Bridget McConnell - Revision history

Melissa Jones: /* Glasgow the Brand */

2011-05-03T23:42:12Z

Glasgow the Brand

Melissa Jones: /* Glasgow the Brand */ added ref

2011-05-03T23:40:20Z

Glasgow the Brand: added ref

Melissa Jones at 23:16, 3 May 2011

2011-05-03T23:16:48Z

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* National Galleries in Glasgow */

2008-04-17T12:03:09Z

National Galleries in Glasgow

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* Commonwealth Connections */

2008-04-17T12:02:48Z

Commonwealth Connections

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* Glasgow the Brand */

2008-04-17T12:02:29Z

Glasgow the Brand

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt at 12:01, 17 April 2008

2008-04-17T12:01:19Z

Show changes

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* Cultural Influence */

2008-04-17T11:56:30Z

Cultural Influence

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* Glasgow the Brand */

2008-04-17T11:55:57Z

Glasgow the Brand

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* Other Positions Held */

2008-04-17T11:53:34Z

Other Positions Held

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 In September 2003, GCC’s Cultural and Leisure Services (CLS) department had, under McConnell’s direction, exposed itself as sadly lacking a visual arts policy. This came to light as Scottish Ballet approached the Scottish Arts Council for Lottery funding to develop the Tramway arts centre into its new headquarters, with the vast exhibition space being earmarked for as a scenery store, provoking outcry amongst Glasgow’s visual art communities.<ref>Boztas, 'Artists protest over Tramway ballet proposal', ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2003, 10.</ref><ref>Christiansen, 'Troubled Tramshed echoes with rage', ''The Daily Telegraph'', 17 December 2003, p.19.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Outrage over new HQ for ballet: Company’s plan for base at Tramway splits arts community', ''The Herald'', 18 September 2003, p.1.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Ballet offers Tramway olive branch: Barron sees a space for art but warns of extra costs', ''The Herald'', 17 October 2003, p.13.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Artists see light at end of the Tramway: Company says option is not a ‘done deal", ''The Herald'', 15 October 2003, p.7.</ref>
-In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was coordinated by Jean Cameron. <ref> [http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/contactus/whoswho/advisors/dance.aspx#cam Glasgow International Advisers] </ref> and <ref> [http://www.glasgowinternational.org/index.php/press/view/gi_festival_2010_increases_visitor_numbers/ GI Festival 2010 increases visitor numbers] </ref>
+In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was coordinated by Jean Cameron. <ref> [http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/contactus/whoswho/advisors/dance.aspx#cam Glasgow International Advisers] and [http://www.glasgowinternational.org/index.php/press/view/gi_festival_2010_increases_visitor_numbers/ GI Festival 2010 increases visitor numbers] </ref>
 The second exercise in consolidating CLS’s visual arts strategy came via Trongate 103 – the redevelopment and branding of a block at the corner of Trongate and King Street as a unified arts complex which is due to open in 2009.<ref>[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/ArtsDevelopment/Newsletter/visualart.htm  Announcement about the renovation of Trongate 103] Glasgow City Council website (accessed 6 April 2008).</ref>  This taps into a familiar strategy of culture-led regeneration  and dovetails neatly with the five year action plan devised for the regeneration of the Merchant City area east of the city centre.<ref>McAllister, Glasgow City Council Development and Regeneration Services Committee Report by Director of Development and Regeneration Services: Merchant City Five Year Action Plan.</ref>

