sorry to be gloomy but whatever the figures in this report, things are worse than it says.
Most museums are constrained by their present cost base and unable to make cuts: closing a gallery saves no money. Cutting staff is not the answer; it simply damages the long term prospects and leads to shorter opening hours. Shorter opening hours and lower service levels lead to a drop in income. A drop in income leads to ...
Most museums are hanging in there, desperately trying to hold the line with their present activities, prepared to go under with their pride intact rather than being salami-sliced to oblivion.
The foolhardy will be off chasing chimeras: responding to the wishes of the single-issue enthusiasts and grant-aiding bodies. Can you see any more specially disadvantaged, hard to reach people on low incomes out there who desperately need our 'services' ...
Oh, and by the way, we are not 'running a service'. We are running a charity in a business-like way. and charge for admission. We provide services to our customers by providing them with what they want which is what we thought a charity was about; not to our paymasters for what they want which is not.
Will someone now understand that insisting that museums meet spurious targets is not a sensible move and that ensuring their survival is. Sorry to be gloomy but whatever the figures in this report, things are worse than it says.
Most museums are constrained by their present cost base and unable to make cuts: closing a gallery saves no money. Cutting staff is not the answer; it simply damages the long term prospects and leads to shorter opening hours. Shorter opening hours and lower service levels lead to a drop in income. A drop in income leads to ...
Most museums are hanging in there, desperately trying to hold the line with their present activities, prepared to go under with their pride intact rather than being salami-sliced to oblivion.
The foolhardy will be off chasing chimeras: responding to the wishes of the single-issue enthusiasts and grant-aiding bodies. Can you see any more specially disadvantaged, hard to reach people on low incomes out there who desperately need our 'services' ...
Oh, and by the way, we are not 'running a service'. We are running a charity in a business-like way. and charge for admission. We provide services to our customers by providing them with what they want which is what we thought a charity was about; not to our paymasters for what they want which is not.
Monday 2 July 2012
'Delivering' expectations
I am feeling proud of myself this morning because we have delivered on several targets in one go.
A previous posting highlighted a grant scheme's requirement that we needed to help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about heritage. Another scheme, said that we should celebrate the work of young people.
Last weekend we had a sleepover with a local school. I asked the girls to write or draw something about their favourite objects. Today we will be displaying their comments alongside their favourite objects.
So we can tick the boxes for having:
We do need a grant for our existence but I would not expect bureaucrats to know how to judge an organisation in the round. They are far too prone to takeover by single-issue enthusiasts pressing narrow agendas.
A previous posting highlighted a grant scheme's requirement that we needed to help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about heritage. Another scheme, said that we should celebrate the work of young people.
Last weekend we had a sleepover with a local school. I asked the girls to write or draw something about their favourite objects. Today we will be displaying their comments alongside their favourite objects.
So we can tick the boxes for having:
- Encouraged a wider group of people to take an active part ... in the heritage (I think: what did they really mean by this phrase?)
- Encouraged a wider group of people to make decisions about the heritage
- Encouraged young people to do some creative writing or art
- Celebrated the work of young people
- ... and probably several others that I cannot remember, or be bothered to look up
We do need a grant for our existence but I would not expect bureaucrats to know how to judge an organisation in the round. They are far too prone to takeover by single-issue enthusiasts pressing narrow agendas.
Thursday 28 June 2012
Unto those that hath 2
A press cutting:
'When the [Arts] Council announced the results of its first round [of arts funding] in March – just over £114m to 26 projects – Max Stafford-Clark was moved to describe the Council (in The Guardian) as "absolute vermin", focusing on the dominance of London's "big-hitters" as the largest recipients of this pot of the council's largesse. [ACE] chief executive Alan Davey responded with a defence of the council's geographical reach.
'To recap, the Council's capital programme for the current four years amounts to £214.6m – just over half of this was allocated in March with a further £50m available in 2012-13 and £50m in 2013-14.
'At one level, the March announcement highlights a rich array of projects, but at another it provides a worryingly narrow picture, both of future artistic excellence in England and of the spatial contribution arts and culture investment might make to economic growth and development.
'Of the £114m provisionally allocated, 47% goes to eight London projects, and the next two highest regional allocations are to the south-east (14%) and south-west (13%). These three southern regions take 74% of awards, which certainly gives a particular perspective on the government's avowed economic "rebalancing" priority.'
Another announcement:
Successful Catalyst: Endowment programme applicants
'Catalyst is a £100 million culture sector wide private giving investment programme aimed at helping cultural organisations diversify their income streams and access more funding from private sources. The new programme is made up of investment from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and the DCMS.'
'Arts' Organisations received £30.5m of which £18.5m (61%) wenet to London-based organisations.
'Heritage' organisations received £27.5m of which £15m (55%) went to London-based organisations and a further £6m (22%) to Portsmouth (HMS Victory and the Mary Rose).
It would be unfair to mention that many of the London recipients of the heritage money (eg National Portrait Gallery, British Library, Victoria and Albert Museum) already receive large government grants: perish the thought.
'When the [Arts] Council announced the results of its first round [of arts funding] in March – just over £114m to 26 projects – Max Stafford-Clark was moved to describe the Council (in The Guardian) as "absolute vermin", focusing on the dominance of London's "big-hitters" as the largest recipients of this pot of the council's largesse. [ACE] chief executive Alan Davey responded with a defence of the council's geographical reach.
'To recap, the Council's capital programme for the current four years amounts to £214.6m – just over half of this was allocated in March with a further £50m available in 2012-13 and £50m in 2013-14.
'At one level, the March announcement highlights a rich array of projects, but at another it provides a worryingly narrow picture, both of future artistic excellence in England and of the spatial contribution arts and culture investment might make to economic growth and development.
'Of the £114m provisionally allocated, 47% goes to eight London projects, and the next two highest regional allocations are to the south-east (14%) and south-west (13%). These three southern regions take 74% of awards, which certainly gives a particular perspective on the government's avowed economic "rebalancing" priority.'
Another announcement:
Successful Catalyst: Endowment programme applicants
'Catalyst is a £100 million culture sector wide private giving investment programme aimed at helping cultural organisations diversify their income streams and access more funding from private sources. The new programme is made up of investment from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and the DCMS.'
'Arts' Organisations received £30.5m of which £18.5m (61%) wenet to London-based organisations.
'Heritage' organisations received £27.5m of which £15m (55%) went to London-based organisations and a further £6m (22%) to Portsmouth (HMS Victory and the Mary Rose).
It would be unfair to mention that many of the London recipients of the heritage money (eg National Portrait Gallery, British Library, Victoria and Albert Museum) already receive large government grants: perish the thought.
Wednesday 27 June 2012
Customer care: a bank's version
Off our usual subjects, but definitely part of our wonderful world.
We normally tot up the takings of the previous day every morning and take a bunch of cash to the bank round about lunchtime. Recently a member of our staff was told that instructions from above said that we could no longer bank pay in large quantities of cash every lunchtime - which was convenient for us - as this was a busy time for them. They offered an alternative system which would allow us to deposit a few small bags for counting later but this was hopelessly inadequate. So we complained. Back came a letter from the bank:
Our understanding of your complaint to the Bank
My understanding of your complaint is you are unhappy with the service you have received from the [...] Branch. You feel the service is unprofessional.
Your desired outcome is to be able to pay in cash at any time and to receive an apology from the Bank.
Please let me know if you think I have misunderstood, or missed out any of your concerns.
They went on to assure us that a Case Handler - I hope not a left over from Heathrow - would be tasked with carrying out a full investigation and let us know the result of their findings ... and so on. More dreaded procedures over common sense.
All we wanted to do was pay in money: a service for which we pay the bank extra. Is that such a novel concept for a 'Helpful Bank'? Do they not want money?
Maybe they wanted a bonus.
