WAN Meeting 21st May - Let's Talk About the Future!!! - Statute House (Tapas place)

[Sarah Butterworth]

We thought it would be good to meet next week, to open out the discussion of the future of WAN, and possible name change, to the whole group.

We will be holding a meeting at Statute House, the Tapas Bar. Wednesday evening, 21st May, 8.30pm. We can meet downstairs at the back of the restaurant, and if it gets busy we can ascend to the upstairs room. Sue is happy to host our meetings, and we should partake in their Rioja in exchange.

Please can you make this known to all. (Sorry I cannot send out individual emails.)

I am happy to chair as I think this needs to be a little organised, can someone else please do the Minutes?

Cheers

[DazzWest]

Yes a good meeting. I have some thoughts though on the name 'SWANK' that G.J. is proposing. Personally I really hate the name & felt that the entertainment value it gave was more down to the fact people were quite 'well-oiled' by that point in the evening. I'm also getting a little fed up with a move to make our acronym sound like a rude word. Presumably 'SWANK' stands for 'South West Art Network'. Well I'm afraid that I'm here because I have a passion to see arts developed in Weymouth (and the immediate surrounding areas) and I think that 'Weymouth Arts Network' provides an appropriate umbrella name to provide that local focus. 'South West' is a huge area of the country Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Dorset and sometimes even Hampshire and Gloucester are also shoved in there too. Some parts of the South West already have thriving arts communities and to make the whole region part of our remit will just water us down, lose us our identity and become invisible amongst the myriad other 'South West' organisations out there. As far as I'm concerned the name should come first and have some meaning, before the empty facade of a snappy acronym takes president. I don't think of our group as 'WAN', I think of it as 'Weymouth Arts Network' and I feel very proud of that. The acronym 'WAN' is just a handy shorthand for when convenient. But 'WAN' also works as it happens to have a vowel in the middle so it can be said as a word. Also on a visual basis it balances out OK. I think we ought to remember that we are representing a cross section of people of different backgrounds, ages, outlook and sensibilities and I think 'Weymouth Arts Network' provides an appropriate umbrella for that without being 'gimmicky'. I've not been aware of anyone having a problem with it previously (with one exception) and 'it does what it says on the tin'...so to speak, plus its already recognised. It If it ain't broke don't fix it! I will be voting to keep our fab name! See you on the 21st.

[Sarah Butterworth]

OK, cool bring all that to the meeting! I personally think Swank is a good name, its punchy, gutsy and we would need to live up to it. The word Swanky doesn't imply anything lude (daaarling), its just a wee bit cheeky and posh, to me, anyway. speak about this all on wednesday.... and we should take a vote I think. fa la la.

[Laura Mulhern]

Ed and I think that a possible name change is not necessary as the WAN site is now starting to become estabilished - people are recognising this and would be a shame if not detrimental to change it.

Ed and I have been exhibiting under 'South West Art Work' for three years now and wish to continue doing exhibitions as independents under this - we would like to have the freedom to still organise exhibtions under this name without possible confusion of the difference between 'SouthWest ArtWork' and 'SWANK'.
The product is first and foremost not the name. In fairness we thought the name SWANK was made in jest as we dont feel its necessary to change it from WAN. This we feel is a strong enough acronym.

[Sarah Butterworth]

Please everyone bring your thoughts to the meeting. Its not just the name we need to think about, also the nature of the organisation...

[maggie foottit]

hi I won't be able to make it on wednesday however I tend to agree with darren about the name after all we are a network of artists in weymouth. lets not start splitting already!!! I agree that getting organised is in our interests and would be saying so if I could be there. hopefully steve will be there. so have a good meeting and i'll see you next time

[Phil Anslow]

Sarah hi this is Phil Anslow, i have just joined WAN and i would like to come to the meeting on Wed so see you there, Phil.

[Laura Mulhern]

Ed and I will try to make it on wednesday however I am sure everyone understands that we are very busy setting up the exhibition for friday. If we cant make it then please let us know the outcome of the meeting. We are keen to hear a possible mission statement; although we do work under one of our own already.... in brief we run 'regular exhbitions for young contemporary artists in the south west' as part of South West Art Work and wish to remain as such. We can be independant associates though of anything WAN decide to set up....cheers see you all soon. Ed and Laura

[Sarah Butterworth]

HI Laura
thanks. You must be run off your feet. Dont worry I'll make sure your views are put across. I take it if there is a vote about the name you'd like it to remain as WAN?
Sarah

[Nathan Castle]

I'll also be a WAN vote. Can't make meeting, still sorting work.