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 In September 2003, GCC’s Cultural and Leisure Services (CLS) department had, under McConnell’s direction, exposed itself as sadly lacking a visual arts policy. This came to light as Scottish Ballet approached the Scottish Arts Council for Lottery funding to develop the Tramway arts centre into its new headquarters, with the vast exhibition space being earmarked for as a scenery store, provoking outcry amongst Glasgow’s visual art communities.<ref>Boztas, 'Artists protest over Tramway ballet proposal', ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2003, 10.</ref><ref>Christiansen, 'Troubled Tramshed echoes with rage', ''The Daily Telegraph'', 17 December 2003, p.19.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Outrage over new HQ for ballet: Company’s plan for base at Tramway splits arts community', ''The Herald'', 18 September 2003, p.1.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Ballet offers Tramway olive branch: Barron sees a space for art but warns of extra costs', ''The Herald'', 17 October 2003, p.13.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Artists see light at end of the Tramway: Company says option is not a ‘done deal", ''The Herald'', 15 October 2003, p.7.</ref>
-In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was coordinated by Jean Cameron. <ref> [http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/contactus/whoswho/advisors/dance.aspx#cam Glasgow International Advisers] </ref>
+In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was coordinated by Jean Cameron. <ref> [http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/contactus/whoswho/advisors/dance.aspx#cam Glasgow International Advisers] </ref> and <ref> [http://www.glasgowinternational.org/index.php/press/view/gi_festival_2010_increases_visitor_numbers/ GI Festival 2010 increases visitor numbers] </ref>
 The second exercise in consolidating CLS’s visual arts strategy came via Trongate 103 – the redevelopment and branding of a block at the corner of Trongate and King Street as a unified arts complex which is due to open in 2009.<ref>[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/ArtsDevelopment/Newsletter/visualart.htm  Announcement about the renovation of Trongate 103] Glasgow City Council website (accessed 6 April 2008).</ref>  This taps into a familiar strategy of culture-led regeneration  and dovetails neatly with the five year action plan devised for the regeneration of the Merchant City area east of the city centre.<ref>McAllister, Glasgow City Council Development and Regeneration Services Committee Report by Director of Development and Regeneration Services: Merchant City Five Year Action Plan.</ref>

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 In September 2003, GCC’s Cultural and Leisure Services (CLS) department had, under McConnell’s direction, exposed itself as sadly lacking a visual arts policy. This came to light as Scottish Ballet approached the Scottish Arts Council for Lottery funding to develop the Tramway arts centre into its new headquarters, with the vast exhibition space being earmarked for as a scenery store, provoking outcry amongst Glasgow’s visual art communities.<ref>Boztas, 'Artists protest over Tramway ballet proposal', ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2003, 10.</ref><ref>Christiansen, 'Troubled Tramshed echoes with rage', ''The Daily Telegraph'', 17 December 2003, p.19.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Outrage over new HQ for ballet: Company’s plan for base at Tramway splits arts community', ''The Herald'', 18 September 2003, p.1.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Ballet offers Tramway olive branch: Barron sees a space for art but warns of extra costs', ''The Herald'', 17 October 2003, p.13.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Artists see light at end of the Tramway: Company says option is not a ‘done deal", ''The Herald'', 15 October 2003, p.7.</ref>
-In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was co-ordinated by Jean Cameron, mistress of [[Gerry Hassan]] from [[Demos]].
+In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was coordinated by Jean Cameron. <ref> [http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/contactus/whoswho/advisors/dance.aspx#cam Glasgow International Advisers] </ref>
 The second exercise in consolidating CLS’s visual arts strategy came via Trongate 103 – the redevelopment and branding of a block at the corner of Trongate and King Street as a unified arts complex which is due to open in 2009.<ref>[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/ArtsDevelopment/Newsletter/visualart.htm  Announcement about the renovation of Trongate 103] Glasgow City Council website (accessed 6 April 2008).</ref>  This taps into a familiar strategy of culture-led regeneration  and dovetails neatly with the five year action plan devised for the regeneration of the Merchant City area east of the city centre.<ref>McAllister, Glasgow City Council Development and Regeneration Services Committee Report by Director of Development and Regeneration Services: Merchant City Five Year Action Plan.</ref>

