MY cynicism about, and disdain for, Malvern Hills District Council's stance towards grassroots arts was illustrated anecdotally a few days ago when I took a poster for my exhibition in May at the John Davies Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold, to the Malvern Tourist Information Centre.
I was told that "events which have local relevance would take precedence". The poster features a watercolour drawing of Black Hill and the information that the exhibition is of over 100 of my paintings and drawings, almost all of the Malvern Hills. To be fair, they did back down in the face of my remonstration but I do wonder what sort of response other Malvern-based artists get when they exhibit or perform outside this bureaucratic "centre of excellence".
The council is allegedly going to appoint an Arts Officer. After my 12-year campaign for this and other arts matters to be dealt with properly by the council, I would be delighted and very surprised if it takes Arts Council and other expert advice and makes an uncompromised, dedicated Arts Officer appointment.
DAVID PRENTICE, Hanley Terrace, Malvern Wells.
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