31 August 2007

Good evening. Many thanks to everyone for coming along this evening

In particular I would like to thank Laura, Cris and Leon, for all their work and time in putting together an ever-expanding E17 arts Trail Programme that we are here this evening to launch.

I am proud to be able to stand in front of you today as Leader of a Council that is committed to, funds and fully support arts and culture within Waltham Forest. Not only that but is increasing it’s support and funding year on year, for it’s local arts and culture offer, contrary to certain organisations websites.

But funding not only it’s cultural and artistic heritage, out of local tax payers money, which are of course of significant national and international import, but increasingly the artists of the here and now and hopefully the future.  Loakes and Co are clear that the reference points for this boroughs arts and culture should not simply be, William Morris and the nineteenth century, in isolation, no we are clear that we need to build and add onto that significant inheritance and custodian role, by developing and working with the artistic community and the arts of the 21st century Waltham Forest and the diverse audiences and communities, which it relates too. That is why the Council provided an extra £2k to help fund this event.

Celebrate and cherish the past, our heritage and inheritance, but time does not stand still and if we do not recognise and support with equal vigour, a vigour which has clearly been demonstrated by the energy poured into the recent and continuing William Morris Gallery campaign, the opportunities and wealth of talent which we currently have in today’s artistic community, surely no better demonstrated by the E17 Arts Trail, then that is the way cultural limbo lies, not, as some would have us believe, as a result of the decisions made the Council.

I am particularly delighted to be hosting in a Council building of significant cultural heritage importance, a launch event for the E17 Arts Trail. The council and other interested parties have supported the Trail financially and I certainly believe it is the most impressive Arts Trail I have seen to date.

The Trail clearly promotes Waltham Forest’s arts communities big and small, demonstrating in all its glory the wonderful example of how much there is to be enjoyed within the borough.

The borough’s heritage will be shown to it’s very best effect and I am sure that the huge variety of this trail will attract more people than ever to show what our borough has to offer.

The E17 Arts Trail sets a clear marker for what can be achieved and delivered, here in Waltham Forest and also sets a very high standard for what we need to achieve from the outset of the Cultural Olympiad next summer.

I know the energy, commitment, and the ideas and quite clearly the talent exists here to make Waltham Forest stand out in the Cultural Olympiad, but our collective focus is sometimes out of sink or even distracted. It seems we would rather expend a huge amount of energy and months entrenched in raking over the bones of a single Council made decision, than come together, sit down and build plans to exploit the single most significant cultural and global event to impact WF in a hundred years, an event that will probably shape and determine the nature of WF for a further 100 years.

The cultural services inspection of the Council, announced this week- a fair service, with promising prospects for improvement- makes it clear, we still have much more to do, so I put my hands up I recognise the weaknesses as others recognise the strengths of our cultural services and pledge that as recognised by the Audit Commission, WF will do its part in improving the service, as best we can, though I hope, and I know, we can only do so through a constructive, challenging and ultimately a strong relationship with the arts and cultural sectors in Waltham Forest.

Thank you Laura, Cris and Leon for organising the Trail and thank you for all the artists, sponsors and hosts for making this a reality.