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 ==National Galleries in Glasgow==
-Following the renovation of Kelvingrove Museum, McConnell is now campaigning to establish a Gallery of Scottish Art in Glasgow.<ref>David Leask, 'Call for national gallery in west' ''The Herald'' 9 January 2008, 4.</ref> According to reports, 'the scheme was discussed as far back as 1993, when the Post Office on George Square and the former Sheriff Court buildings were suggested as venues. But it failed to attract Heritage Lottery funds.'<ref>Gerry Braiden, 'Glasgow wants to be home of new Gallery of Scottish Art', ''The Herald''. 28 May 2007, p.3</ref> Bridget McConnell has been a member of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland since September 2004.
+Following the renovation of Kelvingrove Museum, McConnell is now campaigning to establish a Gallery of Scottish Art in Glasgow.<ref>David Leask, 'Call for national gallery in west' ''The Herald'' 9 January 2008, p.4.</ref> According to reports, 'the scheme was discussed as far back as 1993, when the Post Office on George Square and the former Sheriff Court buildings were suggested as venues. But it failed to attract Heritage Lottery funds.'<ref>Gerry Braiden, 'Glasgow wants to be home of new Gallery of Scottish Art', ''The Herald''. 28 May 2007, p.3</ref> Bridget McConnell has been a member of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland since September 2004.
 One option is for the [[National Galleries of Scotland]] (NGS), based in Edinburgh, to lend works to Glasgow, but there is resistance to this scheme from NGS director, John Leighton, on the grounds that it would dilute the collection and that a gallery showing only Scottish art would be parochial.<ref>Barry Didcock, 'Culture boss revives vision of a gallery of Scottish art in Glasgow: Bridget McConnell assembles high-profile group to push through scheme.' ''The Herald''. 27 May 2007.</ref>. This is especially significant in light of the fact that London-based art dealer, Anthony d'Offay donated his £125m art collection to NGS and Tate in February 2008.<ref>Mark Brown [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2260249,00.html 'Sale of the century: UK gets art collection for 80% off'] ''The Guardian'', 27 February 2008 (accessed 15 April 2008),</ref>a deal with which Jack McConnell personally involved himself while First Minister.<ref>Tim Cornwell, 'McConnell's bid for £100m Art Collection for Scotland' ''The Scotsman'', 6 September 2005, p.10.</ref> Notably, two Board members of Culture and Sport Glasgow - [[Liz Cameron]] and Sir [[Angus Grossart]] - have previously served on the board of NGS, while Grossart and fellow Independent Director of CSG, Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden, have sizeable collections of Scottish art.

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 ==Commonwealth Connections==
-In August 2005, there was an outcry about McConnell being appointed, after negligible consultation, as Executive Director of Culture and Sport within Glasgow City Council - a £107,000 p.a. post, with a portfolio for sport and hence a role to play in the [[Commonwealth Games 2014]].<ref>Patricia Kane, 'Fury as McConnell's wife wins key role in £250m Games bid', ''The Mail on Sunday'' 21 August 2005, 4.</ref> The appointment, which was announced on 12 July 2005, came one month before Jack McConnell announced the Executive's intention to support the bid.<ref>Mark Aitken, 'Arrogance' row over £100,000 Commonwealth Games job for Mrs McConnell', ''Mail on Sunday'', 4 September 2005, p.39.</ref>
+In August 2005, there was an outcry about McConnell being appointed, after negligible consultation, as Executive Director of Culture and Sport within Glasgow City Council - a £107,000 p.a. post, with a portfolio for sport and hence a role to play in the [[Commonwealth Games 2014]].<ref>Patricia Kane, 'Fury as McConnell's wife wins key role in £250m Games bid', ''The Mail on Sunday'' 21 August 2005, p.4.</ref> The appointment, which was announced on 12 July 2005, came one month before Jack McConnell announced the Executive's intention to support the bid.<ref>Mark Aitken, 'Arrogance' row over £100,000 Commonwealth Games job for Mrs McConnell', ''Mail on Sunday'', 4 September 2005, p.39.</ref>
 However, in June 2007, it was reported that McConnell had been dropped from the steering group, to be replaced by Sean Connery, in case her presence upset Alex Salmond.<ref>Paul Drury, 'McConnell's wife axed from Games bid team' ''The Express'', 25 June 2007.</ref> In the meantime, the McConnells have come under fire for their lavish trips in relation to the Commonwealth Games. The couple flew to Melbourne in March 2006, staying in a luxury £250 a-night hotel, accompanied by fellow culture and sport cronies [[Liz Cameron]] and John Lynch<ref>Mark Aitken, 'Anger as Jack and Bridget take Oz trip for Games bid' ''Mail on Sunday''. 12 February 2006, p.8.</ref>

