Blog me about it

When I was in Seoul, I spent all of my spare weekends seeking out something exciting and new to do. While in a foreign country I thought to myself, "You only live once!" I barely had to try to find new things. As a foreigner, everything you encounter is new. I went see The Nutcracker, The B-Boy and the Ballerina (as seen above), the Whitney Houston concert, countless museums, palaces full of beauty and architecture, the DMZ, a butterfly festival, a boat cruise along the Hangul, the Lotus Lantern parade, a Buddhist retreat, and I spent lots of time at amusement parks. The information for events is always out there. We just have to look for it. People need to get curious about their cities and embrace what is going on within them. Where has their craving for adventure gone? Some people are all too comfortable to stay indoors and watch television until their eyes roll inside their head. What happened to fun, free, curiousity? My enjoyment was a mouse-click away. I found two useful blogs which told me anything I wanted to know. Blogs are the best way to communicate to the new generation of techies and avid adventurers.

Here in London, most of the advertisments I see are stapled posters on the light poles of downtown, or in Scene Magazine. Culture Days was not a success, and I'm sure many events pass unsatisfied in London. I have found a few hotspots for London's art scene, but they are both websites...

http://www.londonarts.ca/Default.aspx?Select=Events

http://www.londonfuse.ca/

These sites are interesting and provide great information, but where are the blogs? Who is recording what is happening in London?

I know, I know, London is not as big as Seoul- but I can't help but notice a lack.

Instead of companies sending emails which say "Invest now" or "Buy tickets" it may be more better to make communications more personal. Promoters need to build a relationship with audiences. Blogs are interactive and easy to view. They take time to establish, but they could be worthwhile.

For the Love of Art

Celebrate, Engage, Invest

What do those words mean to you?
Are they appealing? provocative? demanding?

I think they are all of the above. The London Arts Council is in the process of branding itself. Their new logo looks like this!

The launch of their brand coincided with the start of Culture Days. Their logo sports a purple heart for valor, and an obvious symbol for love. Love art. The three word attempt to explain how you too can love art, or express your love of art. This simple design is recognizable and connotes different meanings:

Celebrate:

Party, Dance, Joy, Fun

This positive word reminds people how the arts can allow you to have fun and experience new things.

Engage:

Participate, captivate, to draw attention.

This word builds a sense of community and encourages people to join in, and be a part of something bigger. This is very important for the arts because they are a form of self expression and self realization. The arts has the amazing ability to bring people together and to help them find their individuality.

Invest:

To Give

This word could refer to time, money, emotional energy, supplies, encouragement, etc.

There are many ways to invest. This word is bold and unafraid. It does not shy away from the fact that the arts needs money. It explicitly asks for financial help. INVEST YOUR MONEY. Only after people think further than their first reaction do they realize they can invest in all kinds of ways.

The logo could mean big things for the London Arts Council. Right now, not a lot of people know about its function or what it does. A logo has the power to associate a picture with a company. If all goes well, the new logo will become recognizable within the City of London.

And All the World's a Stage

The City of London is a city filled with creative energy. There are lots of places around town that can attest to that. The downtown milieu is complete with graffiti, architecture, and events. The London Arts Project, The Grand Theatre, The Palace Theatre, The Potter's Guild, etc., all contribute to a creative environment.

Very recently, London hosted a car-free Sunday on Dundas street (the heart of downtown). The town crier was ringing his bell to kick off the main stage events on September 26th. Museum London was there with sidewalk chalk for the kids to create their own art, and there was a make-your-own-button stand, and many bands to serenade the street-walkers. On this day, my personal favorite sanctuary was the used bookstore "Attic Books". I spent lots of time and money searching out old Shakespearean prints and checking out their plays. I also ended up purchasing a book on the making of the musical RENT from Anthony Rapps perspective. This bookstore holds some amazing treasures for art-lovers and history buffs. There was lots of positive energy, people to participate, and events galore.

On this same weekend was the kick-off of the nation-wide "Culture Days". I was given a huge pamphlet  create by the London Arts Council, which told me what events were going on. I knew precisely where I wanted to be. I went to check out The Grand Theatre first. I immediately noticed that there were more people running the event than hosting it. I signed up for the "Props Workshop" along with two 12year old girls. The workshop was hosted by the head of the prop department, John Shearer. Our task was to create fake food that would be perfect for a stage production. We all made delicious-looking donuts out of foam, beads and glue.. yum yum. I had a lot of fun at the theatre and I thought that a lot of people missed out. To be honest, the entire event was poorly advertised. The date coincided with downtown London's Car-Free Sunday, and it seemed that the marketing of the event was limited to those that read either "The Beat" or "Scene" magazine. Most people had no idea what was happening. I wandered all the way over to the Aeolian Hall to check out the music appreciation event, only to be left stranded in their reception hall and peer awkwardly into the performance hall and see three people standing around a piano. I did not feel welcomed or motivated to join the group. Just across the street the Palace Theatre put on a page-to-stage workshop only to discover that due to poor advertising, only their direct volunteers participated. I realize that this event kicked-off this year, and I also realize that there wasn't an excessive amount of money to advertise, but a lot of the terrific opportunities were missed by the general public. If the arts are for everyone, then perhaps we need to reach out more vigorously.

The one interesting thing that the London Arts Council did was to create London's own Poet Laureate. In doing so the event got front-page publicity in the London Free Press. I understand that creating one was a strategic move for putting London on the map... but I don't think it helps Londoners enjoy their arts and feel like part of a community. If anything I think it may contribute to the "elitist" attitude that the arts maintains.

I look forward to more Car-Free Sundays and Culture Days in the future. I guess I will keep my eye out for the ads.

Ad *Magic*

The Ontario Science Center is amazing! This past summer, the Ontario Science Center decided to put a Harry Potter exhibit together. They mass advertised, and created a fun website in which you must be sorted into a Hogwarts house to enter. Within the exhibit, there were props from the film and fun activities for children. Everyone I spoke to in the GTA was aware of the attraction. Choosing a pop-culture phenomenon to attract customers was a great idea, and although they are not an Arts Organization, I believe that a fun, sexy attraction is perfect for creating buzz for an organization.

Check out their awesome website:

http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/HarryPotter/home.aspx

Right Idea, Wrong Tree

When you look at downtown London, there is a smattering of restaurants from every ethnicity, book stores, stag shops, a Starbucks, and a strip club. But if you look even closer, there are hidden murals of graffiti and not-so-oblivious, colourful metal trees. The City of London approved the addition of these trees in order to help promote London as “The Forest City”, and they have placed them in locations around London where trees cannot grow. When I speak about these trees to ... well, anyone, they all say “Those ugly things are such a waste of money!”

Yes, the trees are hideous, but could this aesthetic train-wreck have a higher purpose? And if so, does the higher purpose make itself known? The one positive thing I notice is that the city is using art to promote itself. This in itself is a great idea. People notice the trees and this helps make London special. My question is, “Is it worth it?” The money that was used for the trees could be invested into other Arts Organizations, such as The Palace Theatre, or Museum London, or the Arts Project. No matter how much I want to believe that they are a good idea, I cannot help but think they were a waste of money and that Londoners think of this too. Their money should be invested in art or activities that are appealing.

 A few years ago, The City of London started the “Tree Trunk Tour”, an activity where artists would carve a design into the trunk of a tree. The trunks are decorated with anything from angels to waterfalls, and they are beautiful. This is the perfect example of how using art in an attractive way can be a complete success.