More Than a Building at Issue

An Open Letter from Arts Correspondent GEORGINA COBURN

OVER THE last couple of weeks in my conversations with artists and gallery owners I have been concerned about the lack of awareness regarding the current consultation process for a new Highland Gallery site. I would have thought that people involved directly in Creative Industries and the public in general would have been better informed about this process. Christmas / New Year period is not an opportune time to gather public response on any issue. It is important that the sites be debated and discussed before a decision is made.

There is no information on the IMAG website about the consultation nor is there any information about current exhibitions. I visited the building to review the “Edges” show and though there were brochures at reception there was nothing to direct me to the display or survey area. The brochures themselves in black and brown with encrypted font would not alert anyone passing by to their purpose. The only reason I knew what to look for was having seen the design on the ICP website.

Both shows at IMAG, “Maternity” and “Edges”, highlight the lack of publicity which seems to be symptomatic of the whole approach to Visual Arts in the current building. The Museum and Gallery function appear to be operating totally separately with zero communication or promotion of exhibitions and events between the two. Museum staff have no interest or information about the gallery function and are referring people to the Exhibitions Unit instead of giving on the spot information about current or forthcoming exhibitions in house or by phone.

Access is about information. As an arts correspondent it is my job to know what is on show in Inverness and the surrounding area. Finding out at IMAG is not an easy job and I think you will find that the general public are less inclined to research multiple what’s on search sites (ICP, Highland 2007, National Galleries) or make numerous phone calls to find out.

This lack of interest and provision for publicity is extremely worrying given the current drive for a new site and the insistence on lumping the two functions of Museum and Gallery together. Other than fear, lack of vision and historical precedent why are we retaining the “Inverness Museum & Art Gallery” within the same building when they are clearly not working together?

If you can’t tackle the issue of promotion, publicity and audience development currently how will this change in a new set of walls? A radical rethink of the whole organisation and its attitude to Visual Arts is needed in direct relation to development of a new site. The absence of Visual Arts at the reopening of IMAG post-refurbishment spoke volumes in terms of priority.

The loan of works from the National Galleries is not enough if you do nothing to promote the exhibitions you house or deliver an education and outreach programme to develop your audience. These issues are basic to any public gallery or arts space in the country. They have long been absent at IMAG to the detriment of the whole area. I have not seen a single advertisement for “Maternity” or anything resembling an education programme to accompany it. Whilst the touring exhibition satisfies the National Galleries remit to reach audiences across Scotland it does not facilitate public access on its own.

Infrastructure is about more than bricks and mortar. What kind of training is given to museum staff? What is the long term development plan, budget and provision for the Exhibitions Unit? What commitment to Visual Arts education exists at IMAG and in relation to a new site? In addition to partnership work with the National Galleries what relationships might be developed with organisations such as Engage and VAGA to share good practice and develop audiences? What is the budget and strategy for local advertising and promotion of exhibition and events? How can links between IMAG and local press be strengthened?

Development of a new site is about more than an increase in square footage. The Guggenheim in Bilbao inspirationally quoted in the site literature is a stand alone facility with a permanent collection at its heart specialising in Contemporary Spanish Art and as famous for its architecture as its function. What plans exist for acquisition of new work and the building of a collection as an international draw? Has an audit been carried out in relation to artworks as part of the Highland Council collection?

Since there is no provision for general comments in the response to the ICP consultation webpage I would like this email included as part of the response.

I sincerely hope that discussion between the Museum and Exhibitions Unit will result in a more coordinated approach to publicity and development of the local audience as a lead in to a new site once it is chosen. A more proactive approach (perhaps a HI~Arts e-bulletin? and better media coverage) might result in more people being made aware of the 11 January deadline.

Press coverage so far (as sparse as it is) reads like a popularity contest rather than a serious debate about the issue of a suitable site and its value to our city and region. I hope that local news and arts editors might seriously address this in the next few weeks and help raise awareness about this important development.

© Georgina Coburn, 2007