My dream would be to inhabit a planet that values creativity.
My frustrations are shortsighted political decisions, social injustice and the disregard for the gift of our amazing planet. Dislikes, not many, but baked beans that cling on to the bottom of the tin certainly are on the list.
Most vivid memory tugging on mums apron strings crying at the school gates, I now realises why? after school, college Degree followed by Post Graduate in Fine Art. Leading to teaching Art and Design and later Leadership roles in Education.
64 years later and I still have the drive and passion for the impact of Creative Arts Education.
My ambition is to give something back, that's the “why” behind Creative Portal and The National Youth Gallery.
Influential tutors at that time where Victor Burgin and Stuart Brisley. As a student I supported the Miners strike and realised the power of art to work for change.
My work was in the field of Performance artist which enabled me to use the synergy of Fine Art and my love of Theatre. Currently I am producing my own visual art under the pseudonym of the Art Tourist.
My total belief is in the relevance and validity of creativity and its impact on all our well being. Recent times I have been deeply troubled by the current demise of creative education in the school curriculum and the future damage this will have on our world beating creative industries and culture.
Why Creative Portal… I guess it makes real my personal values about connectivity, sharing and supporting futures.
Currently I am developing a National Visual Arts Youth Gallery with the aim of celebrating our talented young creatives and in a small way addressing the reductionist damage of educational policy.
If you share my passion and you want to know more about Creative Portal or the National Youth Gallery then please email me at, mike@creativeportal.co.uk or mike@nationalyouthgallery.co.uk
Question .....What was the inspiration behind starting this project?
Having spent forty years, hardly believable four decades as a arts teacher and in leadership roles in both FE and HE. The creative communities are hugely unselfish and have the capacity to share and perhaps that had fuelled my ambition to give something back and through the platform send out the message that encourages careers in the visual and expressive arts. Also to highlight the fantastic opportunities to collaborate. There has also been an element of the challenge to see if creating Creative Portal against all the funding and technical unknowns was possible. Socially and politically I also strongly believe that the arts bring huge benefits to our society and all of our well being. Why is the platform free...well it's a real wish for inclusivity.
Question.....Where do you see the project in 5 years?
If momentum builds and the user group grows, then with income from donations, advertising and sponsorship then Creative Portal will be in a position to become a significant future provider of grants to support a diverse range of projects for individuals, start ups and community arts projects. This is an invest to reinvest project, young creatives can invest by simply using the platform services.
Question...What's your link to the arts?
My background started with links to the circus world. Not brilliant schooldays in fact it all felt distanced apart from an inspirational art teacher and the refuge of the art room? School ended without formal qualifications and an early exit to work in the theatre, then onto study as a fine artist exhibiting sculpture and socio targeted performance art. Had some amazing tutors in Stuart Brisley,Steve Willet's and Victor Burgin. Have since produced theatre designs and my own artwork under the label of the Art Tourist! even been an artist model.
Question...How have the arts had an impact on your life?
It's who I am, how I am with creativity governing my thinking and life view. I am certainly a cup half full....in fact I want to know the teasing question as to who's got the missing half!
Question....How do you see the arts impacting the lives of those around you?
It's potentially enormous and can be life changing. It is a sadness that politicians fail to recognise the powerful impact of the arts.
Question...How do you see the future of the arts, if projects like this don't have an input?
Deeply concerned about arts education in an increasingly imbalanced curriculum in schools and the need for those who lead our education systems. The systemic failure to recognise the importance of creative thinking when applied to all professions. The arts can have a great synergy with the stem subjects? even improve the well documented national failings maths and English.
Imagine the importance of the arts, visualise the result If you took away as if by magic everything from our lives that creatives have augmented apart from divinity then we would all be naked.
The arts are both magical,fun and help us to shape our world. My concern is that the current shrinking of arts in the curriculum is not only damaging to our young people's development, but raises the question of who will be attending galleries and museums in the future.
Question....What would be your best piece of advice to young creatives who are just starting their journey?
Live your vision, share your vision, after all creativity is “contagious” , so, be spurred on by believing tin he value of the creative industries to our economy and be confident in your own abilities to be part of that. See the potential in others and opportunities for collaboration. Above all enjoy a lifetime of discovery. Hold onto the belief that the visual and expressive arts can be used to address the issues that plague modern societies...have utopian thoughts.
Question....Why is it so important to have projects like Creative Portal and The National Youth Gallery?
Possibly the clues are above?
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