We normally tot up the takings of the previous day every morning and take a bunch of cash to the bank round about lunchtime. Recently a member of our staff was told that instructions from above said that we could no longer bank pay in large quantities of cash every lunchtime - which was convenient for us - as this was a busy time for them. They offered an alternative system which would allow us to deposit a few small bags for counting later but this was hopelessly inadequate. So we complained. Back came a letter from the bank:
Our understanding of your complaint to the Bank
My understanding of your complaint is you are unhappy with the service you have received from the [...] Branch. You feel the service is unprofessional.
Your desired outcome is to be able to pay in cash at any time and to receive an apology from the Bank.
Please let me know if you think I have misunderstood, or missed out any of your concerns.
They went on to assure us that a Case Handler - I hope not a left over from Heathrow - would be tasked with carrying out a full investigation and let us know the result of their findings ... and so on. More dreaded procedures over common sense.
All we wanted to do was pay in money: a service for which we pay the bank extra. Is that such a novel concept for a 'Helpful Bank'? Do they not want money?
Maybe they wanted a bonus.
Unto those that hath 1
I have always been amused by those photographic competitions which offer a first prize of £1,000 worth of photographic equipment to their winners. Any prize is to be welcomed. If it is an amateur competion then the equipment may well be beyond the reach of the photographer's pocket. But hang on, the photographer must have had a camera and some pretty good equipment to take the photograph in the first place.
The same conundrum applies to museum awards. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter deservedly recently won the Art Fund award which was worth £100k.
Reality check: they had just completed a £24m refurbishment project - which had gone well over the original budget, causing headaches to the managers and arts administrators - and so one can imagine that they had all the gold-plated taps they needed.
What about those museums and galleries that had not had £24m and could really do with a large sum like this? Oh, of course, it was building on excellence and rewarding success.
The same conundrum applies to museum awards. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter deservedly recently won the Art Fund award which was worth £100k.
Reality check: they had just completed a £24m refurbishment project - which had gone well over the original budget, causing headaches to the managers and arts administrators - and so one can imagine that they had all the gold-plated taps they needed.
What about those museums and galleries that had not had £24m and could really do with a large sum like this? Oh, of course, it was building on excellence and rewarding success.
Tuesday 26 June 2012
Data or information?
An issue which quangos are going to be faced quite soon is the mismatch between their appetites and their tummies' ability to absorb food.
On the one hand they are suffering a massive reduction in staffing while on the other, they are asking for ever more detailed information on the use that has been made of their money, no doubt to ensure probity, effectiveness and such stuff.
Administration in the public sector generally is driven by three motors:
I have an irresistible image of an Edward Lear-like quango looking something like the Quangle-Wangle and behaving like the cartoon character Wil E Coyote, lumbering off the edge of the cliff, with its legs thrashing around in mid air before descending to the canyon beneath, weighed down by the load of indigestible data that it has requested. If only they realised what they are doing to themselves.
How many times have we said to a quango or funding body something like: 'We can provide data on what each volunteer did in each hour on each day of the project if you really want it, but what are you going to do with it?' 'Never mind,' they reply, 'just provide it. It is best practice.'
So they also judge us on our ability to produce detailed figures which is an easy proxy for good management and for real information. Oh for some intelligent risk-taking and management and rather less administrative correctness; for someone who knows the difference between more data and useful information.
On the one hand they are suffering a massive reduction in staffing while on the other, they are asking for ever more detailed information on the use that has been made of their money, no doubt to ensure probity, effectiveness and such stuff.
Administration in the public sector generally is driven by three motors:
- The need to ensure that all stable doors that have been found wanting in the past can never be re-opened
- The need to ensure value for money - the old economy, efficiency and effectiveness, and
- The belief that 'good management' is an absolute: mostly consisting of the two above underpinned by lots of data
I have an irresistible image of an Edward Lear-like quango looking something like the Quangle-Wangle and behaving like the cartoon character Wil E Coyote, lumbering off the edge of the cliff, with its legs thrashing around in mid air before descending to the canyon beneath, weighed down by the load of indigestible data that it has requested. If only they realised what they are doing to themselves.
How many times have we said to a quango or funding body something like: 'We can provide data on what each volunteer did in each hour on each day of the project if you really want it, but what are you going to do with it?' 'Never mind,' they reply, 'just provide it. It is best practice.'
So they also judge us on our ability to produce detailed figures which is an easy proxy for good management and for real information. Oh for some intelligent risk-taking and management and rather less administrative correctness; for someone who knows the difference between more data and useful information.
Does size matter?
Fashions change in confusing ways. We have a government that is preaching Localism and the Big Society: the devolution of choice (and responsibility?) to the lowest levels and the involvement of all in those choices. On the other hand, much of the decision-making is being increasingly centralised. So what is the best solution?
The present thesis is that the country will lift itself out of recession when bright, sparky entrepreneurs create dynamic new companies and organisations. Small companies display a lightness of touch, creative passion and an ability to grow and adapt quickly. Big companies, in this narrative, can be slow and cumbersome, as difficult to turn around as an ocean liner.
The stock market does not always agree with this analysis. When a large company swallows up a smaller rival the share price goes up: efficiencies will be made behind the scenes, more will be obtained out of existing customer lists, the smaller company will benefit from the wider experience and access of the larger.
On the other hand, when the asset stripper comes along and separates out a large company, then this will provide focus, allow people to concentrate more on their core business, cut out wasteful communication costs. The share price goes up.
The public sector is going through a similar exercise at the moment. Quangos were created as arms-length units which could focus on specific issues and which could do things at arm's length from ministers - thus protecting fragile posteriors from the need for real understanding and from flak over unpopular decisions. Perish the thought that quangos were also a way of getting around civil service head count.
Small, light-footed quangos are no longer flavour of the times: no, we must get rid of as many as possible. The result has been a series of super-quangos. Their share prices, if they had one, would immediately go up, never mind that they are now likely to be further from their real customers and less sensitive to their needs.
We can make savings from putting quangos together, say ministers. We need to cut their expenditure budgets and demand administrative savings.
Doing these two things at once was a cute political move. Cutting the budgets of existing quangos by say 10% would have produced howls of protest from the special interest groups concerned but tell a quango that it is to be abolished and combined with another and magically the special interest group is left isolated, concentrating so hard on ensuring that the 'work should continue' that they completely miss the fact that the budget is being cut by 50% in the process.
What is the consequence of this change? The new quango is intended to be smaller - leaner in public sector jargon - than the previous two or three. With a net reduction in head count, the quango staff are even further from the action than before. They are less able to give time to a proper consideration of what is going on: there is simply too much of it.
Because budgets have been cut there is less money to spend anyway and therefore there are likely to be more disgruntled clients but never mind, they are out in the sticks and their individual loss will not rock the ship of state.
So how do they react to the new world in which they are separated further from their clients or interest groups, in which they have fewer informed staff and less money to share? There are two obvious strategies: find an organisation at 'the next layer down' or re-introduce the famous challenge fund.
The challenge fund
Organisations need to be more focused (on our agenda - unspoken). We cannot go on giving money across the board. We need to stimulate targeted change. Let's create a challenge fund.
This suits the centralists of course and produces a centripetal force with descions spiralling inwards to the centre, quite the opposite of Localism. Centralists can choose the projects and announce them - nothing like an announcement for getting publicity for the giver - while the recipient's agenda is tortured off track by the need to respond to the often weird requirements of the new scheme. We want to you make a real and sustainable change in the number of people of Lithuanian origin that you attract to your museum/visitor attraction/sports fields. Given that this is the only money available, we, the clients, simply say yes to the absurd request and hope that everyone will have forgotten the original purpose by the time the scheme is over, hoping that we can cream off enough money from the the targeted grant to pay the electricity bill for that is what is really needed.
The next layer down
We need someone to do the work we used to do but can no longer do because of a shortage of staff: enter the 'bridge organisation' as the code for Localism. This is typically a small charitable body with an enthusiasm for some part of the quango's work. Its pitch to the quango is along the lines of 'You provide us with funds and we can deliver your BlahBlah agenda'. The poor overworked, under-resourced quango is all too grateful for such things and signs a cheque. The bridge organisation rushes around the quango's former clients, looking for people who will do their bidding. So they create a new mini-quango. The clients have their agendas disrupted and are even further from the funding body while the bridge organisation takes the credit for the excellent BlahBlah work.
