Engage Conference 2013: Extraordinary change

Live blogging for Axisweb from Amy Lloyd for the 2013 engage International Conference. Follow us on twitter #engconf13

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#engconf13 Both buoyant and dignified

There is so much at stake for both culture and education at the moment that it has been reassuring to be amongst professionals whose natural response is both calm and measured - retaining a critical stance but certainly not defeated. We are simultaneously more under threat than ever and more needed than ever. We have been quietly learning the skills and becoming the experts that galleries should now turn to. Lizzie Crump's presentation is still running through my head. Her encyclopaedic rundown of the situation set down parameters that were beyond debate and which the rest of the conference could respond to. We know there are huge problems with the art curriculum, we know we are responding with reduced resources - we will continue to create work of the highest quality. Karen Gron's presentation set the tone for conversations between colleagues throughout the two days. It is not that we need reminding that we should work thoughtfully and thoroughly to redefine galleries - rather that it is possible for cultural institutions to share that vision and harmonise in order to achieve it. What is required is steady pressure applied in a consistent direction. Thanks to Sarah Thelwall we have the financial models to support that. I return to work feeling a lot of the work I need to do is already done. I should avoid duplication and seek out the research if these specialists and use it consistently to support me. Thank you to Lesley Guy from Axisweb for her support, fellow blogger Janie Nicoll (and all the other tweeters who joined the conversation) and as always to the amazing team at engage.

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We are optimistic people who are investing in the future

Sarah Mossop - Conference Organiser

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We're wrapping up now - feeling like I'd like to finish off this blog with something more thoughtful but I think that's for this afternoon or even tomorrow. For the moment cheers everybody and see you next year!

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How might the cultural sector take a more holistic and long-term view?

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Melanie Keen - Senior Relationship Manager, Visual Arts at ACE

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Caroline Wright's presentation underlines the value in small investments that mirrors observations from Sarah Thelwall earlier about investing in content first.

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We want to raise broad awareness of the economic challenges faced by visual artists

Caroline Wright - AIR Council Member

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#engconf13 Hannah Barry - Bold Tendencies

Hannah is giving us an outline of Bold Tendencies as a case study in taking advantage of opportunities.  As someone who has only recently started working in Peckham it's really useful to hear the narrative of the project first hand and to discover that their budget has grown from £450 - £140,000 since 2007.  They have to date had over half a million visitors.    

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#engconf13 Dr Steve Ball - Associate Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Apologies - just missed a chunk due to wi-fi issues - I will do my best to catch up.

Hearing from Birmingham REP is a welcome opportunity to put all of this back into a local context.  I've been struck over the past few days but just how many large and impressive cultural organisations there are in Birmingham, so it's good to get a proper reflection of the work going on in the city.  We're getting a portrait of an ambitious and sensitive education programme.

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Lost my wi-fi! Normal services will resume shortly.... Eek!

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#engconf13 Sarah Thelwall - Director at mycake.org

Listening to Sarah Thelwall always reminds me of sitting in a classroom and the teacher is saying something along the lines of 'listen to this now - you're exam is next week and I'm telling you the answers'!  

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Of all the opportunities for your personal or organisation's business model, which do you think could have the biggest impact - now and in the future?

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So many of our galleries and museums are premised on our regeneration ability - we measure our success on how many people come and where they come from

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Claire Antrobus - Independent Consultant

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For people wanting to know more about Sarah Thelwall's research.

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Our education system is obsessed with economic activity

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Christopher Barnatt - Futurist Lecturer