How do we make art and culture thrive in East Anglia?
A conversation between Jonathan Benson, Director of Reeman Dansie and EA Festival founder, Joanne Ooi
JO: How do we make the art and culture scene flourish in this part of Suffolk? The number of iconic and seminal artists from East Anglia -- or connected to this region -- is staggering. From Gainsborough to Maggi Hambling with loads in between including Constable, Cedric Morris, Paul Nash, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and on and on -- not to mention the performing arts.
JB: The biggest problem is telling people that we've got all these things on our doorstep -- yet we don’t go to look at them. We should be so proud of an area that is teeming with hundreds of years worth of great artists plus all the great artists and creative people working now. It’s something to celebrate! We all need a bit of a kick every so often to say, go and look at this exhibition or concert. It’s really a question of getting the word out. It’s one of the main reasons we decided to support EA Festival, because you’re providing a showcase for East Anglia’s creativity -- and a strong reason to get out of the house and discover it!
JO: Well, yes, that’s definitely a big part of what I’m trying to do. My long-term goal is to join up organisations and people -- so we can get the word out about high-quality events and exhibitions in the region more effectively. Even during this conversation, you alerted me to the existence of several museums in the region that are full of blue-chip artworks by top East Anglian artists. I had no idea that most of these wonderful spaces existed -- Christchurch Mansion, The Minories, Norwich Museum, National Horseracing Museum, Munning's Museum or Fry Gallery. Those spaces are not on the radar of most people who live in the region yet they house the work of really prominent artists. Since EA Festival will be putting on events the entire year, we should do a concatenation of museum visits which tells the story of East Anglian art. It’s exactly this kind of initiative which can wake people up to what’s in their backyard.
JO: What else do you think is the key to a vibrant and dynamic cultural scene?
JB: It’s not just about where we live. It starts at home: you have to encourage children to explore different things from an early age so they can decide for themselves what it is they like to look at and read about. If your parents don't like it, it shouldn’t mean that you're not going to like it either. And that's exactly the same thing buying at auction. Buy what you like. Go down your own route. Don't be governed by others. We all become blinkered and end up looking at things we already know and like, so when somebody says, come on, have a look at this, or come to this viewing, we tend to say no. But you've got to be taken out of your comfort zone, and you've got to look and listen to other things. Otherwise it is the same old stuff. That’s why I admire what you’ve done with the festival. It’s really diverse and full of unexpected elements.
Reeman Dansie is a sponsor of EA Festival 2021 and, in particular, the session featuring Charles Saumarez Smith, “The Future of Museums”, 1 August, Sunday, 12:30 pm.