The place where we create is unique, sometimes evolving as a reference based ecosystem which has layers, sections or distinct areas that can chart our creative evolution.

There seems to be an obsession with those who are non apparent creative’s to ‘de-clutter’ it becomes a mantra which usually follows periods of inactivity in their work. The problem is when they start to try and impose it as good practice in all areas or ‘activity’.

My creative processes are so varied that I cannot safely say there is a method, model or ideal space. Equally my creative environment and circumstances often dictate the creativity itself.

I noticed this when I had a civil service job after my degree (well you had overdrafts to get you through University in my time).

My 6 years studying art and having the luxury of a daily creative studio had lulled me into a state of mental and physical stretching. I could literally ‘swing a cat’ and not hit the canvas!

Having studied commercial art and design for four of those years, I was well organized and disciplined when I began my two year degree in the polar extreme of Fine Art. From early on my time had been organized around client briefs, schedules and the golden rule of all creativity (usually overlooked by those trained to not consider what happens when you leave education -  institutionalized) It’s what you leave out that you have to learn.

When I began working in the office job – BAM! No space, no time and not inspiration.

Having been born into a family of artist’s I was lucky not to have the constraints placed on me by some parents whereby drawing and painting, music, writing etc  is something you do as a hobby and I was always encouraged by my Mother (An art student of the sixties) to pursue my creative development.

The biggest factor was the creativity itself, I had always pursued all of them with equal passion. I chose not to ‘study’ music as at that time it was a very academic path leading to orchestral work – not for someone who had grown up listening to Motown, Zeppelin and The Beatles etc. But played in may bands since the age of 15 as singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboard or anything else I could get my hands on to learn to play.

In some ways I adapted quickly to my new environment where adults behave like frightened rabbits when the boss is around – or worse, like school children telling tales to teacher to make themselves look good. Wow was this a culture shock!

My approach to painting has always been a slowly evolving process and 90% of the time was preparing myself mentally for 10% activity. Mind you the 10% activity could be three days non stop with little sleep!

So what to do when you have no time? No space and when you do get home, eat and sit down it’s time to sleep? I adapted – and writing became my number one creative outlet. Sitting in café’s, people watching with a little notebook and pen – spending my lunch breaks (That’s what I mean about the school mentality) furiously scribbling my thoughts, ideas and poetry. I became schizophrenic in my two worlds. Like a quick change into the superman outfit as I left the office – becoming someone else entirely.

Circumstances change, jobs change and my creativity changes. There aren’t many areas of creativity I haven’t worked in over the last 20 years and I continue to evolve as the creative tools and culture evolves.

So the spaces also evolve. Clean, tidy and comfy café’s are great for my writing. Large open high walled studios for painting or music and my attic space has become the hub for my video and sound production.

It’s not written in stone – a small rented flat in Moseley was the place where I wrote loads fantastic music. It just seemed to lend itself to it for no apparent reason. It was no different to the last rented flat – but had a ‘feeling’ about it.

With this in mind I decided to take some snaps of my creative space in the attic and document my current environment. Organised chaos it may look like, but it’s my space. For this period of time anyway.  

LSd

As usual - It's only my opinion but....

Oh yes it all happened in March dontcha-know. Those last minute pay rises bonuses at management level slipped in at the end of 'any other business', the holes in the road which mysteriously need digging and over resourcing over night, that last minute dash to Spend Spend Spend! on meaningless unnecessary research that never gets read. In short the funding spend bonanza.

What am I saying?

Funding procedures and practice and the funding and economic redevelopment projects aimed at supporting ‘creative industries’ has actually become a system supporting government ‘intervention[1]’ and policy. That policy has either intentionally or inadvertently become a controlling factor in the human act of creativity and now acts in a legislative, often excluding manner and is often damaging for the industries it claims to ‘support’[2].

The funding system has led to: -

1               A skewed artificial view of the creative industries in both nature, practice, shape, scope and for the purposes of counting economic value attached to it.

2               A new industry[3] which originated as a parasite on the back of creativity – and has now been extremely manipulative in reversing the role. This new ‘industry’ is policed by civil servants, accountants, admin paper pushers and is predominantly made up of those who are not from a creative background and have little or no understanding of the nature of either creativity or indeed commercial practice.

3               This layer of industry has a workforce skilled only in administrative practice and procedure.

4               This industry began to recognize its lack of credibility and sought to legitimize its position of ‘superiority’ over the creative industry by creating often unnecessary layers of beaurocracy and or statistical data analysis which bares no resemblance to the nature shape or practice of the business. In more recent years it has transcended this feeling of inadequacy and in a process of self promotion and sheer ignorance now largely believes in it’s own myth.

