Banksy monkey art could threaten Newent youth funding
YOUTH workers in Newent fear their hard-line stance over controversial art on show in a Broad Street cafe could threaten funding for the venue.
Banksy street art of a monkey in the Queen's image against a Union flag has attracted fierce reaction.
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Monkey picture
Teens at the Chill Out Zone cafe said taking the poster down restricted their right to free speech. Reluctantly, youth leaders replaced the poster with a more mainstream Union flag. Now, they say their funding is under threat as a result.
Newent town councillors met on Monday and decided to put on hold £3,840 set aside for the venue for 2012 until an investigation into the controversy by the Newent Initiative Trust has been completed.
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Judith Steers, cafe manager, said: "We had a visit from someone from the Trust who said he was there to save our necks. He implied if we didn't take down the art it could threaten our funding.
"This is so much more offensive than the piece of art that has created all of the fuss. The council should be ashamed of itself."
Complainers said the art is disrespectful to the monarchy and mocks the national flag.
Newent Town Council clerk Deirdre Rosser said: "The money has not been frozen or cut, just put on hold until the situation is investigated further."
The story has attracted much online comment at www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk. Jimmy231 said: "Controversy? Perhaps. Would a genuine Banksy like this sell for hundreds of thousands? Definitely."
Moremiles said: "Are the children aware that many people hold the national flag in a lot of esteem and actually many people have served and died carrying it?
"Are they even aware that as expressive as it may be it could actually be seen as hugely offensive to the very people that fight and have fought to give them their freedom of expression?"
Comments
by Hackingtackle
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 4:58PM
“Stuff the Jubilee, stuff the flag and stuff the bloody council.
It's high time these old codgers were put in their place.”
by Bartonite
Friday, June 01 2012, 1:41PM
“Newent Town Council clerk Deirdre Rosser said: "The money has not been frozen or cut, just put on hold until the situation is investigated further."
Tomayto, tomahto. People like this always use legalese to do exactly what they want to do, but claim it isn't as bad as everyone else makes out. 'Something must be done, this is something, therefore...' And if you can get away with claiming it *isn't* a thing at the same time, so much the better...”
by Hoof_Hearted2
Friday, June 01 2012, 1:30PM
“When i was a kid "different value sysytems that need to be challenged" were resolved with a clip round the ear. Problem solved.”
by GoMiG
Friday, June 01 2012, 12:54PM
“Is it that the Council find the art distasteful, or just a reason to withdraw funding in an effort to save money. Positive engagement with the teens may assist in helping them understand the views of others, rather than removing resources which may have a greater negative impact on the local community, in the form of anti-social behaviour.
Is this another example of how the council is disengaging with local youth, and showing a lack of tolerance to freedom of expression.
Although I find the artwork not to my taste, I also cannot see the beauty in a pile of bricks, which has previously been displayed at a national art gallery.
Rather than withdraw the funding show some tolerance, and try to understand that young people today have different value sysytems that need to be challenged in a positive way to encompass the views of those who are not so young, but obviously out of touch with todays society.”