Brief Notes

Its the "end of year" for anyone in the public sector, but starting a new year of any kind in April always seems a little silly, lambing season or not. The "cuts" begin to bite from now, and last week saw the Arts Council act as judge and jury on its flock. Its worth noting that the arts isn't all about "regularly funded" organisations, and literature, which receives much less than, say, theatre or orchestras, from this particular pot, also exists far more outside of the funding streams. That said, the small money that goes into literature can hardly be said to be wasted. A little seed money to fund a poetry press, magazine or festival seems the least that the state can do. A year ago, government was happily spending public money on "cash for bangers" remember... amongst the losers last week were some that I know well, and I was particularly sad to hear that Litfest in Lancaster didn't receive funding, given the wide range of activities they do to help writing and writers. We don't have a writing development agency or anything similar in the NW, and Litfest, in small ways act to help writers get published, and get better. I wish them well.

Next week, I'm away with work, notwithstanding a head cold that came on yesterday, so I'm unfortunately going to miss the 3rd anniversary of the exemplary "The Other Room" which takes place on Wednesday at the Old Abbey Inn, with readings from Ken Edwards, Alec Finlay, Carrie Etter & Derek Henderson. Its partner in avant garde crimes, Counting Backwards, is on at Fuel on Thursday as well. First weeks in months are not turning out to be that convenient for me, unfortunately.

I said I'd give a mention to Emma Newman's book launch which takes place at the Cornerhouse next Friday. The writer and blogger is launching her collection of spooky stories "Dark Places."

So, a week of literary opportunities, if you want something to take your mind off the "cuts."