Oh god, here we go - national journalists have a pop at Swindon and the locals pull up the draw-bridge.
The last thing you do in communications is say the thing that you least want people to think - avoiding saying lines like "Swindon has a reputation for not doing cultural activity or highbrow but
In communications, you need to be
A) honest and
B) say something which is credible and
C) Deliver something memorable to match your words...
To claim that Swindon is anything BUT a cultural desert compared to most other towns not only of its size but with a similar (mostly demolished or derelict in our case) cultural inheritance is hopelessly Polly-Annish, and frankly, merely invites more deserved ridicule. Besides, without that word 'but' to supposedly challenge the long standing perception of our town, you'd not have a story at all - and as a consequence, no coverage!
Swindon has the reputation it has, not because people come here and see our lovely architecture and regulalry see a fabulous show, gig or exhibition... Its because people have eyes, ears and a nose and can clearly make a judgement for themselves too. The way to change it would be to get on and do it. A satyrical opera mocking the town is neither here nor there - its art imitating life!
Elephant in the room: most of our town is pig ugly because of a complete lack of imagination by successive councillors and planners, determined to demolish the Victoriana. We have more than our fair share of NEETs patrolling the streets, pushing double buggies full of pierce-eared progeny of differing shades, and openly smoking spliffs. We have a polished turd of a town centre, with 20% of the shops empty and most of the rest coming out second best to Ratners and Poundland. We have the post apocalyptic messes of the MI, Locarno, and Old College buildings at the heart of the town where they have been decaying for decades and concrete office buildings as far as the eye can see - BUT
somehow we're supposed to think that a literature festival and some lovely (though soon to be overgrown and untended) parks compensates...? Come on people!!! Its a laughable as spunking £4m on allowing a supposedly publicly funded BBC to come help a load of
commercial acts hawk their wares - and seriously thinking that it would turn around our reputation!
Of course its NOT all bad - there are some really fantastic things on offer - but frankly, diluted down by our size and the sheer volume of people living here, its a very weak cultural cordial.
Perception may be coloured by the tone of media coverage, but if it was really that inaccurate, they would have moved onto something, somewhere, or someone else by now.
Swindon will only change for the 'better' if the people living in it call a spade a spade. In the meantime, locals get what they vote for with their feet and wallets.
I complain about it, but frankly, if I want culture, for the most time I'll happily travel to go find it. I like to support the good things which are here and will carry on doing so - but it amuses me when people take umbridge over something which is perfectly flippin' obvious to the rest of the populace of the UK.
Sorry about the rant, but come on......!