There used to be such things: they were called 'regional offices' but many of these were abolished in the last round of slimming down quangos.
How much better if the money did not have to cross a bridge.
Another solution is to preach partnership to a group of disparate bodies: if you all worked in partnership to a single agenda then ... The unspoken agenda completes the sentence we would have fewer people to deal with therefore might just about be able to cope.
No one asks whether partnership is a good thing. It is the thinking of the acquisitive company which hoovers up small entrepreneurial businesses to create a conglomerate. set your clock for the moment when someone suggests breaking up theses behemoths in order to give greater focus, allow people to concentrate more on their core business, cut out wasteful communication costs, allow greater freedom of local decision-making.
As Augustus De Morgan - I always thought it was Hilaire Belloc - said:
'Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum.
And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on,
While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on.
The present thesis is that the country will lift itself out of recession when bright, sparky entrepreneurs create dynamic new companies and organisations. Small companies display a lightness of touch, creative passion and an ability to grow and adapt quickly. Big companies, in this narrative, can be slow and cumbersome, as difficult to turn around as an ocean liner.
The stock market does not always agree with this analysis. When a large company swallows up a smaller rival the share price goes up: efficiencies will be made behind the scenes, more will be obtained out of existing customer lists, the smaller company will benefit from the wider experience and access of the larger.
On the other hand, when the asset stripper comes along and separates out a large company, then this will provide focus, allow people to concentrate more on their core business, cut out wasteful communication costs. The share price goes up.
The public sector is going through a similar exercise at the moment. Quangos were created as arms-length units which could focus on specific issues and which could do things at arm's length from ministers - thus protecting fragile posteriors from the need for real understanding and from flak over unpopular decisions. Perish the thought that quangos were also a way of getting around civil service head count.
Small, light-footed quangos are no longer flavour of the times: no, we must get rid of as many as possible. The result has been a series of super-quangos. Their share prices, if they had one, would immediately go up, never mind that they are now likely to be further from their real customers and less sensitive to their needs.
We can make savings from putting quangos together, say ministers. We need to cut their expenditure budgets and demand administrative savings.
Doing these two things at once was a cute political move. Cutting the budgets of existing quangos by say 10% would have produced howls of protest from the special interest groups concerned but tell a quango that it is to be abolished and combined with another and magically the special interest group is left isolated, concentrating so hard on ensuring that the 'work should continue' that they completely miss the fact that the budget is being cut by 50% in the process.
What is the consequence of this change? The new quango is intended to be smaller - leaner in public sector jargon - than the previous two or three. With a net reduction in head count, the quango staff are even further from the action than before. They are less able to give time to a proper consideration of what is going on: there is simply too much of it.
Because budgets have been cut there is less money to spend anyway and therefore there are likely to be more disgruntled clients but never mind, they are out in the sticks and their individual loss will not rock the ship of state.
So how do they react to the new world in which they are separated further from their clients or interest groups, in which they have fewer informed staff and less money to share? There are two obvious strategies: find an organisation at 'the next layer down' or re-introduce the famous challenge fund.
The challenge fund
Organisations need to be more focused (on our agenda - unspoken). We cannot go on giving money across the board. We need to stimulate targeted change. Let's create a challenge fund.
This suits the centralists of course and produces a centripetal force with descions spiralling inwards to the centre, quite the opposite of Localism. Centralists can choose the projects and announce them - nothing like an announcement for getting publicity for the giver - while the recipient's agenda is tortured off track by the need to respond to the often weird requirements of the new scheme. We want to you make a real and sustainable change in the number of people of Lithuanian origin that you attract to your museum/visitor attraction/sports fields. Given that this is the only money available, we, the clients, simply say yes to the absurd request and hope that everyone will have forgotten the original purpose by the time the scheme is over, hoping that we can cream off enough money from the the targeted grant to pay the electricity bill for that is what is really needed.
The next layer down
We need someone to do the work we used to do but can no longer do because of a shortage of staff: enter the 'bridge organisation' as the code for Localism. This is typically a small charitable body with an enthusiasm for some part of the quango's work. Its pitch to the quango is along the lines of 'You provide us with funds and we can deliver your BlahBlah agenda'. The poor overworked, under-resourced quango is all too grateful for such things and signs a cheque. The bridge organisation rushes around the quango's former clients, looking for people who will do their bidding. So they create a new mini-quango. The clients have their agendas disrupted and are even further from the funding body while the bridge organisation takes the credit for the excellent BlahBlah work.
There used to be such things: they were called 'regional offices' but many of these were abolished in the last round of slimming down quangos.
How much better if the money did not have to cross a bridge.
Another solution is to preach partnership to a group of disparate bodies: if you all worked in partnership to a single agenda then ... The unspoken agenda completes the sentence we would have fewer people to deal with therefore might just about be able to cope.
No one asks whether partnership is a good thing. It is the thinking of the acquisitive company which hoovers up small entrepreneurial businesses to create a conglomerate. set your clock for the moment when someone suggests breaking up theses behemoths in order to give greater focus, allow people to concentrate more on their core business, cut out wasteful communication costs, allow greater freedom of local decision-making.
As Augustus De Morgan - I always thought it was Hilaire Belloc - said:
'Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum.
And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on,
While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on.
Friday 22 June 2012
Write or Wrong?
An announcement in the Western Morning News:
'... museum is celebrating after being awarded £21,500 from Arts Council England to fund a special project ... a year-long initiative which will see writer-in-residence ... work with community groups, helping them to connect with the museum through the medium of writing.'
That sounds like a nice way to earn a salary. Why is 'connecting with a museum through the medium of writing' something so important? Come to that, what does it mean? Does it start with 'Dear Museum ...'
Why do I wish that the money had been given directly to the museum to spend as they saw fit: perhaps on providing more exhibitions for more people; or on staying open. It sounds like yet another example of money being given to move deckchairs on a doomed ocean liner. Which suggests another thought ...
'... museum is celebrating after being awarded £21,500 from Arts Council England to fund a special project ... a year-long initiative which will see writer-in-residence ... work with community groups, helping them to connect with the museum through the medium of writing.'
That sounds like a nice way to earn a salary. Why is 'connecting with a museum through the medium of writing' something so important? Come to that, what does it mean? Does it start with 'Dear Museum ...'
Why do I wish that the money had been given directly to the museum to spend as they saw fit: perhaps on providing more exhibitions for more people; or on staying open. It sounds like yet another example of money being given to move deckchairs on a doomed ocean liner. Which suggests another thought ...
Thursday 14 June 2012
One word
Reading through the conditions for a recent grant application, we came across the following:
To receive a grant your project must help people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage. Your project must also do either or both of the following:
What form are these decisions to take? Is this 'wider range of people' to be allowed to take decisions about what is and what is not collected or displayed, perhaps in preference to the 'narrower' range of people who just perhaps might know more the answers to those questions? We are old-fashioned enough to trust heritage managers to know about their subject and to make recommendations or to interpret those collections to us. This is now heresy.
Whatever happened to that old adage that we will preserve what we love; love what we understand; understand what we know about and know about things we have explored. Now, it seems, we must ask a wider range of people - perhaps uninformed - to take decisions on what we preserve, without exploration, knowledge or understanding.
And how do we 'evidence' - a horrible verbal use of the word - the 'making decisions'? That is another question.
To receive a grant your project must help people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage. Your project must also do either or both of the following:
- conserve the UK’s diverse heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy.
- help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about heritage.
What form are these decisions to take? Is this 'wider range of people' to be allowed to take decisions about what is and what is not collected or displayed, perhaps in preference to the 'narrower' range of people who just perhaps might know more the answers to those questions? We are old-fashioned enough to trust heritage managers to know about their subject and to make recommendations or to interpret those collections to us. This is now heresy.
Whatever happened to that old adage that we will preserve what we love; love what we understand; understand what we know about and know about things we have explored. Now, it seems, we must ask a wider range of people - perhaps uninformed - to take decisions on what we preserve, without exploration, knowledge or understanding.
