Robyn Archer resignation LIVERPOOL'S Capital of Culture plans for 2008 are again shrouded in uncertainty following artistic director Robyn Archer's resignation - how will this affect the planning process as Culture year draws ever nearer? Who do you think should take over the role?
Mike
from Liverpool
15:42:59 24 July 2006
Bill from London: Ever heard of Sir Simon Rattle, The Tall Ships, The Open, The Turner Prize, The Biennial? Surprisie, Surprise - they - unlike Cilla - are all in Merseyside in 08 - and that's before the official line-up announcement in November. As to skateboarding - we had a massive HUB event this w/e - biggest in UK. Where do you get your news - The Daily Trash?
the biggest thing i've heard about liverpool capital of culture is banning skateboarding in the city - what a depressingly **** idea of celebrating a city's culture :(
So some of the performances and acts booked by Robyn Archer are going to be scrapped for being too high brow. What a load of nonsense; what are we going to get instead? Beatles tribute acts, Irish folk bands and Cast no doubt. Having spent time living in Cologne, where abstract art and performances were encouraged, I can say that there were few finer ways to spend an evening then taking in some impromtu street theatre, a mime artist or a traditional
InTheBiz
from Liverpool
02:38:23 09 July 2006
Few questions:
Who hired Archer and shouldn't they be held accountable also?
How do we know that RA isn't being made a scapegoat so that other incompetent members of the Culture Company and Council can wipe clean the slate? Do we need an independent enquiry?
I hear rumours that RA is paid up until 2008...something in excess of ý300k. Is this true? If so, who organised that contract and why?
What is the wages bill for the Culture Company and what has it spent so far on LIVERPOOL?
Who are the artistic team and what are their credentials? I know of only one person with a credible professional background, so who are the others?
A wise decision. Archer is a great performer but she forgets to stop performing when she takes on the role of arts administrator. Just ask the folk at the Adelaide Festival Fringe, Tasmania's Ten Days on the Island festival and even our own Melbourne Festival where her ego rose to Everestian heights when she tried to sing the entire program in announcing her festival plans. Her stagecraft is formidable but as a people person, forget it - unless, of course, you are permitted within that rarefied coterie that surrounds and protects her. Liverpool, you've done a wise thing if your festival is to achieve what YOU want it to achieve.
Den
from Liverpool
15:38:52 06 July 2006
Leaveit to the people of Liverpool? What would we get? Lots of plays of the We wuz poor but we wuz happykind like Twopence to Cross the Mersey and Our Willie that seem to appear with depressing regularity? Liverpool must look to the future now instead of going on about great it once was and it needs someone with an objective eye to do this.It's a year long for Gods sake - we can have both local and international events but please lets make it challenging not Liverpool crowd pleasing. Liverpool can take it!
Joe
09:55:26 06 July 2006
Here's an idea: get some Scousers from the Scotland Road and let them run Capital of Culture. No doubt, millions will be flocking to the 'centre of the universe' to witness to the city's true cultural legacy.
Less than 18 months ago, publications like this were praising Archer; writing features about how 'the diva' would revitalise the city and put Liverpool's true cosmopolitanism right back on the map. Now that she's delivered something challenging (ie. not for the true Liverpudlian), she's stabbed in the back.
What makes people think Capital of Culture is about Liverpudlians anyway? Its main purpose is economic; a propaganda machine to promote investment to the city. That hasn't been working...; there's a growing realisation amongst management that, despite what they were trying to sell, Liverpool isn't actually a cultural city at all. So now, desperation takes hold: let's book Paul McCartney, etc. etc.
Artistic blindness and parochialism is the problem here, not Archer.
BG Blowz
from Liverpool
09:56:44 06 July 2006
Am appalled by the tribal vitriol of fellow citizens. Who in
the Culture Company as it is can butter toast?
