jerwood mistake? or create?

[Richard]

There was another resident I spoke with who thought it was good idea to bring 'big money' in but from what I gather the main "bone of contention" was the building of it on a site in an area which was perceived to have a lot going for it anyway and the loss of the coach park which isn't replaced by the already existing car parks.

St Leonards would, no doubt, have benefitted enormously in hosting a gallery of such stature as there is nothing much for tourists there except the plans for a smaller leisure-pool development on the site of that ill-fated attraction.

I was bemused to read the following from the BBC news on 16th march 20012:

Alan Grieve, an 84 y.o. retired lawyer, who chairs the Jerwood Foundation, said:
"I believe Hastings is very lucky indeed to get a building of this kind put up".
Mr Grieve said he thought Hastings was lucky to host the Jerwood Collection

"I think they are very privileged to have a collection like this. I don't think I would have any difficulty in saying to another city, another town, or another gallery: 'Would you like to have the Jerwood collection?'
"As they say in the pubs, they would bite my hand off."

http://www.staitarts.com/2012/03/is-the ... r-owns-up/

[Jonathan]

[quoted]
Mymblesdaughter wrote:
Here's a interesting article on the Jerwood

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/ ... ade-review

I like the Jerwood and am looking forward to it opening. Having lived in Cornwall when they built the Tate in St Ives, it certainly made a difference to the image of Cornwall and increased the amount of visitors. It's now a busy destination all year round. Whether you consider that a good thing I don't know.

I certainly can't see it having a negative effect on the town. I don't know of any places in Britain that have been ruined by artists maybe you can illuminate me hanpet?
[/quoted]

Interesting article, aspecially the comments!
Can't see that it's any more of an eyesore than the slabby 'eat@stade' building.

Haven't visited yet -- put off by (a) parking and (b) lack of interesting exhibitions. I fear these will put off tourists too, as well as the entry fee. However, if they can get their act together, it should be a decent tourist trap -- what else to do on a rainy day??

Please don't knock the Jerwoods -- they have done a huge amount for arts and music in this country. (Ask any aspiring opera singer!)

One thing -- would the protesters now please remove their posters? Now that the building is actually there, whether you wanted it or not, it's only polite. I feel they are an unwelcome slap in the face for visitors who won't be aware of the protests or the reasons for them.

I agree with other commenters that St Mary-in-the-Castle is a deserving subject for restoration and support, But it's a different kind of venue from the Jerwood. As for the Pier_ _ _ that's a different case again!

The trick is for us all to be patient and hope that the 'gentrification' of H/StL proceeds slowly and sensibly enough to add successive benefits to the town without spoiling the unique character which we all love and is why we live here.

[Richard]

perhaps it adds to the interest to have protests and even to see them in terms of a seaside 'loam and lovechild' entamglement typified by the satire "Cold Comfort farm" (author = Stella Gibbons) with the mentality of stubborn refusal to come to terms with the modern day and age!!

[Richard]

as for 'gentrification' this means ??
"changes that result when wealthier people (gentry) acquire or rent property in low income communities"

We want to see HSL revitalised for the hard-working families who live or visit there as well as the wealthier 'gentry' who might tend to displace the downtrodden and poor??
8)

[Jonathan]

[quoted]
Richard wrote:
as for 'gentrification' this means ??
"changes that result when wealthier people (gentry) acquire or rent property in low income communities"

We want to see HSL revitalised for the hard-working families who live or visit there as well as the wealthier 'gentry' who might tend to displace the downtrodden and poor??
8)
[/quoted]
Sorry -- 'gentrification' may be the wrong word -- no negative implications intended.

Hastonians inevitably pass away, downsize, or move to other locations. 'New' people buy their houses and generally do them up, creating work for local architects/builders/decorators/plumbers/electricians and their suppliers.

(If a Hastonian family had wanted to buy the house that we bought, they could easily have done so -- like our next-door neighbours! It doesn't seem to have got to the point where 'incoming' buyers push house prices up.)

