Allegations of elitism in the art world are easiy levelled. A perception of remoteness from ordinary people is not helped by fact that many participants can only survive if they have a well-off background, a rich benefactor or are prepared to starve in a garret.
Noone could accuse Councillor David McDonald, who has represented Greater Pollok on Glasgow City Council for a decade, of elitism. Yet the new chair of Glasgow Life is keen to point out the contribution artistic industry - in all its forms - makes to the life of the city. The Year of Culture, regular success in the Turner Prize and the prominence of the Glasgow School of Art have all given it a place on the cultural map. But the rewards for many artists are thin - with most earning less than half of an average salary.
If we value the contribution of artists to our cultural lives – and we should – then we need to do more. Artists’ colonies, where housing and working space are made available in one, are an intriguing and welcome proposal. Apart from affordable living space and the creative possibilities of collaboration, they would make use of disused council properties.
Creativity in all its forms has helped Glasgow’s reputational reinvention and brought economic benefit. But we cannot hope for that to continue unless we invest in the futures of Scottish artists, making these colonies a very welcome suggestion.
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