And how do we 'evidence' - a horrible verbal use of the word - the 'making decisions'? That is another question.
Comparative religions
We enjoyed a GCSE Religious Knowledge paper. For those who do not know these, the layout is pretty standard: there are separate sections for Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs (no Jedis unfortunately).
Each section asks much the same question eg 'Name two things a Buddhist/Christian/Hindu ... might regard as evil'. We would quite like to see the answers to this question as it happens but the real fun was in a comparison of the questions on fasting:
'Explain why Christianity approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Buddhism approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Hinduism approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Judaism approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Islam approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Sikhism disapproves of fasting.'
Queue up here folks. It may only be a snip.
Each section asks much the same question eg 'Name two things a Buddhist/Christian/Hindu ... might regard as evil'. We would quite like to see the answers to this question as it happens but the real fun was in a comparison of the questions on fasting:
'Explain why Christianity approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Buddhism approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Hinduism approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Judaism approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Islam approves of fasting.'
'Explain why Sikhism disapproves of fasting.'
Queue up here folks. It may only be a snip.
Tuesday 12 June 2012
Benefits Boob Op Mum Jailed
A great headline in the local rag was awaiting my return from a week away. It turns out she was caught shop-lifting but you might have thought otherwise. Apparently she had previously 'sparked outrage after spending her benefit money on a breast enlargement operation'. A prize for spotting any connection between the actual offence and the headline (with the obvious exception of 'jailed').
Sunday 20 May 2012
Contemporary artists revolutionise museums?
To return to another theme: the way that 'contemporary artists' are transforming museums (not!). Be warned: there is more to come on this subject in later posts.
Contemporary artists are helping museums unlock the potential of their collections and reach new audiences read the headline of an article in the Museums Journal by the usually reliable Simon Stephens. He managed to knit together a disparate set of projects to support the case including:
Simon goes on to speak of the 'ability of artists to look at collections in fresh and innovative ways which appeals to curators.'
This sounds like a big love-in which has little core motivation. There is an overtone of misunderstanding, alienation, jealousy of knowledge between artists and historians: a theme that was explored so well in John Fowles' short story Poor Koko in his Ebony Tower collection. A burglar ties up a man in a lonely cottage and then burns his books in front of him because he cannot stand the thought of others having knowledge which is inaccessible to him.
A diary piece in the same issue of MJ took the Mick out of the same thought. Asked what museums were for, a hapless and fictional museum director replied 'to serve the public' and was told 'No, they are there for artistic excellence'. They were then taken off for re-education.I used to study history. Now I explore art.
Contemporary artists are helping museums unlock the potential of their collections and reach new audiences read the headline of an article in the Museums Journal by the usually reliable Simon Stephens. He managed to knit together a disparate set of projects to support the case including:
- Nottingham where 1000 young artists are working in the New Art Exchange and Nottingham Contemporary Galleries taking part in Young Artists. Might there be a hint here about the word gallery and artists? The title of the project is hardly inspiring but it probably does what it says
- 10 artists matched with 10 museums and galleries for a range of after hours events in museums. We have mentioned this before. Ten of them; hardly a widespread welcome by the museums
- The Haywood gallery will become a 'school run by artists'. Not surprising in a gallery
- Grayson Perry at the British Museum. This was obviously a terrific success but people with large budgets and lots of spare space like the BM can indulge such projects
- The Museum of London worked with artists to produce four artworks, opening out the debate ...
- Snibston colliery site
- National Trust Trust New Art which was run at five properties
- Alchemy at Manchester Museum
- Welcome Museum
- New Expressions which we mentioned in an earlier posting
Simon goes on to speak of the 'ability of artists to look at collections in fresh and innovative ways which appeals to curators.'
This sounds like a big love-in which has little core motivation. There is an overtone of misunderstanding, alienation, jealousy of knowledge between artists and historians: a theme that was explored so well in John Fowles' short story Poor Koko in his Ebony Tower collection. A burglar ties up a man in a lonely cottage and then burns his books in front of him because he cannot stand the thought of others having knowledge which is inaccessible to him.
A diary piece in the same issue of MJ took the Mick out of the same thought. Asked what museums were for, a hapless and fictional museum director replied 'to serve the public' and was told 'No, they are there for artistic excellence'. They were then taken off for re-education.I used to study history. Now I explore art.
Thursday 17 May 2012
Winning friends and influencing people II
The recent Local Council elections sent the Coalition into a spin as it tried to decide what to do now that the country did not like it. 'Turn right' said the backwoodsmen; 'turn left' said the inner cities; 'just do something without making a mess of it for once', said others.
The draft Queen's speech which is apparently handwritten on vellum and takes three days to dry - it is so hard to find a monk to make the changes in a hurry nowadays; no wonder HVIII dissolved their monasteries - was to be revised. The PM and his Deputy headed off to a tractor factory in Essex to show that they were in touch with people.
The choice of Essex was obviously a careful one. It was not too far from London and south of the bad lands which start somewhere around Watford. As one commentator remarked, 'it was a triumph to find a British factory still making something; and within reach of London too.' The tractors were blue and yellow - the source of a very laboured and badly delivered 'joke' by the DPM which fell on dead ears. The speech was not aimed at the bemused tractor drivers but at the media. It all smacked of something from the television series 2012: the result of some over-enthusiastic young spinner/policy wonk in No 10 who should not have been allowed out.
Political sketchwriter Simon Carr was his usual pithy self. 'It did not matter what they said, no one was listening', he said. 'They came to Essex not only to show they got it but to show they really, really got it, with a cherry on top. They talked of things of which they were hugely proud such as life chances, and focus, and delivery, and monetary policy, and governing for the whole country. Everything we [journalists] had heard before we did not want to hear again.
'Asked about the price of fuel one of them said, "The world diversifying its fuels supplies will have a good effect for people using tractors". Surprisingly this reply does not seem to have got a round of applause.
'Ed M had said, no one has any respect for politicians any more. This may be true but judging from Basildon I'd be surprise if anyone is listening.'
So that is being in touch with people. It gives you such confidence.
The draft Queen's speech which is apparently handwritten on vellum and takes three days to dry - it is so hard to find a monk to make the changes in a hurry nowadays; no wonder HVIII dissolved their monasteries - was to be revised. The PM and his Deputy headed off to a tractor factory in Essex to show that they were in touch with people.
The choice of Essex was obviously a careful one. It was not too far from London and south of the bad lands which start somewhere around Watford. As one commentator remarked, 'it was a triumph to find a British factory still making something; and within reach of London too.' The tractors were blue and yellow - the source of a very laboured and badly delivered 'joke' by the DPM which fell on dead ears. The speech was not aimed at the bemused tractor drivers but at the media. It all smacked of something from the television series 2012: the result of some over-enthusiastic young spinner/policy wonk in No 10 who should not have been allowed out.
Political sketchwriter Simon Carr was his usual pithy self. 'It did not matter what they said, no one was listening', he said. 'They came to Essex not only to show they got it but to show they really, really got it, with a cherry on top. They talked of things of which they were hugely proud such as life chances, and focus, and delivery, and monetary policy, and governing for the whole country. Everything we [journalists] had heard before we did not want to hear again.
'Asked about the price of fuel one of them said, "The world diversifying its fuels supplies will have a good effect for people using tractors". Surprisingly this reply does not seem to have got a round of applause.
'Ed M had said, no one has any respect for politicians any more. This may be true but judging from Basildon I'd be surprise if anyone is listening.'
So that is being in touch with people. It gives you such confidence.
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Winning friends and influencing people I
Managing people to do things and knowing that they have delivered 'satisfactorily' - a term to which we will return - and that you have obtained value for money is not as straightforward as some believe. It is easy to convince yourself that 'they', the often invisible 'others', are indolent, inadequate, unimaginative slackers who are not engaging brain, working too slowly or sub-optimally; or are showing signs of sloping off at every opportunity. The truth is rarely simple. Here are examples from education where Ministers struggle to extract 'value' from their vast expenditure.
