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Online uprising to save Poole's Kube gallery (From Dorset Echo)
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Online uprising to save Poole's Kube gallery
7:05pm Friday 1st January 2010
AN online uprising to save the axed Kube art gallery in Poole is gathering force with members planning a mass protest march through the town.
Facebook group ‘Save the Kube’ already has more than 800 members who are sharing ideas for how to save the iconic arts space from closure at the end of this month.
As well as lobbying local MPs campaigners are planning a protest march on Saturday, January 16, setting out from the Sea Music Sculpture on Poole Quay, going up the High Street before finally finishing at the Kube.
They have coined the slogan “art not offices” are planning a moving art exhibition as part of the march to drum their message home.
The landmark £2.4million gallery at Bournemouth and Poole’s North Road is set to close on January 31 after the college withdrew funding.
It has housed an array of exhibitions and events, supporting the work of local artists and acclaimed figures such as Antony Gormley, Tracey Emin, and Damien Hirst. It has also won three national awards for its education programme.
But Bournemouth and Poole College principal and chief executive Lawrence Vincent said when the closure was announced: “We can no longer justify financially supporting the gallery as a public space, and intend to use the area to the best advantage for our students as a state-of-the-art teaching zone.”
Members of the Facebook group pledging to save it include artists, staff members and others in the art world, as well as residents and visitors.
Their comments include: “This is one of the best things Poole has going for it and it's heartbreaking to think of it being used for any other purpose,” and “for the Kube to close would be an outrage.”
Kube manager Sandy Wilderspin also commented on the site urging people to contact MPs and the bodies such as the Arts Council.
“Community voice and action can be a very powerful tool,” she added.
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Your Say YourEcho
Brown Girl, christchurch says...
6:28pm Sun 3 Jan 10
I would also like to point out to 'All Seeing Eye' that apart from the inherent value of art (inspiring and fulfilling the intellectual and spiritual needs of humanity) and design (everything that is not naturally occurring is designed by someone), they also contribute over £8 billion to the British economy and, therefore, offer a diverse range of employment opportunities.
MissLiberty, Bournemouth says...
8:21am Mon 4 Jan 10
All Seeing Eye, Poole says...
9:34am Mon 4 Jan 10
MissLiberty wrote:I hope your pipes freeze and you can't get a plumber - an out of work artie Luvvie won't be able to help you.
The Arts and creative industries contribute 12% of the national economy and to the health and well-being of many, the Arts deserve all the support it can get. Congratulations to the organizers of the protest on jan. 16, I hope the sun shines for you.
As before get into the real world, if you want to see your 'art' visit a play group as they are equally good if not better that artie students!!
David Reeves, Poole says...
2:51pm Mon 4 Jan 10
Our loss is of an asset which our taxes have paid for. The fact that not everyone chooses to use it is not a sensible reason for closing it down.
Its summer exhibition was aimed at kids on holiday: there is a tourism aspect to this, and tourism means money
All Seeing Eye, Poole says...
4:49pm Mon 4 Jan 10
David Reeves wrote:Remove your head etc.
The Kube is for everyone. It is not just a teaching facility. Our loss is of an asset which our taxes have paid for. The fact that not everyone chooses to use it is not a sensible reason for closing it down. Its summer exhibition was aimed at kids on holiday: there is a tourism aspect to this, and tourism means money
I am a local resident and did not see any publicity about anything in your comments, is that because it was so embarrassing to publicise. As I said before a kindergarten class makes better art than the ‘con’ artists and it is a lot less cost to produce. It is all about ‘The Kings New Clothes’ isn’t it.
The building the ‘Kube’ (I suppose its luvvie trendy to misspell) takes up could be used for classrooms to teach students something of benefit for themselves and the general public.
alphalpha, Poole says...
5:57pm Tue 5 Jan 10
rofenstein, Bournemouth says...
8:30pm Tue 5 Jan 10
Tig, Poole says...
10:52pm Tue 5 Jan 10
All Seeing Eye wrote:All Seeing Eye, judging by your spelling mistakes and, in particular, the lack of punctuation in many of your posts, you are presumably one of the "luvvies" that you refer to?
David Reeves wrote: The Kube is for everyone. It is not just a teaching facility. Our loss is of an asset which our taxes have paid for. The fact that not everyone chooses to use it is not a sensible reason for closing it down. Its summer exhibition was aimed at kids on holiday: there is a tourism aspect to this, and tourism means moneyRemove your head etc. I am a local resident and did not see any publicity about anything in your comments, is that because it was so embarrassing to publicise. As I said before a kindergarten class makes better art than the ‘con’ artists and it is a lot less cost to produce. It is all about ‘The Kings New Clothes’ isn’t it. The building the ‘Kube’ (I suppose its luvvie trendy to misspell) takes up could be used for classrooms to teach students something of benefit for themselves and the general public.
rofenstein, Bournemouth says...
5:18pm Mon 11 Jan 10
n.com/online/33348.h
tml
SET TO CLOSE: The Kube gallery in Poole
EXHIBITED: Tracy Emin
EXHIBITED: Damien Hirst
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All Seeing Eye, Poole says...
11:32am Sun 3 Jan 10
Shut the place down, it’s only for lovvies. Have they not heard of the "Kings New Clothes"?
Let the college teach worthwhile trades not arty **** that only put the students on the dole afterwards.