Leave London Claire Hicks, 26 January 2015 The group, approached the discussion from three main propositions. 1. to leave London ‘permanently’ - to relocate 2. to create stronger artistic relationships outside of London 3. to metaphorically leave London, ie to give it less value & power over artistic considerations People talked about their own experiences of leaving, making work & living outside London Opportunity to reinvent myself I could be influenced by the people around me not by the art of London Found normal life influences, in London other artists and their work can be limiting I found it easier to find a sense of self It can be an insular, though not inward – a community, a family There can be less money, but there are lower costs Moved for artistic reasons, artistic drivers…. Some people move because they will get more funding and support (perhaps building on organisational support or artistic relationships) Collaborations with people in London continue, your don’t have to leave everyone behind and make a clean slate I was able to pursue my individual experimentation I am building an artistic community without the eyes of others upon me/us Outside of London there is space – to be the first, the best…. Allows experimentation Artistic growth. Journeys of self discovery. Going abroad can be a choice too. Living abroad gave me a sense of how to build a sense of community, allowed me to find a way to be self-sufficient and through this to find a tribe of my own. There are places outside to come and make work (e.g. performance lab) to get away and focus on the art being made Being outside London offers different models of living Rural areas provide a different kind of work, a different way to make work, and really good work is being made there. By not coming into London or living there, I avoid the social overhead. London can be a distraction. New context, new identity, new opportunity. Places outside of London that we spoke about positively…. Bristol Newcastle The North East Yorkshire Nottingham Hastings The South West Sheffield Lancaster Birmingham Manchester Rural places Basingstoke Norfolk And their thoughts and desires and fears around leaving. Do you need an ‘invitation’, something to go to? Will the local pool of artists be more restricted? Will I be able to find people to work with that are good enough? The way in which outside of London is perceived. London, Birmingham and the North. It is seen as all the same, but there are huge differences, not least between urban and rural locations, and regional differences. That there isn't the same quality of work possible outside of work. Conversely many people in London stated categorically that some of the best work was being created outside of London. I have realized that I have become metropolitan and I can’t/don’t want to live differently. There is a certain freedom offered by London, by being able to get lost. In London one is often sustained by a belief in opportunity rather than real work/life happening Maybe this is the same with London as with Los Angeles – a perception of opportunity I often flirt with the idea of leaving, but I’m scared of the transition. I’m worried I won’t be able to make my living – the financial fear. Change is scary. I would be leaving my audience. And the audiences outside of London. Audiences deserve as much outside of London as within. Audiences can be far more open minded. Audiences appreciative, diversity of people attending, not the same ‘faces’ (usual suspects) It can be less easy to find, an ‘arts’ audience in the sense that you need to not assume that you are talking to people who are immersed in the arts and arts language. If you leave London you are not taking your bounty to them, think about what you can offer. And the arts communities outside London If you leave London you are not taking your bounty to them, think about what you can offer. New people are welcome More exposure to different people is exciting When I want to come to London or work in London I do Is this something about age? Are these time of life considerations? things become tiring that you could once put up with people want to start families and have their own houses and don’t feel they can afford this in London or want a different lifestyle There is the possibility to leave London whilst living there, locally – South East London focus that makes going into the rest of London something separate. Create this same kind of focus perhaps. Do you need to leave London or do you just need a holiday?! On the one hand, on the other It is good to know in London what you want to do London is good if you don’t know what to do London is good to help you develop your voice. London can make it hard to become your own artist, too much distraction, too many influences. London - Anonymity is good, Anonymity is bad Outside – Visibility is good, Visibility is bad Outside London you can be at the service of your community What if I don’t want to be at the service of my community In London I can just make what I want Outside of London you can focus on what you want to make Leave my ‘tribe’ Create/Find a new ‘tribe’ Have a focus on local creativity Bring in whoever you need Other things people said Rural touring is the most important work happening in Britain London can be a very dry place artistically to live for some kinds of work It seems to young people that you have to come to London. Its great that people still come together physically, like today. That still happens. With London isn’t it often quantity rather than quality? I guess I have been unhappy that people (media, London folk) haven’t valued what I have been doing outside of London as much as if it had happened in Shoreditch. But does that matter? Do I need London & its media to validate me and what I do? Britain is a tiny island, we can move about it very easily Can London be more outward looking? There is a need for connection, both ways…… This conversation was part of that connection and exchange. Tags: regions, tribe, misconceptions, metropolitan, connection, opportunity, Regions, London, rural, Misconceptions, discovery, london, fear, Opportunity