Over the summit...

DELEGATES AT THE BALTIC, DEEP IN CONVERSATION

This post follows a really brilliant (for me certainly, but I hope for others too) few days in the North East for the first Turning Point Network event.

This is also my first post using a new mobile application, so fingers crossed it works!

Incredibly 110 people cleared space in their diaries and, in many cases, made long journies up to BALTIC, in Gateshed. Generousity and a willingness to engage really created a positive atmosphere in which a wide range of discussions were held around 11 tables.

This first event was about starting conversations that will, I hope, now find their way back into the various regional groups. Put another way, there was nothing conclusive about the day - no answers were found. Rather, the key issues facing us were discussed and debated in an attempt to 'define the moment' we find ourselves in, together.

I've collected over 100 post-it notes, each home to an idea, thought, provocation or point of action raised on the day. My job over the next few days (half way through now) will be to distill these down into something coherent that can be shared with everyone.

Once we've gathered some feedback on that first piece of work, Julia Bell and I hope to commission some pieces of writing that will extend thinking in key areas.

Thanks to the Archive team at BALTIC we have some bits of video footage from the day, which I will be uploading soon.

If you would like to be notified when the videos are ready, the best thing to do it subscribe to my blog now... hint, hint.

Programme announced for the first national #turningpointnetwork event

The final programme has been announced for the first meeting of people from across the various visual arts strategy groups, that make up the Turning Point Network.

Hosted by BALTIC and Turning Point North East, this event will bring together over 100 leading figures from across the visual arts in England.

It will be a day of discussion and debate that attempts to 'define the moment', and explore how co-operation through the Turning Point Network might contribute to a stronger visual arts.

More information about the programme can be found here, on the roomman website.

For anyone not attending and who wants to follow the conversation online, I (and other attendees too, I hope) will be making regular posts to Twitter, using the #turningpointnetwork tag.

Thanks to support from the Archive team at BALTIC, we will be posting vox-pops collected throughout the day on the Turning Point North East website (currently in development).

A second national event is also now in planning. It will be hosted by Turning Point South East during Spring 2010, at a venue to be confirmed. This second event will invite into the conversation many people who, although not working through one of the visual arts groups, are critical to the full realisation of this emerging national network. 

If you have any questions about this event please do contact Simon Zimmerman via the contact page. 

For more information about the genesis of this first event, and to learn more about who was invited to attend, please click here now.