I had to go into Bradford today in order to pick up my new glasses, but on my way through Centenary Square to the opticians I sat down on a wall in order to see if the notice of my forthcoming exhibition has been posted on the Big Screen. After a few minutes I was approached by a young woman who was conducting a survey, asking if I had a couple of minutes to spare. When I discovered that the topic of her investigation was provision for the arts locally I could hardly refuse.
The goods news, of course, is that somebody somewhere (I forgot to ask who) considers this to be a topic worthy of investigation. The not-so-good-news emerged later. It seems that the city is thinking of commissioning a large mural in relation to Bradford’s current bid to become the next “City of Culture”. I have a nasty suspicion that whoever is conducting the commission will want to award the contract to some prestigious artist with a national reputation. I fear that the project will be used to make splash justified in terms of “putting Bradford in the map”. Bradford will be looking for its own equivalent of the Angel of the North. The interviewer asked whether I thought it was a good idea, to which my response was that it depends upon how the contract is awarded. It really ought to be an opportunity for local artists to begin to make a mark nationally. What good would it be for Bradford if it is awarded to an Anthony Gormley or a Grayson Perry?
Don’t get me wrong here. This would almost certainly not be a project for which I would be likely to apply. Mural painting requires very special skills which I do not possess (although I have done murals indoors.) I do fear, however, that the project has not been thought through properly, in relation to its declared purpose of benefitting the city …. or more particularly, the population of the city.