https://www.naturalbeings.co.uk/post/what-does-the-defunding-of-the-arts-mean-for-society
I was recently approached by Lousia and Jon, of the Natural Beings Collective, to share my story with them of how art has positively impacted my life. With the British government announcing to cut higher education arts degree funding by 50%, starting from the 2021-2022 academic year, I was invited to talk with the Natural Beings collective on a zoom call and share my experiences of how impactful art can be. Some f my canvas paintings were used too.
Snippet from the blog post:
"An example of this is Kimberley Burrows’ story which is a true testament to human resilience. Upon pursuing her dream to become a children’s book illustrator, Kimberley started studying illustration at Leeds Arts University. Then, in her first year of study during 2018, Kimberley’s retinas detached, leaving her blind. Due to the trauma of losing her vision and her mother falling ill, Kimberley made the tough decision to defer her place at university. When the time was right for Kimberley to return to her studies, she found herself lonely and isolated. All of her friends had graduated and moved on, and with Kimberley being older than the rest of her peers and still adjusting to her sight loss, she struggled to integrate. Fast-forward to March 2020 and as COVID-19 swept across the globe incessantly, Kimberley’s world became even smaller. Even Kimberley’s ever-present guide dog, Tammy, had to leave her side because she needed surgery. Consequently, Kimberley and Tammy were separated, leaving her extremely isolated. As Kimberley’s isolation grew, it led her down the relentless path of depression. In the midst of her lowest moment, seemingly at the point of no return, a voice in Kimberley’s head told her to create and to seek solace in art.
Kimberley used oil pastels to create a whirlpool of colour which she then scratched away at, a symbolic physical act of art representing the anger and frustration that she had been carrying. The outcome? An incredible piece of work showing her innermost feelings. The pastels soon evolved into watercolours and then she felt ready to face her fears. She explained that she was tremendously anxious about using a canvas and acrylic paints because she didn’t feel worthy enough. To her, a canvas embodied everything she was not. The canvas represented prestige, ability and elitism.
Thankfully, Kimberley conquered her fears and has since been creating magnificent pieces. Kimberley stated that the freedom she discovered in painting has transformed her life, enabling her to accept and embrace her true self. Her blindness allows her to focus on expressing how she feels, rather than obsessing about how it would look or be received. She goes on to state that “when I started out as a young illustrator, I wanted my work to be as good as everyone else’s. I wanted it to look like everyone else’s. I had no confidence because what I was making wasn’t me. Now, I am confident in what I create because it’s me. All me”.
The authenticity in Kimberley’s work is truly timeless and unparalleled. Her compelling story highlights how invaluable the arts are to our well-being. Communicating our vulnerability is difficult for anyone, but for those who have experienced trauma, verbal language can be a formidable hurdle. A further example can be seen with my great-grandfather, who returned from World War One mute from shellshock. My great-grandfather’s only way of processing the mental and physical agony afflicted upon him was through painting. When he couldn’t verbally communicate, he took to the canvas and used the paintbrush as his communicator.
Stories like this are a testament to the power of art and to our natural desire to create. This truly highlights the absurdity of the government’s decision to cut funding for the arts. Human beings have the miraculous ability to communicate their most complex feelings through the composition of colour, music, dance, and so much more. We, the viewer, have the ability to translate a work of art into meaning and we have the capacity to connect with someone we’ve never met. For these reasons alone, it is utterly perplexing that anyone could reduce the value of art to a sum, let alone determine the arts as lesser than. "
Reflection:
• I was happy for this opportunity to connect, network and share my paintings and story to another audience.
• The future of the arts are important to me. I've always cared about campaigning (I have campaigned with the RNIB regarding accessibility for blind people from 2013-15 before joining Leeds Arts University on the Access to HE course) and this is something that deeply matters to me on a personal level. It is important to use your voice for what you feel is right and to help incite positive change for many people.
• What will the cuts mean for specialist arts universities such as LAU? Will there be an impact when I undertake the masters?
• This enabled me to use my story in other ways, rather than just educating about disability and blindness. To invite discussion around funding and the arts and to incite change.
• I have the opportunity to join the collective but I need to be mindful of the views that a collective, as a whole, embody. Another member of the collective questions the legitimacy of Covid and vaccinations and I want to consider what others' views that don't align with my own would mean for my practice. I don't want to be too cynical either and reject either as a collective of multiple people may have different ideas.
• Do I want to be part of a collective? How would that benefit and motivate my practice? It presents the opportunity to directly network, exhibiting together, while being spread across the North and having pride in being working class northern people. I wouldn't have to be part of it forever and it can exist online in the online space which presents opportunities.
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