Tiny topic...

The first part of this report will be relatively unstructured to reflect the nature of the conversation that took place. The second part deals with more concrete ideas and plans for how to achieve what we are looking for. A lot of people spoke in the group and I may misreport things, but I hope this gives an overview of what was discussed and I invite anyone present (or not) to clarify, correct or argue with what is said.

- language and vocabulary. The point was raised that it is difficult to talk about non-institutional concepts through the language of institutions e.g. 'Policy' Could ethos or other language be more appropriate? Or is it important to consider some things within these structures while we live in them?
- Money. How are resources allocated? Within the current economic model, how do we make the case for change?
- Gatekeepers. Institutions are gatekeepers of money and legitimacy
- The difference between amateur and professional. What are the distinctions and how much is this is based on ideas of value and economic reasoning? Is it about more than being paid? Should everyone have the capacity to be an artist?
- Should the arts feel like less of a game?
- Education. This came up repeatedly. Important to create a sense of value in creativity within the curriculum. There are problems with segregating art from other subjects, and also in the idea that it can be 'marked'. Where is the freedom to experiment and fail. This should be part of an artistic education.
- A National Arts Service. Everyone is given space and time to create art.
- Universal Basic Income. UBI could be a useful tool amongst many, but it needs to be part of a larger conversation around the value of the arts.
- Space and allocation of resources. Artists are good at taking over spaces. How do we ensure that these don't just become new institutions with the same problems? i.e. the outsiders become a different type of insider.
- How big is the right audience. Different measures for different artists.
- Collective Ownership and co-operatives. Does this extend beyond artists themselves? . How to ensure pluralism is at the heart of a community/disrupt the current hierarchical structures in operation.
- Institution and schemes that are doing things well now or which are trying to affect change. These operate within institutional structures or despite them, or navigate the current economic landscape parallel to the arts, but we might be able to learn from things they are doing well and reflect on how that could inform a future artistic ethos:
- The Albany in Deptford. An institution which is a community space, for its community first, not a 'theatre' or 'arts institution'. Open, communal space.
- Tickets Ignite. A ticketing scheme where the booking fee is reinvested into the arts
- Bossy (women in the arts network) UK producers (Facebook group) as valuable places for gathering and support outside traditional structures.
- Radical Renewable Arts and Activism Fund (RRAAF). A wind turbine/renewable energy source which generates income for theatre work.
- Prototype
- Creative Industries Federation

PART TWO: Utopia and how we get there.

It was suggested that it might be easier to work if we visualised what we wanted by drawing on a sheet the present and the future. The present indicates things that are happening now or could happen now. The future represents were we want to be. Everything in the middle are the steps and big changes that can get us there. Maybe. They're just suggestions. Disagree, argue, add and adapt as appropriate.

PRESENT
Subsidised ticket prices/pay what you decide/pay what you can. Put theatre within the reach of more people. This is already happening in smaller orgs, why not the National?
Political engagement. Start dialogue with Labour and others advocating a more equitable distribution of wealth etc. Make the arts part of the political discussion.
Work on the artist ecosystem to build a sustainable economy for the theatre.
We must stop saying 'the next generation will solve it'

THE MIDDLE BIT
Reinstatement of theatre in schools
Seasonal/part time artistic work for more people.
Emphasis on being more connected with communities
Co-operatives/collectives
Reconsider unsuitable models: Why are we still touring? Accept some things will have to stop or radically change.
Redistribution of public funding between arts institutions
Hold institutions to account with their resourcefulness and use of funds
Rotational leadership and other more radical governance of organisations.
Disrupt the dependency model (morphine drip of ACE funding)

THE FUTURE
Shared spaces and resources.
Robust and empowering arts eduction
Work free at the point of access
Inherent and recognised value of art
Universal Basic Income
Nationalise YouTube (and everything else)
Decolonisation of the white supremacist, heteronormative, ableist patriarchy.