IT WAS an undoubted cultural coup.
But have we also just witnessed the start of a potential economic one, too?
The two-day Arts and Islands Conference saw Guernsey take a serious step into the spotlight as some of the art world’s most respected artists, academics and commentators descended on our welcoming shores.
An impressive guest list included artistic heavyweight and household name Antony Gormley, whose most celebrated sculpture – the Angel of the North – has, literally, reached out to millions.
But this conference was about even more than attracting big names and embracing cutting edge critique. The vision was to kickstart a major debate about whether Guernsey could join the prestigious ranks of other destinations as an international centre for the arts.
Instigated by one of the island’s greatest and most genuine of arts champions, Eric Snell, it had every chance of being a success. And that, it appears, has happened.
No stranger to pushing the boundaries, the man – once awarded Ambassador of the Year for helping put Guernsey on the map through one of his own works linking us with Australia via Broadband technology – has long been an artistic driving force. He is also behind Guernsey’s international artist in residence programme, enabling local students to meet and work with inspirational creatives from across the globe.
So could Guernsey really attract the same kind of interest as global arts centres such as Paris or Edinburgh? Well, what may have sounded like ambitious talk when first mooted, has now taken on much more credence after this week’s Castle Cornet event, supported by the recently formed and enthusiastic Guernsey Arts Commission.
A major sticking point will obviously be funding: this conference needed sponsorship from a range of businesses including HSBC. And with Guernsey’s established and hard-won sporting credentials it would be sad to see sport lose out to arts backing.
But if extra money and interest are there, then it seems the will certainly is. As Snell himself pointed out, 30 years ago, during Guernsey’s horticultural heyday, the idea of the island as an international finance centre seemed remote.
Whether an art fan or not, what must be clear to every islander is that if such a move could genuinely help boost our economy, then it is an artistic concept worth exploring.
Article posted on 26th September, 2008 - 2.30pm
Creative force
IT WAS an undoubted cultural coup.
But have we also just witnessed the start of a potential economic one, too?
The two-day Arts and Islands Conference saw Guernsey take a serious step into the spotlight as some of the art world’s most respected artists, academics and commentators descended on our welcoming shores.
An impressive guest list included artistic heavyweight and household name Antony Gormley, whose most celebrated sculpture – the Angel of the North – has, literally, reached out to millions.
But this conference was about even more than attracting big names and embracing cutting edge critique. The vision was to kickstart a major debate about whether Guernsey could join the prestigious ranks of other destinations as an international centre for the arts.
Instigated by one of the island’s greatest and most genuine of arts champions, Eric Snell, it had every chance of being a success. And that, it appears, has happened.
No stranger to pushing the boundaries, the man – once awarded Ambassador of the Year for helping put Guernsey on the map through one of his own works linking us with Australia via Broadband technology – has long been an artistic driving force. He is also behind Guernsey’s international artist in residence programme, enabling local students to meet and work with inspirational creatives from across the globe.
So could Guernsey really attract the same kind of interest as global arts centres such as Paris or Edinburgh? Well, what may have sounded like ambitious talk when first mooted, has now taken on much more credence after this week’s Castle Cornet event, supported by the recently formed and enthusiastic Guernsey Arts Commission.
A major sticking point will obviously be funding: this conference needed sponsorship from a range of businesses including HSBC. And with Guernsey’s established and hard-won sporting credentials it would be sad to see sport lose out to arts backing.
But if extra money and interest are there, then it seems the will certainly is. As Snell himself pointed out, 30 years ago, during Guernsey’s horticultural heyday, the idea of the island as an international finance centre seemed remote.
Whether an art fan or not, what must be clear to every islander is that if such a move could genuinely help boost our economy, then it is an artistic concept worth exploring.
Article posted on 26th September, 2008 - 2.30pm