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 This emphasis on cultural tourism has led to a 'festival mentality', whereby the city's support is concentrated on attracting temporary tourists rather than building infrastructure or supporting Glasgow's creative practitioners directly. March 2008 saw The Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Aye Write! - The Bank of Scotland Book Festival - and the 16th French Film Festival UK. This was followed, in April 2008, by the Glasgow Art Fair and the two-week biennial visual arts fest, Glasgow International.<ref>See [http://www.glasgowinternational.org/ Glasgow International website] (accessed 13 April 2008).</ref>
-In September 2003, GCC’s Cultural and Leisure Services (CLS) department had, under McConnell’s direction, exposed itself as sadly lacking a visual arts policy. This came to light as Scottish Ballet approached the Scottish Arts Council for Lottery funding to develop the Tramway arts centre into its new headquarters, with the vast exhibition space being earmarked for as a scenery store, provoking outcry amongst Glasgow’s visual art communities.<ref>Boztas, 'Artists protest over Tramway ballet proposal', ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2003, 10.</ref><ref>Christiansen, 'Troubled Tramshed echoes with rage', ''The Daily Telegraph'', 17 December 2003, p.19.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Outrage over new HQ for ballet: Company’s plan for base at Tramway splits arts community', ''The Herald'', 18 September 2003, 1.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Ballet offers Tramway olive branch: Barron sees a space for art but warns of extra costs', ''The Herald'', 17 October 2003, p.13.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Artists see light at end of the Tramway: Company says option is not a ‘done deal", ''The Herald'', 15 October 2003, p.7.</ref>
+In September 2003, GCC’s Cultural and Leisure Services (CLS) department had, under McConnell’s direction, exposed itself as sadly lacking a visual arts policy. This came to light as Scottish Ballet approached the Scottish Arts Council for Lottery funding to develop the Tramway arts centre into its new headquarters, with the vast exhibition space being earmarked for as a scenery store, provoking outcry amongst Glasgow’s visual art communities.<ref>Boztas, 'Artists protest over Tramway ballet proposal', ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2003, 10.</ref><ref>Christiansen, 'Troubled Tramshed echoes with rage', ''The Daily Telegraph'', 17 December 2003, p.19.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Outrage over new HQ for ballet: Company’s plan for base at Tramway splits arts community', ''The Herald'', 18 September 2003, p.1.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Ballet offers Tramway olive branch: Barron sees a space for art but warns of extra costs', ''The Herald'', 17 October 2003, p.13.</ref><ref>Phil Miller, 'Artists see light at end of the Tramway: Company says option is not a ‘done deal", ''The Herald'', 15 October 2003, p.7.</ref>
 In the wake of the Tramway debacle, Glasgow City Council hastily implemented two strategies; the first of these implemented the festival-based approach that has proven so successful in attracting tourists to rival Edinburgh. Glasgow International,  an annual exhibition that quickly became biennial, effectively branded the exhibitions already taking place in the city’s main institutions and grassroots organisations and sits neatly alongside Glasgow’s tourism strategy. In 2008, Glasgow International was co-ordinated by Jean Cameron, mistress of [[Gerry Hassan]] from [[Demos]].

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 Controlling all cultural provision in Glasgow, Bridget McConnell would be expected to have an interest in culture. Some insight into her taste in art comes from the Christmas present she commissioned for husband Jack in 2004 - an oil painting by Hamish MacDonald of the farmhouse on Arran where Jack grew up. <ref>A Scotland Correspondent, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article518615.ece 'McConnell reluctantly registers his Christmas present'], ''The Times'', 25 February 2005 (accessed 15 April 2008)</ref>
-Writing in 1997 – the year Glasgow-based artist Christine Borland was nominated for the Turner Prize, with her contemporary, Douglas Gordon, having won the prestigious prize the previous year – McConnell confined her appraisal of visual art successes in Scotland to an earlier generation of painters, mis-spelling Peter Howson’s name to commend ‘the internationally successful Belamey, Campbell and Howie [sic]’.<ref>Bridget McConnell 'Culture and the New Politics: Reflections from a Small Country' In M. Jacobs (ed.) ''Creative Futures''. Fabian Society, London, 17.</ref>
+Writing in 1997 – the year Glasgow-based artist Christine Borland was nominated for the Turner Prize, with her contemporary, Douglas Gordon, having won the prestigious prize the previous year – McConnell confined her appraisal of visual art successes in Scotland to an earlier generation of painters, mis-spelling Peter Howson’s name to commend ‘the internationally successful Belamey, Campbell and Howie [sic]’.<ref>Bridget McConnell 'Culture and the New Politics: Reflections from a Small Country' In M. Jacobs (ed.) ''Creative Futures''. Fabian Society, London, 17.</ref> To compensate for the gaps in her arts knowledge, McConnell has seconded Dr. [[Vartan Gregorian]], President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York as an advisor, although his role seems confined to making links with wealthy Scottish émigrés as part of the CSG development strategy.
 ==Glasgow the Brand==