5               Because of this the funding system[4] is often flawed in it’s remit and misunderstands the nature of the industry. It has done two things: -

a)     Imposed artificial rules on creativity and therefore the creative process.

b)    Generated a need to either alter the course of original concept in order to gain financial support or cause the creative practitioner to give false indication as to the intention to meet those inappropriate requirements and outcomes.

6               The result is that the new industry of bid writers have taken up a very old industry mantle which solicits money under false pretenses – this used to be called extortion.

With this in mind we are currently at an important time for the creative accounting. The mad dash to spend spend spend which inevitably results in Shit Shit Shit!

If only there was a way to be…well…thrifty or selective in these times of tax-payer-benefactor[5]. If only there was a recognition for spending on the worthwhile and handing back if there weren’t enough interesting and culturally engaging things to ‘buy’. If only the decision was made by those who actually know something of the business and arts they are  'supporting' If only they had ever run a business themselves - or even worked in the sector - or even worked in the commercial world. 

But no, the directive engineered from policy (Government[6]) is ‘If you haven’t spent it this year then you don’t get it next year’[7] – which is basically saying creativity is a constant state and never deviates in volume. If you have set the bench mark at the start of the process then it remains the bench mark.

In fact – what we are talking about is imposing mechanical economic and fiscal practice on creativity.

It’s odd that to value creativity we need to align it with financial value and business terminology.

Are you creative? Come and see our business advisor…Have you got a good idea? Come and help us spend some money to provide us with an unnecessary position.

When the government foisted the ‘creative industries’ banner on us they were both insightful and manipulative. They also, without fail, get it spectacularly wrong. Where they are clever is in instilling plans through the route to everyone’s heart in these sorry times of economic downfall – CASH.

But only a little bit and never enough to create true independence from the hand that feeds.

5 – 10 years ago if I would ask any designer, musician, writer sculptor or painter if they see themselves as industry? The answer would be largely ‘No I am an artist’. 

Well here’s the thing, ask the new generation of ‘creatives’ if they are industry and the answer is invariably ‘yes – I work in the creative industries’ so entrenched is this idea and terminology that within 5 years we have lost the right to be creative for the sake of it. Oh Thatcher you did wonders stamping out individuality.

The first to go were the independent art colleges – swallowed up by the dash to become a University by capacity rather than by design or accomplishment - not so much red brick as breeze block. There is no place for creativity in the traditional sense, free thinking, political insightful and dangerous. Does society really see creatives as lazy near-do-well’s or has government driven media created this notion? Was the lottery ever set up to subsidize Mrs. Jones’s hip op? Why have we consistently had the notion of a conflict between arts funding and health? And why do we have a whole layer of bureaucracy, civil servants, accountants, and now university teachers who perpetuate this nonsense because it makes for more interesting paperwork?

We have been assimilated by buzz words and business strategy and slowly grown dependant on funding in order to even create. What we have now is creativity by committee. If you want to create you have to follow the prescribed rules of engagement. You have to create by government design and in their own image. In short we have replaced the disproportionate scale of the once wealthy patrons alongside the slightly smaller religious figures with the same design albeit without the lapis Lazuli emblazoned clothes. Those writing the cheques are now the larger of the saints.

Where once we found the Catholic church peddling it’s own visual propaganda, we find a new religion peddling spending power.

Where once collectors were benefactors or there to be harbingers of good taste, we have a whole new industry of bid writers[8]

Creativity if it is an industry SIC code based business is in decline due exactly to those who purport to help and 'advise' it. 

Businesses are closing daily and being replaced with funded projects who occupy the market sector with 'free' services. Free web design, Free video, Free marketing, Free business advice and free representation to governments and think tanks - but at what cost?

Ask any client whether they would like to buy a service or have it for nothing and guess what the answer is? 

Ask any SME if they can offer a service cheaper than free? and well...

Real business with overheads are either propped up by funding themselves - usually distracted from core activity or being replaced with funded trading arms of universities and other education establishments who masquerade as profit making. RDA funded initiatives who have a finite life-span on the life support of the funding whims of those 'in the know'. And we have the cartels who sit at every panel, discussion group and decision making board carving up  the spoils of the governments lame attempts to benefit the arts and emerging imaginary 'digital revolution'. Those who write the opportunities and publish them reluctantly in the most obscure sites and papers so as to be 'transparent' in complying with the rules - but leaving little or no opportunity for anyone to bid for or win the funds which are already allocated to the usual suspects.

The system is corrupt, ineffective and manipulative. The system is not supporting creative industries - it is killing it!