Written evidence submitted by the Contemporary
Glass Society (arts 15)
SUMMARY
— Contemporary Glass is vibrant in Britain
today, and brings an ancient tradition into our everyday lives.
— The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS)
encourages excellence in glass as a creative medium and promotes
the awareness and appreciation of contemporary glass worldwide.
— The CGS is one of Arts Council England's
Regularly Funded Organisations and receives funding which is essential
to the existence of our organisation.
— To allow the CGS and organisations like
us to continue to exist, any cuts should be kept to a minimum
and spread over a number of years in order to enable us to meet
the cuts and maintain and grow our services.
1. Why Contemporary Glass Matters:
(a) Glass has been created by man for thousands
of years: the Egyptian used the loss wax casting technique; the
Romans and Persians blew glass into useful every day vessels.
Today Britain has a vibrant community of glass-makers and artists
who help to enhance our everyday life through their beautiful
and imaginative sculptures, architectural installations, and everyday
items.
(b) The Contemporary Glass Society was funded
in 1997 and is a non-profit making limited company by guarantee
with dual objectives of encouraging excellence in glass as a creative
medium and developing a greater awareness and appreciation of
contemporary glass worldwide. Membership is by subscription and
open to anyone interested in contemporary glass.
(c) The CGS struggled for many years to survive
and almost disappeared in its early years. However in 2002 CGS
received £20,000 ACE funding, which covered core activities
and enabled a part time administrator to be employed. This funding
allowed the organisation to develop and move forward. The membership
has steadily grown from 170 in 2002 before funding, to over 600
in 2010 including many in Europe and across the world.
(d) Our earned income has grown from £2,000
in 2002 to £27,910 in 2010 and is increasing every year.
We also regularly work with other sponsors and partners to deliver
our programme. Even so, the funding we receive from ACE is absolutely
essential to sustain our small workforce and core activities and
develop our work into the future.
2. Annually we receive around £50,000
from ACE, this allows us to:
(a) Manage an informative website, with members'
own pages.
(b) Print and distribute quarterly, well-designed
and informative Newsletters illustrating work from a wealth of
talented young glass makers and established masters.
(c) Run a mentorship scheme.
(d) Offer bursaries for high quality master classes
for our members.
(e) Run glass-making workshops in schools, offering
hands on experience for children.
(f) Offer advice and information to artists.
(g) Enable regional networking meetings, again
to support makers.
(h) Promote high quality exhibitions of contemporary
glass.
(i) Organise bi-annual conferences.
(j) We currently employ two part time workers
plus four contract workers.
(k) The CGS supports a whole network of studios
and struggling artist's as well as educational establishments.
3. Britain has an enormous amount of artistic
talent that enhances everyday life. The Arts Council enables the
arts to thrive, develop and contribute to the well being of the
nation. It may seem dispensable but it really is not. It feeds
and sustains the art community. Through production, receipts and
export the arts community gives back to the government much of
what it receives.
4. Any funding cuts that have to be made
should be spread over several years allowing the many funded organisations
to adjust and not to destroy or cripple them.
5. The arts organisations understand the
need to work together and conserve resources.
(a) The Contemporary Glass Society:
(i) shares information worldwide with the glass
community;
(ii) supports artists;
(iii) supports students;
(iv) supports trade organisations connected
with glass making;
(v) supports universities and arts educationalists;
(vi) encourages business sponsorship and partnerships;
and
(vii) promotes British Art worldwide.
6. CGS could not survive without ACE funding,
we help sustain a growing and thriving community of contemporary
glass-makers who in turn help to make Britain a better place to
live.
August 2010
|