The 'incomers' take part in local activities, patronise local shops, restaurants, businesses and events, bring their families, tell their friends how wonderful the place is -- everybody benefits, nobody loses.

That's what we have done, and we are neither rich nor 'gentry' -- already proud to be part of a thriving local community with its own history and traditions, which is 'improving' itself from within.

If we go to the Jerwood and buy a cup of coffee, then get some local fish from the beach or the RX fish shop next door, we are benefiting the local community whether or not we care for the art on display. Not that we have been yet!

[Richard]

Hi Jonathan - I was really referring to Hastings Old Town - this is not cheap for local families locals by any stretch of the imagination.
_ _ _.more specifically my objection was recently about (or I meant it to be about) what I believe to be the misplaced location of 'The Jerwood' in a part of town (Old Town) where it was already 'Gentrified' enough anyway.

Have we not seen the recent explosion of expensive specialist shops and London house prices in the "Old Town Quarter" ?

Ocourse you can argue about the 'tourist footprint' and I'm sure we all know there are benefits but mainly to the people in that 'microcosm'
I am not saying this all a bad thing, admittedly it will indeed pull in more visitors to the Junk Shops and eateries in the vicinity.

The Hastings Council, in their wisdom, was the most eager, of all Couincils that the Jerwood consulted across the country, to accept the Jerwood in that particular location.
I suppose we might as well put Hastings on the map for something even if it's only a place in an "Art Trail" because it has certainly lost enough other opportunities to capitalise on the incredibly powerful historic attention-grabbing world-famous name of Hastings and 1066 associations.
8|

[roy]

As a recent newcomer I have to say that the 1066 story was in my opinion never played on enough,although its one if not the most important event in Englands history it never seemed to get the publicity it deserved.
Coming from the north of England it never got a mention,luckily I know my history but there are many in this day and age who dont and Hastings needs to be marketed far far better.Its a lovely town and is quite quirky and all that history needs to be expolited for the tourist trade.



Enjoy life.you never know when it will end.

[Jonathan]

[quoted]
roy wrote:
As a recent newcomer I have to say that the 1066 story was in my opinion never played on enough,although its one if not the most important event in Englands history it never seemed to get the publicity it deserved.
Coming from the north of England it never got a mention,luckily I know my history but there are many in this day and age who dont and Hastings needs to be marketed far far better.Its a lovely town and is quite quirky and all that history needs to be expolited for the tourist trade.
[/quoted]
Agree -- we were amazed to find the 'William the Conqueror stone' opposite the Victoria Hotel in St Leonards, and the statue in the nearby gardens with its extraordinary story (Harold's wife identifying the body of her husband from an old wound only she knew about_ _ _ shades of Odysseus's homecoming!). Apart from a map and info on a wall, nothing to tell you about these things. Maybe there should be a proper '1066 trail' with signposting for tourists, a 'visitor centre' and souvenirs_ _ _ shuttle bus to Battle Abbey??
I bought a 'Bayeux tapestry' sweater in Bayeux, don't think I could get something similiar in Hastings even if I knew where to look!

[Richard]

would agree and think there is a lot of potential revenue from tourists (especially overseas) and not a dedicated central Hastings place of a resource/study centre for exhibitions/films/library to educate/inform/entertain visitors.
children's activities etcetera

Just a lot of interest in local and family history_ _ _
8)

[alan_griffiths]

My personal view is that it's in the wrong place and should never have been built in the Old Town. It's built and open now so we have to wait and see how long it takes to succeed or fail.
What angers me most about the Jerwood is the covenant that allows them to pay no business rates. That stinks. Another case of those who can afford to pay their taxes, paying far less, in this case nothing, than the existing businesses in the immediate area.
If it was all honest and above board and the gallery was seen to be paying its way, then I may change my find.
Fat chance of that happening.