'Teachers delivered a stinging attack on the new Chief Inspector of Schools ... accusing him of introducing a 'climate of fear' in schools', said a headline. One of us is a teacher who has been through many Ofsteds, another has had the dubious privilege of reading a detailed Ofsted report and came out spluttering not only at the poor quality of the piece of work but at the appalling way in which it drew conclusions on the most circumstantial evidence or from single examples.
Education is not a happy industry at the moment - mind you, nor are health or care professionals, the police ... in fact all except city bankers and politicians I guess. However, some of the noises coming out of Ofsted turn the clock back to the early 80s when those invisible others were slackers, scabs and surrogate anarchists (analogous to vegetarians as the Telegraph once remarked).
'Satisfactory' is no longer adequate and should be replaced in Ofsted reports with 'requires improvement'. Hang on; is this satisfactory derived from the word satisfacere in Latin meaning 'meet the expectations, needs or desires'. Surely, if a school is satisfactory it therefore meets the needs of the test or inspection. Back to your Latin lessons Ofsted. Stop trying to re-write meanings in the English language. Perhaps a maths lesson on averages would be useful as a way of reminding you that we cannot all be above average. It is politically desirable to sound macho, thrusting and driving for improved performance but it does make you look awfully silly.
The process of Ofsted is so flawed. A short sharp inspection is to meant to stand in for a real assessment in the same way that exam results are somehow meant to smooth out assessment of genuine value-added, ignoring the obvious realities that children grow up in fits and spurts and that life throws problems at different times in different ways which disrupt the smooth path to nirvana imagined by policy makers.
In a letter to a newspaper, a primary school head teacher said 'I have been through four Ofsted inspections in my time at various schools and now live in dread of the unexpected car in the car park in the morning which might indicate that they have arrived for a snap inspection'. It sounds like a dawn visit from the Stazi or KGB. She went on to describe the inspectors as failed teachers, one too old and another who only had experience of teaching languages in a secondary school. 'I am watching good people leave this profession because of the way we have been treated'. she concluded.
'What a contrast', said another letter, 'to the inspections we used to have from HMIs who took each teacher aside for a quiet and confidential chat about ways in which they might change their approach, or new strategies for teaching. Each conversation was facilitative and useful, not judgemental.'
Another suggestion was that any Ofsted Inspector judging a school as below par should have to spend the next six months in the school, helping to put things right. I am not sure I would like to be the head teacher of that school with a disgruntled inspector under my feet but I bet that inspector would have a different view of reality at the end of that time.
You meddle with education at your peril as many Ministers of Education would attest, only one of them having ever had a meaningful career after passing through that department. Michael Gove is discovering this the hard way.
'Head teachers vote to reject Gove's new test for primary school pupils', said a headline. A teachers' union spokesman said, 'They have created a new monster to replace SATs. The tests will cost millions to introduce which would be better spent on professional development of teachers in accurate and reliable assessment. The screening test is inferior to what schools do already but if it is to happen it should be used as a diagnostic test and not a stick with which to beat schools'.
To this a DES spokeswoman replied that 'too little attention has been paid to spelling and handwriting over the past decade'. And what was her evidence? I bet it is was something a minister heard at a cocktail party: something which reinforced the view that those invisible others never do what you want them to in the way that you want them to.
'Teachers delivered a stinging attack on the new Chief Inspector of Schools ... accusing him of introducing a 'climate of fear' in schools', said a headline. One of us is a teacher who has been through many Ofsteds, another has had the dubious privilege of reading a detailed Ofsted report and came out spluttering not only at the poor quality of the piece of work but at the appalling way in which it drew conclusions on the most circumstantial evidence or from single examples.
Education is not a happy industry at the moment - mind you, nor are health or care professionals, the police ... in fact all except city bankers and politicians I guess. However, some of the noises coming out of Ofsted turn the clock back to the early 80s when those invisible others were slackers, scabs and surrogate anarchists (analogous to vegetarians as the Telegraph once remarked).
'Satisfactory' is no longer adequate and should be replaced in Ofsted reports with 'requires improvement'. Hang on; is this satisfactory derived from the word satisfacere in Latin meaning 'meet the expectations, needs or desires'. Surely, if a school is satisfactory it therefore meets the needs of the test or inspection. Back to your Latin lessons Ofsted. Stop trying to re-write meanings in the English language. Perhaps a maths lesson on averages would be useful as a way of reminding you that we cannot all be above average. It is politically desirable to sound macho, thrusting and driving for improved performance but it does make you look awfully silly.
The process of Ofsted is so flawed. A short sharp inspection is to meant to stand in for a real assessment in the same way that exam results are somehow meant to smooth out assessment of genuine value-added, ignoring the obvious realities that children grow up in fits and spurts and that life throws problems at different times in different ways which disrupt the smooth path to nirvana imagined by policy makers.
In a letter to a newspaper, a primary school head teacher said 'I have been through four Ofsted inspections in my time at various schools and now live in dread of the unexpected car in the car park in the morning which might indicate that they have arrived for a snap inspection'. It sounds like a dawn visit from the Stazi or KGB. She went on to describe the inspectors as failed teachers, one too old and another who only had experience of teaching languages in a secondary school. 'I am watching good people leave this profession because of the way we have been treated'. she concluded.
'What a contrast', said another letter, 'to the inspections we used to have from HMIs who took each teacher aside for a quiet and confidential chat about ways in which they might change their approach, or new strategies for teaching. Each conversation was facilitative and useful, not judgemental.'
Another suggestion was that any Ofsted Inspector judging a school as below par should have to spend the next six months in the school, helping to put things right. I am not sure I would like to be the head teacher of that school with a disgruntled inspector under my feet but I bet that inspector would have a different view of reality at the end of that time.
You meddle with education at your peril as many Ministers of Education would attest, only one of them having ever had a meaningful career after passing through that department. Michael Gove is discovering this the hard way.
'Head teachers vote to reject Gove's new test for primary school pupils', said a headline. A teachers' union spokesman said, 'They have created a new monster to replace SATs. The tests will cost millions to introduce which would be better spent on professional development of teachers in accurate and reliable assessment. The screening test is inferior to what schools do already but if it is to happen it should be used as a diagnostic test and not a stick with which to beat schools'.
To this a DES spokeswoman replied that 'too little attention has been paid to spelling and handwriting over the past decade'. And what was her evidence? I bet it is was something a minister heard at a cocktail party: something which reinforced the view that those invisible others never do what you want them to in the way that you want them to.
Monday 14 May 2012
Artistic intervention
Just occasionally something comes along which you feel meets your definition of artistic delight. Years of travelling on the District Line in SW London never produced such joy as this flashmob in Copenhagen.
If you are also inspired then search out their other inspired intervention or installation
at Copenhagen station.
You can keep your contemporary artists barging in to tell us how to do our work. This is art and exactly what music should be about: joyous.
at Copenhagen station.
You can keep your contemporary artists barging in to tell us how to do our work. This is art and exactly what music should be about: joyous.
Saturday 21 April 2012
The National Curriculum
We feel like starting a new theme called The Vicar of Bray to cover examples of saying the right thing to suit political correctness; or the right thing at the wrong time; or to note the way policies ebb and flow with the tide (keep up can't you?).
This might include observations such as that of Vince Cable who, in December 2010, mentioned to an undercover journalist he had 'declared war on Rupert Murdoch over the media magnate's plans to take over all of BSkyB'. Cable was stripped of responsibility for decisions on the contract which were passed to Jeremy Hunt at DCMS. A few weeks later the Metropolitan Police started investigating allegations of hacking in the Murdoch empire. This spawned the Leveson Enquiry. There were more arrests this week. So Vince is our first non-Vicar for saying the Right thing at the Wrong time (and to the wrong people as it happens).
Another example, from Education, paraphrased from a letter in the newspapers from someone living in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Schools agreeing to take on Academy status will be offered exemption from the National Curriculum. This curriculum, introduced in 1987 to 'standardise and optimise' teaching and learning has been rigorously enforced by Ofsted. It has led to a rise in teachers' workload and a decline in their morale as they have 'taught to the exams'. The end result has been 'improvements' gained by lowering examination standards. Meanwhile ministers have been bemoaning the decline in literacy and general social and educational competence.
