4th plinth first press meeting

had the first press meeting with the marketing director at work today. it seemed to go okay. i explained what was happening and what my intentions are, and it looks like we're on the same page regarding content. i want to use this particular press run as an opportunity to promote arts education, and highlight the possibilities for learners to progress into an active and thriving market place. the way i see it is that the creative industries are contributing to the country's economy in a fiercely positive way, and even under the current financial climate are one of the few growth sectors in the economy. to be frank i feel we are propping up the economy and yet still we are overlooked, ignored and undervalued. it's incredible really because once a discussion about this starts most people realise just how prevalent the arts are in our day to day lives, how we make purchasing and consumer decisions based on visual principles and aesthetic choice but maybe that's just it.. the almost unconscious act of choosing the colour of paint to go on our walls, our music taste, the type of car we drive, the styling of our hair - all based on some instinctive sense of what feels right to us - informs both ourselves and others of our lives and personalities, and fundamentally demonstrate 'who we are'. because these choices are made at some almost limbic level it could be proposed that the more advanced aspects of the brain miss out on this decision making process, and therefore the higher brain function, in effect, denies that the process did indeed take place and rationalises this as a kind of 'well i just like it - that's why' decision. in a culture where the arts and socio-politics have become so formally divided the intrinsic link between the two is now lost on most people unfortunate not to have been educated in art communications. additionally with a culture that bases so much importance on fiscal and administrative power the left brain is given importance and standing, and through fear and lack of understanding this culture seeks to deny the contribution that right brain thinking gives us all. bluntly put young people are encouraged to study accounting, law, and the sciences - all considered 'academic' subjects - whilst the arts, communication, media and performance arts are considered to be the 'soft' options. the irony of this is lost in the ignorance of mainstream folk, whilst again and again young people find themselves funnelled into a series of career decisions which are based on a false understanding of what options are truly open to them. at the end of the day there only so many trips, falls and accidents that 'wasn't your fault' to fund our thrusting and hungry power elite, and only so many trees to fell to supply the paper needed to administrate this charade. without standing on my own personal soapbox too firm footedly, i would hope that when given the chance to promote the arts and arts education i would grasp it with both hands and yell with all my might - as it stands i am being afforded this fantastic opportunity and wish to utilise it to the best of my ability... for one and all...