Rich Mix CentreRich Mix is a cross-arts centre located in the vibrant and up-and-coming new central hub of Shoreditch in East London. The Education Evening is a showcase of Rich Mix's education programme to teachers, schools and those working with young people.
It was my first time to such events (representing School of Sylvia hehe ;-), so speaking without benchmarking it to any other similar event, I find the event well-organised, compact and informative. Part I is drinks and canapes reception which I missed. Part II is welcome speeches by Rich Mix team. Part III is a tour of the fantastic venues within the centre for hire and events.
I was quite impressed by the diverse and creative programme, ranging from theatre to film-making, to dance workshops. Art should be an uplifting tool for young people and Rich Mix is clearly advocating this. The other stunning thing is the high number of partnerships Rich Mix has formed. The belief behind Rich Mix is using art to regenerate disadvantaged communities and support new talent - and from what I saw yesterday, it is definitely gathering momentum and putting down its own footprint on the London cultural map.
Commercial:
Finance of Rich Mix + UK / US perspectives
I caught up with the Rich Mix Head of Finance, who was extremely open and approachable. He is passionate about all art forms and in particular loves seeing art inspiring young people (an inspiration to me - he used to work in commercial for-profit sector too). I understood better how the finance of an arts charify functions. A big portion of Rich Mix's revenue comes from trade related activities, namely ticket sales, cinema, bar and cafe etc. The rest is split between arts council funding and fundraising. We also touched upon the difference in arts funding and arts patronage here in the UK and the US. In the UK, Arts Council plays a big role in funding while in the US such an equivalent organisation does not exit. However, in the US, Board of Directors in arts organisation are usually patronage of the organisation, i.e. they are personal donors of to the organisations. This piece is not as common in the UK. Art is perceived as a tool to raise social status in the US, which explains the support from private donors. One could also argue that the lack of governmental support drives the private donor participation.
China:
Location, location, location! Location?
I am fascinated by the role that cultural orgs play in regenerate communities. Rich Mix is a fine example of this. In China, where cultural centre is not yet a commonly recognised concept in urban dwellings, it would be hard to start a new cultural organisation in relatively disadvantaged communities in the suburb. However, I am facing a paradox now: in the UK, historically there have been the more established museums in South Kensington, West End and Central London, then the new cultural orgs subsequently established themselves in South Bank, and now in East End.
In China, where do you start??? In centre of cities where it's already over-condensed? In suburb where there is space but maybe not enough audience in the communities? Or maybe people are willing to travel? 798 Studio might be good case study. Ummm, note taken. Must follow up on this when I return to China! *
* Geeky smile to self: so excited to have so many due diligence items to follow up for my China stint next year!
Graffiti outside Rich Mix
Upon closer examination, it was a Rich Mix Art Project in the past!
Amazing juxtaposition: art in the foreground (graffiti) and building site in the middle, against the backdrop of City financial centre (Gherkin building). Significance: art, urban regeneration, and business should go together. Ah my life-long aspiration!
