Review by Nick Jones, who works on arts and cultural development projects in Cumbria and is a member of Cumbria Cultural Concourse
(The Robert Gordon University 2002, ISBN: 1 901 085 69 4 £10.00 [£13.66 inc p&p*])
Imagine a psychedelic fluorescent orange Scottish neo-classical Adam house pulsating with coloured lights, overwhelmed by a huge brooding broccoli plant, against a magnificent pinky-orange dawn sunrise. Too early in the morning? Then order a copy of ?On the Edge?, savour the cover and the delights to come. Better still, cancel the day?s meetings: this book, containing transcripts of papers from an international conference promoting Arts and Heritage development in remote and rural Europe, is unputdownable. The range is impressive, from Finland?s Kuhmo Music festival (inside the arctic circle); to the Feisean celebration of Gaelic music and language in the Outer Hebrides; to counter-culture and community in post 1968 Austrian Tyrol (think heavy rock, not lederhosen). And that?s just the thin edge of the edge ? there are many more inspiring and varied examples of good practice.
This was no ordinary conference. I shared a B&B in Macduff with a Bulgarian Cultural attaché, a Norwegian festival director, and a North Sea Commissioner who is not just talking fish, oil rigs, or pollution but?.culture. Yes! The facilitator was François Matarasso from Comedia. The nine principles given in his insightful summary ?A Future for Rural Cultural Development? analyse the what, how and why of successful local initiatives and provide an invaluable blueprint for anyone with an interest in this field, whether development officer, artist, policy maker or politician. This book demonstrates how our predominantly urban culture so desperately needs to engage with the values and natural inspiration that have their roots in the rural and remote.
*For further information and invoicing, contact SAM?s Books, Chaldon Court, Church Lane, Chaldon, Caterham, CR3 5AL t/f: 01883 345011 e: books@sam-arts.co.uk