Issue Seventeen
At the vanguard of most public and private development programmes are usually the artist’s. How often have we heard the phrase that an influx of artists has triggered the gentrification of a high street, a village, a town etc.
Where artists tread; society usually follows. Ironically, once the artists work is done, they’re usually the ones priced out of the very area they have changed as lawyers, bankers and entrepreneurs buy-up/rent-out the overpriced buildings in that location.
So it is with great sadness that we read about the 50% cuts the government are about to impose on higher art education. This sort of short-sighted gesture will ultimately backfire because, as expressed earlier, what happens to the artists will ultimately effect society. This government does not think in the long term, it’s always the quick fix that grabs the headlines.
And why are we in this situation? Well this government is here because of one policy: Brexit. And now they are in, they do what Tories always do. They make cuts on everything they see as non-essential. These cuts will hit hard to the very core of the people who need the most support.
How do we measure a society? It’s not by the tax breaks we give to the well off, it’s how we nurture and develop the society we aspire to be. If you go and ask the people who voted for Brexit what they most like to do it’s probably visit nicely designed towns, look at art, listen to music etc. They basically revel in culture, so why do they vote in a government that wants to destroy it?
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Rochelle Roberts
This month’s issue of Le Document see’s the final poetry review from Rochelle Roberts. We have all enjoyed her poetry critiques and are excited that she has now signed up with a literary agent and will be working towards a book publication in the not too distant future. We wish her all the best from the Le Document team. Rochelle’s last poetry review is called May by A K Blakemore.
We have a photo of Nick Cave making his ceramic sculptures taken by Corin Johnson, Jodie Foster is Movie Star of the month and there is a very detailed film review of the Sound for the Future by Mikey Georgeson.
Fabienne Jenny Jacquet has the Painting of the month slot and Winnie Moon is Pet of the Month. We take a trip back in time and talk to Duglas T. Stewart, from the BMX Bandits, about the re-issue of their album Star Wars. We have more music content from Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, of The Catenary Wires, who discuss their new LP. We have a new slot, Comedian of the month, filled by Ivor Dembina and a one off article called 42. Last but not least is Badge of the month, a classic from McDonald’s.
We hope there is something for everyone in this month’s issue of Le Document. We want to thank all our contributors and of course you, the reader for checking in. Until next month, be sensible as lockdown eases and we’ll see you again in June.
With love,
Harry and Chris
Cover image They’re on the line by Chris Tosic
web: www.christosic.com
instagram: @chris_tosic