Now it seems that this 'essential element' of the maintenance of educational standards is not so essential after all. It is a malign imposition on schools which can be lifted if they play ball with the latest whims of a government minister.
This is similar to the new proposal for under-performing schools. In the past they would be taken into the care of the local authority's education department and put under special measures. Now, exactly the reverse happens: they are specifically excluded from management by the local authority and are being turned into academies which will mean that they will not have to follow the National Curriculum which was designed to ... yes, you guessed it. Oh of course: that was then and this is now.
Moral: never tell a minister something they do not want to hear, especially if it contains facts.
This might include observations such as that of Vince Cable who, in December 2010, mentioned to an undercover journalist he had 'declared war on Rupert Murdoch over the media magnate's plans to take over all of BSkyB'. Cable was stripped of responsibility for decisions on the contract which were passed to Jeremy Hunt at DCMS. A few weeks later the Metropolitan Police started investigating allegations of hacking in the Murdoch empire. This spawned the Leveson Enquiry. There were more arrests this week. So Vince is our first non-Vicar for saying the Right thing at the Wrong time (and to the wrong people as it happens).
Another example, from Education, paraphrased from a letter in the newspapers from someone living in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Schools agreeing to take on Academy status will be offered exemption from the National Curriculum. This curriculum, introduced in 1987 to 'standardise and optimise' teaching and learning has been rigorously enforced by Ofsted. It has led to a rise in teachers' workload and a decline in their morale as they have 'taught to the exams'. The end result has been 'improvements' gained by lowering examination standards. Meanwhile ministers have been bemoaning the decline in literacy and general social and educational competence.
Now it seems that this 'essential element' of the maintenance of educational standards is not so essential after all. It is a malign imposition on schools which can be lifted if they play ball with the latest whims of a government minister.
This is similar to the new proposal for under-performing schools. In the past they would be taken into the care of the local authority's education department and put under special measures. Now, exactly the reverse happens: they are specifically excluded from management by the local authority and are being turned into academies which will mean that they will not have to follow the National Curriculum which was designed to ... yes, you guessed it. Oh of course: that was then and this is now.
Moral: never tell a minister something they do not want to hear, especially if it contains facts.
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Artists' bonfire II
Do you remember our posting from February in which the Arts Council was providing money to artists to burn their works. Now it seems, an Italian gallery director is burning artworks in protest at funding cuts. Italian museum burns artworks in protest at cuts
Why did he not simply ask for a grant, we wonder.
Why did he not simply ask for a grant, we wonder.
Thursday 29 March 2012
European money II
A follow up to our previous post about the university project looking at shared cultures in fishing communities ... news reaches us that Penlee House in Penzance and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall are engaged in a joint project with Brittany celebrating the culture of the two fishing communities. Their combined budget, I am told, is somewhere around £25,000.
The original university project said 'Plans include photographic exhibitions exploring life in fishing communities and a demonstration project of fishing heritage-led regeneration at the fishing village of Arnemuiden, in The Netherlands.'
So that's the photographic (and art) exhibitions done for them free of charge. They can now spend all of the their Euros 4.6m over four years on the 'demonstration project'.
The original university project said 'Plans include photographic exhibitions exploring life in fishing communities and a demonstration project of fishing heritage-led regeneration at the fishing village of Arnemuiden, in The Netherlands.'
So that's the photographic (and art) exhibitions done for them free of charge. They can now spend all of the their Euros 4.6m over four years on the 'demonstration project'.
Wednesday 28 March 2012
The Country House
Let's go off in another direction for a moment ...
We recommend A Man of Parts, David Lodge's story about H G Wells. Apparently Wells lived at Uppark when he was a boy as his mother worked there. This encouraged him to become a leading Fabian in later life. At one point Lodge says:
'The country house, with its army of servants, its deferential tenants and villagers, and its extensive acres of land, stolen, requisitioned or enclosed in the distant past, inherited by the privileged few and owned as if by divine right, was the clue to England. It embodied a civilised but rigidly stratified social system that had hardly changed in the last two hundred years, and assumed it would go on for ever, unconscious that its foundations were being sapped by social and economic change. He [Wells] had begun to brood on the idea of a novel which would examine the destabilising impact of the new industrial and commercial oligarchy on the traditional land-based aristocracy and gentry, but it would be some time before he managed to write it.'
The echoes for our apparent passion for Downton Abbey are obvious: 'the clue to England'. The similar popularity of Upstairs Downstairs, whose script, production values and acting is sadly nowhere near that of Downton, suggests that we are just as attracted by the lives of the upper classes on the verge of World War II. Are we nostalgically walking backwards into such a society or would we do better to spend time with Niall Ferguson examining the paradoxes and conundrums of modern China?
We recommend A Man of Parts, David Lodge's story about H G Wells. Apparently Wells lived at Uppark when he was a boy as his mother worked there. This encouraged him to become a leading Fabian in later life. At one point Lodge says:
'The country house, with its army of servants, its deferential tenants and villagers, and its extensive acres of land, stolen, requisitioned or enclosed in the distant past, inherited by the privileged few and owned as if by divine right, was the clue to England. It embodied a civilised but rigidly stratified social system that had hardly changed in the last two hundred years, and assumed it would go on for ever, unconscious that its foundations were being sapped by social and economic change. He [Wells] had begun to brood on the idea of a novel which would examine the destabilising impact of the new industrial and commercial oligarchy on the traditional land-based aristocracy and gentry, but it would be some time before he managed to write it.'
The echoes for our apparent passion for Downton Abbey are obvious: 'the clue to England'. The similar popularity of Upstairs Downstairs, whose script, production values and acting is sadly nowhere near that of Downton, suggests that we are just as attracted by the lives of the upper classes on the verge of World War II. Are we nostalgically walking backwards into such a society or would we do better to spend time with Niall Ferguson examining the paradoxes and conundrums of modern China?
Wednesday 14 March 2012
European money
Another press release lands on my desk and I am once again staggered to see the amount of money that universities seem able to be extract from funders. Can you see anything in the following which suggests either that they know anything about the subject or that they are actually going to do something practical? Oh yes,'Plans include photographic exhibitions exploring life in fishing communities and a demonstration project of fishing heritage-led regeneration at the fishing village of Arnemuiden, in The Netherlands.’
Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability
Researchers at the University of Greenwich are leading a €4.6 million INTEREGG 4a 2 Seas Programme three-year project helping to regenerate coastal fishing communities on both sides of the English Channel and the southern North Sea.
Focussing on towns and villages with traditional small scale fishing fleets, they will look at the ways local inshore fishing contributes to the identity of places and their communities, as well as seeking new sustainable opportunities to boost regeneration and economic growth.
Sounds good so far.
Dr X says: “Inshore marine fishing is at the heart of so many places, whether they have just a few small fishing boats pulled up on a shingle beach or a harbour that is the centre of activity for a larger fishing fleet. You cannot think about places like Whitstable, Brixham or Newlyn without recalling fishing and local seafood. Inshore marine fishing is central to their identity as communities and places.” Let's ignore, for a moment the fact that Newlyn houses rather more than a 'traditional fishing fleet'.
Project leader Dr Y says: “We will be building on valuable research we have already been doing in fishing communities. Working with researchers in France and Flanders gives us a cross-cultural perspective and opportunities to share ideas and solutions to common problems – not least how the sense of identity within fishing communities can make a significant contribution to regeneration and sustainable economic growth.
"Our findings will help to provide the information people need to develop new activities on the ground to regenerate their communities and feed into policy decisions which will ensure a sustainable future. We are hoping to help to create a sense of shared identity in fishing places across the region.” I am not sure you could teach an East Coast fisherman anything about 'shared identity' with a fisherman from the Netherlands. Is a 'shared identity' something that can be created in this way? And it helps how?
Plans include photographic exhibitions exploring life in fishing communities and a demonstration project of fishing heritage-led regeneration at the fishing village of Arnemuiden, in The Netherlands.