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 The second exercise in consolidating CLS’s visual arts strategy came via Trongate 103 – the redevelopment and branding of a block at the corner of Trongate and King Street as a unified arts complex which is due to open in 2009.<ref>[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/ArtsDevelopment/Newsletter/visualart.htm  Announcement about the renovation of Trongate 103] Glasgow City Council website (accessed 6 April 2008).</ref>  This taps into a familiar strategy of culture-led regeneration  and dovetails neatly with the five year action plan devised for the regeneration of the Merchant City area east of the city centre.<ref>McAllister, Glasgow City Council Development and Regeneration Services Committee Report by Director of Development and Regeneration Services: Merchant City Five Year Action Plan.</ref>
-Based on past evidence, then, McConnell ostensibly regards contemporary visual art in terms of its use value, in relation to tourism, social inclusion and economic regeneration, and is currently campaigning to have a National Gallery in Glasgow.  Writing in 1997 – the year Glasgow-based artist Christine Borland was nominated for the Turner Prize, with her contemporary, Douglas Gordon, having won the prestigious prize the previous year – McConnell confined her appraisal of visual art successes in Scotland to an earlier generation of painters, mis-spelling Peter Howson’s name to commend ‘the internationally successful Belamey, Campbell and Howie [sic]’. <ref>Bridget McConnell,  'Culture and the New Politics: Reflections from a Small Country' In M. Jacobs (ed.) ''Creative Futures'' Fabian Society, London, 17.</ref> To compensate for her lack of arts knowledge, McConnell has seconded Dr. [[Vartan Gregorian]], President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York as an advisor, although his role seems confined to making links with wealthy Scottish émigrés as part of the CSG development strategy.
+Based on past evidence, then, McConnell ostensibly regards contemporary visual art in terms of its use value, in relation to tourism, social inclusion and economic regeneration, and is currently campaigning to have a National Gallery in Glasgow.
 ==Commonwealth Connections==

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-In 1987 Bridget was awarded the first British American Arts Association/University of Minnesota Fellowship and in 1999 was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is also currently a member of the Board of RSAMD (since 2002), member of the Sunday Herald Advisory Board (since 1999) and the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland since September 2004. She has written and presented a number of papers on Arts, Education and Leisure policy and practice, including “Arts and Adult Education in Fife” published by the Free University of Brussels in “Truth without Facts” (1995) and “Modernising Britain: Creative Futures”, with Chris Smith, M.P., Trevor Philips and Jude Kelly, Edited by Michael Jacobs and Published by The Fabian Society (1997) and co-edited “One World, Many Cultures”, papers from the Fourth International Conference on adult Education and the Arts (1996).<ref>Biography from PLA Conference October 2007 [http://www.cilip.org.uk/groups/plg/pla2007/BridgetMcConnell.html Bridget McConnell](accessed 5 March 2008)</ref>
+In 1987 Bridget was awarded the first British American Arts Association/University of Minnesota Fellowship and in 1999 was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is also currently a member of the Board of RSAMD (since 2002), member of the Sunday Herald Advisory Board (since 1999) and the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland since September 2004. She has written and presented a number of papers on Arts, Education and Leisure policy and practice, including 'Arts and Adult Education in Fife' published by the Free University of Brussels in ''Truth without Facts'' (1995) and co-edited 'One World, Many Cultures', papers from the Fourth International Conference on adult Education and the Arts (1996).<ref>Biography from PLA Conference October 2007 [http://www.cilip.org.uk/groups/plg/pla2007/BridgetMcConnell.html Bridget McConnell](accessed 5 March 2008)</ref>
 ==Notes==
 <references/>