39 Lothair Road, L4
So, I had an idea, ran with it but alas (for now) it'll have to put on hold.
The idea was simple, a summer project with local teenagers to paint something beautiful, a butterfly, onto something others deemed not beautiful, an empty 'tinned up' house in Anfield. The original idea was to paint in Granton Road in Everton, where we grew up and my family lived until 2009. I was informed that demolition was too close for work to be carried out in our street so I started looking around the area for an alternative property. This search led me to LFC and this house on the photograph above in Lothair Road.
After months of planning and countless discussions with Liverpool Biennial folk and the Homebaked Crew, a local councillor, a Regeneration Officer, local Youth Club Workers, local teenagers, everyone on my business course, my mentor, my driving instructor, Liverpool Football Club, Regional Social Landlords, an Arts Council Officer, folk at FACT, a local film maker, a local author, at least 10 different paint companies, portaloo hire companies, container hire companies, insurance company, cherry picker companies, other artists, a painter and decorator consultant, my Mum, Dad, Aunty, Cousin, Stevo and Juliet I was ALMOST ready to go...project start date fixed as 23rd July.
However, the Arts Council decided one week ago today not to fund it. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. But that's that. I sulked for the entire weekend and I actually had no clue what to do next. I put everything into this and felt initially like a big giant failure. It's now a week on and I've had time to re-group and let everyone know. I've decided to see if I can now carry it over from a summer project to an Easter one next year...so the journey begins all over again now. Flippeneck.
Now that I've stopped sulking I'm starting to see some real positives coming from Project Butterfly. The amount of people who've jumped on board and been really supportive has been brilliant. I knew nobody on the above list 10 weeks ago - apart from the last five obviously!
Something will come of this.
Good luck! There must be some pots of money somewhere for this! Did you talk to the Arts Officer at the council, or do they not have those anymore?
ReplyDeleteIf we do have an Arts Officer they're invisible! I know what you mean though, there always used to be one didn't there?? I'll just see what happens Clare, was getting so stressed out about it all. The ACE application form is enough to kill even the most positive soul...just not artist friendly in my opinion. I'd much rather 'tell' someone about my idea than write about it. (She says, writing about it!) Ha, you know what I mean though...big difference between writing here and for their application forms. By the way, I loved your last painting you posted on FB.
DeleteJayne we dont you start your own fundraiser via facebook and maybe put a sign up on the actual wall with your intentions and a web address to the fundraising site and you will prob be suprised to the amount of (normal) people who will back your lovely initiative to brighten up the streets of Liverpool. Ave you asked LFC. Prob a stupid question, but maybe they may help with the fundraising. Good luck hun, Love the idea xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHey Nic, some good ideas there...cheers!
DeleteLFC are the ones who agreed to letting me use the house plus the use of the facilities in the stadium for the initial workshops. It's an ongoing dialogue hopefully. I need to find another property now though as the one in Lothair wouldn't be accessible during the footy season.
Poor Jayne,all that work!
ReplyDeleteIt's a brilliant idea tho. Ed reckons you need to think outside the box. Barbed wire = countryside. Why not try your local agricultural merchants? As long as they have "sponsored by" they may be interested, especially if you use the slant of the country meets the urban? Sorry this is a country girl talking and it may be twaddle
Ed recommends McVeigh Parker
Will mull other ideas too
Dx
Hey Dawn, sorry you've lost me on the barbed wire stuff?? Ahhh, is it the barbed wire in the picture? That was just a photie I lifted from tinternet to illustrate a butterfly design...but I think I see where you're going with this now, kinda! You never talk twaddle Mrs! ;-) x
ReplyDeleteand neither does Farmer Ed ;-)
ReplyDelete