At this level of expenditure I would be hoping for rather more than a 'demonstration project' (what is this and why only one when it is a cross-border project?) and a photographic exhibition. Anyone who is following Monty Halls' exploits in Cadgwith will, I am sure, feel that the fishermen there will be delighted to know about photographic exhibition and the amount of money it has cost. They might, however, prefer a new boat which could be paid for from this bid's petty cash.
Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability
Researchers at the University of Greenwich are leading a €4.6 million INTEREGG 4a 2 Seas Programme three-year project helping to regenerate coastal fishing communities on both sides of the English Channel and the southern North Sea.
Focussing on towns and villages with traditional small scale fishing fleets, they will look at the ways local inshore fishing contributes to the identity of places and their communities, as well as seeking new sustainable opportunities to boost regeneration and economic growth.
Sounds good so far.
Dr X says: “Inshore marine fishing is at the heart of so many places, whether they have just a few small fishing boats pulled up on a shingle beach or a harbour that is the centre of activity for a larger fishing fleet. You cannot think about places like Whitstable, Brixham or Newlyn without recalling fishing and local seafood. Inshore marine fishing is central to their identity as communities and places.” Let's ignore, for a moment the fact that Newlyn houses rather more than a 'traditional fishing fleet'.
Project leader Dr Y says: “We will be building on valuable research we have already been doing in fishing communities. Working with researchers in France and Flanders gives us a cross-cultural perspective and opportunities to share ideas and solutions to common problems – not least how the sense of identity within fishing communities can make a significant contribution to regeneration and sustainable economic growth.
"Our findings will help to provide the information people need to develop new activities on the ground to regenerate their communities and feed into policy decisions which will ensure a sustainable future. We are hoping to help to create a sense of shared identity in fishing places across the region.” I am not sure you could teach an East Coast fisherman anything about 'shared identity' with a fisherman from the Netherlands. Is a 'shared identity' something that can be created in this way? And it helps how?
Plans include photographic exhibitions exploring life in fishing communities and a demonstration project of fishing heritage-led regeneration at the fishing village of Arnemuiden, in The Netherlands.
At this level of expenditure I would be hoping for rather more than a 'demonstration project' (what is this and why only one when it is a cross-border project?) and a photographic exhibition. Anyone who is following Monty Halls' exploits in Cadgwith will, I am sure, feel that the fishermen there will be delighted to know about photographic exhibition and the amount of money it has cost. They might, however, prefer a new boat which could be paid for from this bid's petty cash.
Thursday 8 March 2012
The way forward?
A recent proposal said:
The project acknowledges the breadth and complexity of knowledge and opinion that helps us make sense of a profoundly changing world and our increasingly uncertain place in it. While scientific knowledge underpins our understanding of the systems upon which life depends, how we must change in response to that knowledge is a profoundly cultural question.
We particularly like the the idea in the last sentence: that science may have defined the problem and have a mechanism for how it works but the solution is 'profoundly cultural'. So (see last posting) that is the film and dance about climate change then. Phew, I thought we might have to do something.
The project acknowledges the breadth and complexity of knowledge and opinion that helps us make sense of a profoundly changing world and our increasingly uncertain place in it. While scientific knowledge underpins our understanding of the systems upon which life depends, how we must change in response to that knowledge is a profoundly cultural question.
We particularly like the the idea in the last sentence: that science may have defined the problem and have a mechanism for how it works but the solution is 'profoundly cultural'. So (see last posting) that is the film and dance about climate change then. Phew, I thought we might have to do something.
Cultural Education looks up
Another gem of art vs museums:
Government announces £15m for cultural education in England
The Henley Review of Cultural Education was published on 28 February, along with the Government’s response and an announcement of £15m funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to pump prime cultural education initiatives. Darren Henley made 24 recommendations that he said would make England's cultural education 'the envy of the world'. The Government responded accepting most of the recommendations and said (some of) those it would address immediately are:
- A new National Youth Dance Company to provide opportunities for 30 young people every year (£600,000 each from ACE and DfE over 3 years); I make that £1.2m or £40k each over three years for 30 very lucky students. It is good to see them workingw ith so many
- A new film academy, led by the BFI to support film education for all children and young people (£3m over 3 years); while film gets a new £3m over 3 years
- Heritage Schools - English Heritage will work with schools to encourage them to explore historical sites in their local area (£2.7m funding over 3 years); and they did not already do this? This is probably the money that was cut off their budget at the last budget being given back to them (after lots of deductions for bureaucracy)
- Training and mentoring for new teachers and continuing professional development for experienced teachers to improve the quality of cultural education in schools (£300,000 over 3 years, supported by non-departmental public bodies); and what is anyone going to be able to do with £100k a year for the whole country?
- National Art & Design Saturday Clubs (£395,000 over 3 years); another tiny sum for the whole country
- Museums education – to encourage and facilitate more school visits to museums and art galleries; OK chaps, more of the same please: no new money
- The Bridge Network bringing heritage and film as well as arts, museums and libraries closer to every school; no resources it seems
Tuesday 6 March 2012
STEAM not STEM
What am I meant to make of this ministerial announcement:
STEAM not STEM - Minister recognises importance of arts and humanities research
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts MP emphasised the importance of arts, humanities and social science research in the UK’s overall research base in a speech at the Policy Exchange on 4 January. Declaring that he would not be shifting the balance of funding between the main disciplines, Mr Willetts described the UK's research community as "the most productive in the world…This broad research base emphatically includes the arts, humanities and social sciences. They are all part of the science and research ring fence." The Minister said he was attracted to the idea that "instead of just thinking about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), we should add the Arts so it becomes STEAM."
There seems to be some confusion about the difference between Science and Arts. Oh yes, of course, Art is the new Science. Roll on the first nuclear power station, mobile phone, space rocket installation ... now what dance shall we do ...
STEAM not STEM - Minister recognises importance of arts and humanities research
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts MP emphasised the importance of arts, humanities and social science research in the UK’s overall research base in a speech at the Policy Exchange on 4 January. Declaring that he would not be shifting the balance of funding between the main disciplines, Mr Willetts described the UK's research community as "the most productive in the world…This broad research base emphatically includes the arts, humanities and social sciences. They are all part of the science and research ring fence." The Minister said he was attracted to the idea that "instead of just thinking about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), we should add the Arts so it becomes STEAM."
There seems to be some confusion about the difference between Science and Arts. Oh yes, of course, Art is the new Science. Roll on the first nuclear power station, mobile phone, space rocket installation ... now what dance shall we do ...
Sunday 26 February 2012
'A self-propelled underwater wheelchair is part of a surprising and unexpected spectacle'
It is probably unfair to target the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Programme as it is like shooting fish in a barrel. But here is an extract from their website about a planned event - or should that be 'installation' - produced by artist Sue Austin:
An ambitious series of performances by a self-propelled underwater wheelchair, which leaves traces of its joy and freedom as it flies along mid-water with its human occupant.
As you watch, this surprising and unexpected spectacle transforms your perception of the wheelchair as you too become part of the artwork.
Additionally an online debate will take place to explain the dramatic and often disorientating image of the wheelchair sweeping gracefully along.
Freewheeling is an emerging disability-led initiative dedicated to promoting the concept of disability arts as something of unique society – the 'hidden secret'.
Sue Austin’s performances aim to generate a widespread public debate about the nature and value of contemporary arts practice shaped by the experience of disability.
Unlimited is principally funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and is delivered in partnership between London 2012, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council.
In a press release, the artists said she was looking forward to the project which would 'mean that we can continue to contribute to the "conversation" about the value of diversity to society on a much more ambitious and wide reaching scale.
'This provides a unique creative opportunity, producing an exciting and stimulating visual experience which combines both performance and digital media to create a stimulating audience engagement and interaction opportunity with tangible artistic legacy. Our involvement in the project recognises the potential for the development of 360 degree imagery as a realistic creative medium.'
Apparently, the wheelchair 'acts as a portal that pushes one through to new levels of consciousness or awareness of life.'
