Wednesday Jan 16th The APG role in Industry redefined

Today I have been revisiting the industry placements, and the correspondence between APG and industry bosses. I am interested in how the specific role of the artist within the organisation was defined and amended as the placements progressed, and also the placement from the industry perspective

TGA 20042/1/2/51 Artist Placement Group. Correspondence with industry.[c 1967-1979]

Excerpt from letter to Robin Campbell, Arts Council, from Scott Bader Company,    ….”It is now being said by Management Consultants that industry which does not recognise its social responsibility will not, in this decade, survive, and that it literally “pays-off” to recognise this dimension…”

From Draft copy of letter to Mr Alvero Bunster, from Barbara Steveni?

 …”The object is to place contemporary practising artists with organisations of all kinds, Industries, universities, New Towns, Government Departments; in the belief that the needs of future generations are often predestined by the artist. By placing the artist in direct contact with people, both those who are carrying out day to day tasks, and people in a position of authority, we hope that the artists and people with whom they come into contact might have a creative and beneficial effect on one another….”

This has expanded from their earlier manifestos to be more inclusive.

TGA 20042/1/2/47 FOLDER 3/3
Artist Placement Group. File of correspondence relating to Shell and Esso, labelled, ‘Letters, Drafts and Press Articles’
[c 1981-1982]
Letter from Shell Oil to Barbara Steveni outlining the progress of a collaborative project with APG (After 4-5 years of correspondence.)

…”Overall Aim.
To provide the general public with an impression of the companies corporate activities via an artistic reflection and to gain the benefit of insight of the questioning artistic eye on how the company relates to its public…”
(Not very eloquent, but Shell do seem to have grasped the concept. Does seem more specific though, and more about enlightening the public for the company’s benefit than getting right in there and integrated in the decision-making and power politics of the company internally, as you see in the late 60s and early 70s.)

TGA 20042/1/2/47 FOLDER 1/3
Artist Placement Group
File of correspondence relating to Shell and Esso, labelled, ‘Letters, Drafts and Press Articles’
[c 1981-1982]
From letter to Chris Ledger, Draft, from Barbara Latham. About the possible role of the APG artist, and the possible benefits for the company.This is much more specific and more attractive to the company than the ‘Open Brief’ idea. Does it show a little more compromise?…..
……”It is understood that Shell UK is concerned to arrive at more effective means for communicating the dramatic scale and richness of its technological capabilities and developments in North Sea operations, to those of its personnel not directly involved ‘on site’ in such operations, as well as to the wider public in general. An effective contribution to developing  such means, having a direct bearing upon future management, public, and employee relations, at all levels……”

Leave a Reply