Where we at now?
Based on my thoughts in my last blog and what I’ve found so far, I feel like I need to recap.
Where is Glasgow at now?
Buzzcut has recently set up a collaboration with the CCA, where each month they will host a double bill of performance. The Tron continues to run its scratch night, were practitioners can apply to share 10 minutes of performance to an audience for feedback. In addition to this, the Tron 100 presents practitioners working within the city an opportunity to form a community of practice. Those in the club can access discounted professional development workshops, space and several opportunities to network. Andy Arnold, the director of the Tron and founder of the Arches, has recently written this article about the Arches and what it offered the city.
Into The New continues to act as a platform for emerging artists working across art form. Soon enough, On The Verge, the festival of new work from the MA Classical and Contemporary Text and BA Acting students will take place in Sloans.
Broadcast has bands playing next to every night in their basement and Nice and Sleazy’s continue to have their incredible open mic night on Monday’s. Acts across art form perform in 13th Note and Mono regularly. The Old Hairdressers and Stereo as sister venues open their doors to contemporary performance, new club nights and punk.
Glasgow has a lot going on.
Then why do I feel like there should be something more?
Why was I driven to start this project?
Perhaps this should have been a project about DIY culture.
Perhaps this should have been a project about sustaining an arts practice.
Perhaps this should have been a project about being an individual in a collective.
Perhaps this should have been a project about graduating and trying to find where to best place my practice.
Perhaps this should have been a project about meeting new people.
Perhaps this should have been a project about collaborating with other art forms.
Perhaps this should have been a project about being a part of a community.
I wonder if I would be having these doubts if someone had replied to my emails.
It felt like something needed to happen. It feels like more should be happening. I wonder if my desire to explore the ways in which venues collaborate with artists to engage with audiences was because I believe I have something to offer the performance and punk communities in Glasgow, and elsewhere. I wonder if I wanted to research what was going on in these art forms because I wanted to work out where I fit into this puzzle.
I’ve learnt a lot about punk and contemporary practices. I now know exactly what it is that I want as both an artist and audience member. Maybe this project didn’t quite follow the path that I imagined but I’m where I wanted to be. I’ve got ideas for what my practice can offer this city – just in time for graduating.