There are more exciting explanations here.
This is the first of our posts to be included in two themes: Creative and jargon. Congratulations.
Jargon time
We think we need a new category: jargon time. A friend (PPE from Cambridge) sent us the following, remarking that he had no idea what they were actually about. It is like one of those random-word generator games.
‘Created by a group of leftfield (sic) change makers and thought leaders, SU: Alliance is a new breed of social enterprise. With decades of experience in the fields of social innovation and urban planning, we act as a catalyst for local authorities and social investment agencies to do action-based research that will inform policy through achieving profitable social impact . Our purpose is to act as an intermediary to realise and scale social change; to overcome barriers to progress; to achieve more with less and to work with entrepreneurs, committed to applying their unique leadership and commercial skills in the building of value-based sustainable communities. We will start in London.
‘Our business model is predicated on the belief that smart values can and will be the bedrock of an alliance of likeminded individuals and organizations who come together to achieve profitable gains aligned to social and environmental returns. Our purpose is therefore to align CIVIC, CORPORATE and SOCIAL investment objectives to work collaboratively so that we can accelerate change. We believe that all these institutional sectors are increasingly committed to achieving similar results. All three use the same success factors. They all want to see, in all they do:
‘We want to make massive small change in our towns and cities. We want to address the role that districts, neighbourhoods and quarters have in improving urban growth by finding integrated approaches to change. Multiple interactions make up the complexity of urban society and in turn affect our rapidly changing world. We are set up to challenge this complexity and accelerate movement towards a more resilient, talented and civil city. To meet this challenge, we have created a game changing social enterprise business that brings together smart people with the assets and resources.’
Prizes will be awarded to the first correct solution. Oh, and for good measure the organisation’s email address is almost embarrassingly easy to mis-type:smarturbanism.com
‘Created by a group of leftfield (sic) change makers and thought leaders, SU: Alliance is a new breed of social enterprise. With decades of experience in the fields of social innovation and urban planning, we act as a catalyst for local authorities and social investment agencies to do action-based research that will inform policy through achieving profitable social impact . Our purpose is to act as an intermediary to realise and scale social change; to overcome barriers to progress; to achieve more with less and to work with entrepreneurs, committed to applying their unique leadership and commercial skills in the building of value-based sustainable communities. We will start in London.
‘Our business model is predicated on the belief that smart values can and will be the bedrock of an alliance of likeminded individuals and organizations who come together to achieve profitable gains aligned to social and environmental returns. Our purpose is therefore to align CIVIC, CORPORATE and SOCIAL investment objectives to work collaboratively so that we can accelerate change. We believe that all these institutional sectors are increasingly committed to achieving similar results. All three use the same success factors. They all want to see, in all they do:
- deep IMPACT
- measurable OUTCOMES, and
- high PROFILE
‘We want to make massive small change in our towns and cities. We want to address the role that districts, neighbourhoods and quarters have in improving urban growth by finding integrated approaches to change. Multiple interactions make up the complexity of urban society and in turn affect our rapidly changing world. We are set up to challenge this complexity and accelerate movement towards a more resilient, talented and civil city. To meet this challenge, we have created a game changing social enterprise business that brings together smart people with the assets and resources.’
Prizes will be awarded to the first correct solution. Oh, and for good measure the organisation’s email address is almost embarrassingly easy to mis-type:smarturbanism.com
Widening the gulf ...
Here is another example of the Arts Council mis-understanding museums and widening the gulf of understanding between museums and artists. These are the 'objectives' of an ACE-funded project:
- To support museums and artists to work together to open up museum collections in new ways
- To extend the skills of museum staff and artists (note who is listed first) and build their understanding of each others practice (why?)
- To provide inspiring and stretching opportunities for artists (note no mention of museum benefits)
- To attract new audiences to museums (how about helping museums to do what they are already doing, only better)
- To introduce ‘traditional’ museum audiences to high quality contemporary art (note the use of the ‘ ‘. Is it exclusive, or descriptive of museums in general?)
Contemporary artists subvert museums' planned event
One of the delights of the bonfire of the quangos was the move of responsibilities for museums into the Arts Council for England. This was like letting the Art Teacher loose to give History lessons: creating a gulf of understanding. There is knowledge and a desire to communicate clearly on one side: a desire for artistic exploration on the other. Try this example:
Museums at Night is a well-understood, if under-funded, museum promotion but now it seems they must welcome contemporary artists - who will get extra funding - to subvert the original idea. Perish the thought that the extra money might go to the museums to decide what they want to do with it.
Museums at Night 2012 gets funding and extra competitive
element
Arts Council England and the HLF will both be
funding Museums at Night next year, while a new competition is being launched
to find contemporary artists who will receive funding to put on an alternative
Museums at Night event. More here Museums at Night is a well-understood, if under-funded, museum promotion but now it seems they must welcome contemporary artists - who will get extra funding - to subvert the original idea. Perish the thought that the extra money might go to the museums to decide what they want to do with it.
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Artists' bonfire
And now the first in our Creative or What? section:
'The second Manchester Artists' Bonfire took place on Thursday and saw some 30 artists incinerate their creations.
'Organisers said it was "a research project into art and activism" that allowed local artists to collaborate and to discuss art in a direct way.'
So that's all clear then.
'The BBC reports that the Arts Council England has given £3,000 of National Lottery
money to a project allowing artists to burn their work.
'The second Manchester Artists' Bonfire took place on Thursday and saw some 30 artists incinerate their creations.
'Organisers said it was "a research project into art and activism" that allowed local artists to collaborate and to discuss art in a direct way.'
So that's all clear then.
Sunday 19 February 2012
Locked in loo
Cutting-edge investigative journalism does not get much better than the following from the West Briton of 16 February:
Someone using public toilets at Swanpool in Falmouth got a little more than they bargained for when the lock jammed. They ended up being stuck in the cubicle for 20 minutes after a fire crew had to be called to get them out on Friday. The crew, alerted just after 9pm, had to dismantle the lock and use a saw to open the door.
Someone using public toilets at Swanpool in Falmouth got a little more than they bargained for when the lock jammed. They ended up being stuck in the cubicle for 20 minutes after a fire crew had to be called to get them out on Friday. The crew, alerted just after 9pm, had to dismantle the lock and use a saw to open the door.
Welcome
The title Mumblings, Musings and Mutterings being too long and its derivatives having already been taken, we have decided to limit ourselves to the title My Mutters as expressive of the thoughts that we will jot down in this blog. You may get the feeling that the authors are not entirely understanding of, or necessarily comfortable with, the modern world. This is not the case. Don't think that we are simply grumpy old men and women. We think we are the rational ones: it is the rest of the world that has got things out or proportion.
It is difficult to know where this stream of consciousness will take us. Certainly, we will highlight absurdities where we find them - a rich seam currently being the ability of arts-funding organisations to confuse creativity with novelty: to believe that someone who stands on his head for three days is making a statement about world peace and the importance of chocolate in the diet of the western world and therefore deserving of vast sums of money.
Living in Cornwall, we also have the delight of very local 'high quality' journalism typified by the long-remembered headline from a respected London local newspaper Cat Show Fails to Disappoint. To this day, we have been unable to work out exactly what the journalist was trying to say and can only guess how the organisers reacted to the piece.
It is with just such a stirring piece of cutting edge journalism that we start our journey into the unknown. Enjoy the voyage.
It is difficult to know where this stream of consciousness will take us. Certainly, we will highlight absurdities where we find them - a rich seam currently being the ability of arts-funding organisations to confuse creativity with novelty: to believe that someone who stands on his head for three days is making a statement about world peace and the importance of chocolate in the diet of the western world and therefore deserving of vast sums of money.
Living in Cornwall, we also have the delight of very local 'high quality' journalism typified by the long-remembered headline from a respected London local newspaper Cat Show Fails to Disappoint. To this day, we have been unable to work out exactly what the journalist was trying to say and can only guess how the organisers reacted to the piece.
It is with just such a stirring piece of cutting edge journalism that we start our journey into the unknown. Enjoy the voyage.
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