Up North

My very best wishes to one and all for 2013.

Meanwhile, I am cheered to learn from the ever reliable and trusthworthy Mr Andrew Gilligan that things are not a bad as they are made out to be ... But read this season cheer for yourselves in full here.

In the post

A letter signed by north east artists and artistes has appeared in the Guardian. It criticises the planned ending of financial grants to supported arts venues in the city I have mentioned previously. Please follow this link to the B.B.C. web site article and another to the letter.

Despite my sympathies, I am sceptical of an arts policy (sic) that was so closely based on a business led model. It was always about retail.

Discovering what is already there

As the future for the arts in this fair city (of road schemes) begins to darken, I turn my attention as everyone does at this time of year to those 'Best of 2012' lists to see what I missed, undervalued or am pleased to see caught someone else's eye.

Architecture critic Rowan Moore's choices are only known to me in photographic form (at time of writing, but here's hoping). As I glanced down the list I found in his advice or plea to architects (and or planners) "discovering what is already there" an echo of something I have believed in for years past. I'm grateful for any support.