Comments on: GLA- Sponsored Festivals http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/ An attempt to enhance the accountability of the new London mayoralty Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:37:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: London’s Cultural Olympiad – More Political Interference From The Mayor http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-12569 London’s Cultural Olympiad – More Political Interference From The Mayor Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:08:51 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-12569 [...] and, in the case of Rhythm Of London, last-minute cancellation of events. Covered on Boris Watch here, here, here and [...] [...] and, in the case of Rhythm Of London, last-minute cancellation of events. Covered on Boris Watch here, here, here and [...]

]]> By: Munira Mirza To Be Interim Arts Council Chair? http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-9155 Munira Mirza To Be Interim Arts Council Chair? Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:22:47 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-9155 [...] Be afraid. Be very afraid. At today’s meeting, Munira was claiming that the lead-in for her June 2009 Story Of London “festival” wasn’t long enough as they only took over the mayoral administration in May 2008 and they needed at least a year to plan it. Now, Story Of London wasn’t announced until February 2009 and suffered from abysmal marketing. [...] [...] Be afraid. Be very afraid. At today’s meeting, Munira was claiming that the lead-in for her June 2009 Story Of London “festival” wasn’t long enough as they only took over the mayoral administration in May 2008 and they needed at least a year to plan it. Now, Story Of London wasn’t announced until February 2009 and suffered from abysmal marketing. [...]

]]> By: The Boring of London « the void http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4491 The Boring of London « the void Sun, 31 May 2009 13:05:27 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4491 [...] as Boriswatch points out this is something you can do everyday of the year [...] [...] as Boriswatch points out this is something you can do everyday of the year [...]

]]> By: Helen http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4490 Helen Fri, 29 May 2009 23:17:43 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4490 I've had a closer look at the Story Of London website and it really is a hodge-podge of the sort of events that are already happening all over London, all the time. For example: "During the BFI Jazz and Film Weekender there'll be chances to discover over 300 films and TV shows made in and around London for FREE throughout the weekend at the BFI Mediatheque" - yes, the BFI Mediatheque has been showing hundreds of films and TV programmes for FREE since it opened over two years ago, I was there for the opening day and I've watched much of the London archive material on many subsequent visits. I'm underwhelmed. I’ve had a closer look at the Story Of London website and it really is a hodge-podge of the sort of events that are already happening all over London, all the time. For example: “During the BFI Jazz and Film Weekender there’ll be chances to discover over 300 films and TV shows made in and around London for FREE throughout the weekend at the BFI Mediatheque” – yes, the BFI Mediatheque has been showing hundreds of films and TV programmes for FREE since it opened over two years ago, I was there for the opening day and I’ve watched much of the London archive material on many subsequent visits.

I’m underwhelmed.

]]> By: Helen http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4487 Helen Fri, 29 May 2009 17:49:46 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4487 Needless to say, on a trip from Waterloo to Oxford Circus by underground then bus from Oxford Circus to County Hall, I saw no publicity for The Story Of London. Needless to say, on a trip from Waterloo to Oxford Circus by underground then bus from Oxford Circus to County Hall, I saw no publicity for The Story Of London.

]]> By: Helen http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4486 Helen Fri, 29 May 2009 16:35:01 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4486 Thanks for the info, johnny v! Very interesting, and what a shame. I went to Trafalgar Square this afternoon to see if there were any posters or anything - nothing. Now I know why. Thanks for the info, johnny v! Very interesting, and what a shame. I went to Trafalgar Square this afternoon to see if there were any posters or anything – nothing. Now I know why.

]]> By: johnny v http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4485 johnny v Fri, 29 May 2009 10:11:35 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4485 Hi there I run the freelondonlistings website lined to in the post above. We received an email early in the year listing a schedule of GLA events which included the Polish Festival. After the London Loop linked to us, which prompted a lot of hits I thought best to contact the Mayors Office to confirm it was going ahead as we hadn't received any further announcements on line up etc, which is unusual I received an email back from the Mayor's Press Office which just said "Afraid not happening. " I'd like to point out that this rather brief response did come from a Blackberry and the Mayors Comminications Officer did respond very promptly so this shouldnt really be counted as an official response from the Mayor's office As to why its not going ahead I have no idea Hi there

I run the freelondonlistings website lined to in the post above.

We received an email early in the year listing a schedule of GLA events which included the Polish Festival.

After the London Loop linked to us, which prompted a lot of hits I thought best to contact the Mayors Office to confirm it was going ahead as we hadn’t received any further announcements on line up etc, which is unusual

I received an email back from the Mayor’s Press Office which just said “Afraid not happening. ”

I’d like to point out that this rather brief response did come from a Blackberry and the Mayors Comminications Officer did respond very promptly so this shouldnt really be counted as an official response from the Mayor’s office

As to why its not going ahead I have no idea

]]> By: Helen http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4484 Helen Fri, 29 May 2009 09:23:10 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4484 My lack of Polish may be a hindrance, but I can't spot any Trafalgar Square event listed in the online version of Polish weekly magazine Cooltura, as available in my local Polish coffee shop: http://elondyn.co.uk/cooltura My lack of Polish may be a hindrance, but I can’t spot any Trafalgar Square event listed in the online version of Polish weekly magazine Cooltura, as available in my local Polish coffee shop: http://elondyn.co.uk/cooltura

]]> By: Helen http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4483 Helen Fri, 29 May 2009 08:31:04 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4483 @diamond geezer - yes, you're right, the Brentford event was just outside the Hounslow postcode area that I searched on the map. You're right about the Musical Museum event being something that was already happening - this seems to be the case with many of the events, they were already scheduled and have just been tagged as Story Of London. My husband's just checked with his Polish colleagues at work and this is the first they've heard about a Polish festival in Trafalgar Square. @diamond geezer – yes, you’re right, the Brentford event was just outside the Hounslow postcode area that I searched on the map. You’re right about the Musical Museum event being something that was already happening – this seems to be the case with many of the events, they were already scheduled and have just been tagged as Story Of London.

My husband’s just checked with his Polish colleagues at work and this is the first they’ve heard about a Polish festival in Trafalgar Square.

]]> By: diamond geezer http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2009/05/29/gla-sponsored-festivals/comment-page-1/#comment-4482 diamond geezer Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:53 +0000 http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/?p=1960#comment-4482 Actually there is <i>one</i> Story of London event in Hounslow, although it's nothing Boris-inspired. It's <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon/events/detail.jsp?id=210" rel="nofollow">a special weekend at the Musical Museum in Brentford</a>... which was going ahead anyway. How poor is the official SoL website? It looks impressive, but it's clogged up with un-special events and is wholly impractical to use. There are some real gems in there, especially over the first weekend, but I've already lost interest in hunting for them. Actually there is one Story of London event in Hounslow, although it’s nothing Boris-inspired. It’s a special weekend at the Musical Museum in Brentford… which was going ahead anyway.

How poor is the official SoL website? It looks impressive, but it’s clogged up with un-special events and is wholly impractical to use. There are some real gems in there, especially over the first weekend, but I’ve already lost interest in hunting for them.

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