An empty shop in Parkway – formerly Caffe Nero

• IT was great news to read your front page about utilising empty retail sites for the arts, (Vacant shops? Let’s put the high street to good use!, May 13).

I was organising art events in such places in the late 1990s (Fitzrovia Open, Crisp comic art and animation festival). This culminated in the Camden Open of 2000.

It gave an opportunity for all artists based in the borough to be part of a multi-venue, professionally presented, art exhibition in Camden Town.

Film-makers, photographers, sculptors, painters, printers and craft makers were all invited; the only artist who couldn’t enter was myself.

The submission form was kindly printed in your paper, without cost. Work was selected by a panel of arts professionals through a blind submission process which guaranteed equality of opportunity.

I was then head-hunted by Camden Council and offered the chance of a regular salary. I became their exhibitions officer. I joined a team which gave real value to the borough and brought in extensive funding, though this was later lost through budget cuts.

The only place I wasn’t able to work in was Camden Town, even though I had written a policy document for developing the area as a platform for visual arts while still an independent arts organiser after the successful Open.

I took a very early retirement in 2006 due to an incurable cancer, which I am still living with today.

A few years ago I requested a meeting with Camden Unlimited to talk about holding a new Camden Open, as there was only a poorly conceived open for artists at the Swiss Cottage Gallery at the time.

At this meeting I offered my services and even outlined how the event could be funded through a lottery application, which I was experienced with.

Sadly, even though I am a proven arts professional, they didn’t want what I had to offer and I thought at the time that if I had presented myself as an arts consultant they would have been more receptive. After all, this seems the way that Camden likes to work now and I wasn’t asking to be paid.

So I hope that future plans give a genuine opportunity for all the talented people we have in this borough; and that it’s not about who you know and isn’t led by the self-appointed and consultants.

Artists need to be helped and supported, but most importantly they all need opportunity and the chance to be included. Maybe now is the time for another Open?

STEVE ROPER
Clarence Way, NW1