OK RA was 'elitist' to
some but my goodness
Liverpool is supposed to represent the UK
not the professional
scousers who think
Culture stopped/ended
with the Beatles. It
is all very sad and
makes us a European
laughing stock again
Looking from the outside as coming from a city (Cardiff) that did not win the 2008 prize (but also took on an Aussie to deliver its ill fated bid) I am unsurprised that yet another foreigner in a high profile cultural role has bitten the dust..what is it these days that we need these globetrotting specialists (it seems every important Cultural position is filled these days with antipodeans)..it really is time that we reconsider our employment strategy in the cultural field and look to our own creative thinkers..ones that have their feet firmly on the ground, have knowledge of local conditions,issues and opportunities that affect real people and can deliver creative partnerships..yes on an International level but never forgetting the skills and creative people of the local region
Robyn was not suited to Liverpool surely soembody who knows the city and knows the people of Merseyside should be appointed to oversee 2008 Bring On Phil Redmond NOW
John
from Liverpool
18:37:30 05 July 2006
Let's get a sense of perspective! 2008 is about cultural diversity, low-medium-high brow, whatever. Keep scouse sentimentality out of it at all costs! There are already a lot of people in this city working in the arts - bring them in more, especially those groups working in the inner city. Stop the blame and recrimination. Let's get on with making 2008 the best Capital of Culture event - ever.
everyman
17:50:28 05 July 2006
So what is new here? They with the money to waste should be held to account but they won't be, they never are. The city is a mess and getting worse, all we need is a clean and safe environment with a future for all. Carpet baggers are doing very well.
As far as I know Archer was Henshaw's choice. Or should that be Hobson's choice! Every time Liverpool has a senior vacancy the job's always seem to go to an outsider whose opinions of Liverpool are as varied and scattered as pigeon droppings! If the Year of Culture does not 'click' with the people of Liverpool then the committee might as well give up now.How much was Robbin' Archer's salary? who were the candidates? Who were the selection committee? Did they not think to ensure her conditions of service included 100% commitment to the City. I mean , where the hell did she come from? Another sickening Storey from the annals of Liverpool Council!
Geoff
from Merseyside
16:01:06 05 July 2006
As soon as she was appointed my gut feeling was that it wouldn't work out for her to be here. I didn't even know much about her but it seemed like her personality wouldn't fit in with the other people she was working with. Diva's like that don't seem to go down too well in Liverpool.
Brian Anjo
from Liverpool
15:58:28 05 July 2006
I would like to see the ordinary man in the street get a shot at the job. In fact, I would like to have a go myself.
John
15:57:21 05 July 2006
why does it seem the typical liverpool way to mess things up in the public sector. this should have been put in the hands of the private sector, it would have made money and not been the shambolic display of money flittered away by people in positions in local government that want hanging. the new kings dock arena - 10k people? tell me hows that going to compete with the MEN? just one example in a whole catalog of events which has turned into a fracas of the highest order
I am very happy and relieved she has gone, but we should not stop there. The Capital of Culture Team is full of non Merserysiders with little perception of what makes this city tick other than what they have gleaned from the internet or local press. Believe me I have met some of them and most could not give you the directions to Scotland Road.
The question to be asked is who was responsible for giving Ms Archer the job in the first place.
Although Cllr Storey states he is unconcerned at her departure, why has he only now spoken up on this matter. He should of spent his time conspiring against her rather than Sir David Henshaw who at least turned the city's fortunes around.
Are any Liverpudlians or Mersysider`s involved in the decision making at the Capital of Culture Company? All the people I have met are from the South East.
Isabelle
14:52:57 05 July 2006
How many are earning thousands and thousands of pounds. They were advertising some of the jobs at ý100,000 per annum. Is it worth it? Who's paying? I'd like to see an audit of the whole thing!
jayne
from liverpool
14:40:07 05 July 2006
the impression i get is archer wasnt very popular with her colleagues and didnt really understand or listen to the local community. hopefully her departure will refresh the 08 programme with the emphasis on local arts organisations and people in liverpool. thats what won the bid afterall. i saw supervision and enjoyed it but i dont think it was marketed correctly. i am sure we'll get over it and best she leaves now rather than causing more tension in the culture partnerships. i'm available to fill her job if you want to give it to someone local!
How wise everyone is after the event.
Who appointed her and how much did she cost and why didn't anyone speak up before? Sources close to her are just as responsible, and should be brought to task.
Never could understand why she was given the post anyway. Liverpool won the title mainly due to local people, therefore local people should be running the show.
Matty
from Liverpool
13:32:24 05 July 2006
What on earth is going on here? Yesterday she 'resigned' today the Council is making out she's been sacked. As usual the spin machine is the only thing at the Town Hall that actually works! Sack the lot of them and let the creative people of Liverpool sort out this fiasco!!
Paul
from Liverpool
12:30:44 05 July 2006
Who employed this woman and why? What has she been doing for the last year in Australia. For that matter what has the culture company been doing. Ok so they have secured some sponsorship - is it enough to cover the exhorbitant wages they receive for doing nothing else.
Typical Liverpool quango, a self serving fiasco!
