Art Culture Tourism Q&A

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Nottingham born, bred and educated. After 23 years in London and Buckinghamshire & Berkshire (and over Europe) I returned to my roots with my then two young sons Sam and Marcus Gilmore, in 1997 after my their father suddenly died 1996. They were just 4 and 8 years old then. I knew I had to come back to my family and my parents, Mietek and Sonia Zipser in West Bridgford, to make us all a complete family again and for my boys to spend more time with their grandparents. And to attend our schools here. So I had to start all over again with my life and career. We haven’t looked back. My sons both have wonderful creative careers in both London and Beeston. Sam is a top motion graphics professional in London and Marcus a graphics designer/illustrator...and learning motion graphics fast.

I love Beeston and its community, after having moved here in 2012. It is a blessed multi-cultural international university town and creatively thriving. Multi cultural societies make for happy and healthy communities and the best quality of life. We are extra fortunate to have such a wealth of nature and green spaces on our doorstep. They are our inspiration every day.

What was it that drew you into the arts/creative sector?

From my early 20s I was drawn into art and design and communications sectors, working for Habitat in Nottingham (retail), then London as Conran Associates press office assistant and onward to BBC Publications and Radio. From there into PR/Marketing/Promotions agencies, in both private & public sectors including hotels/tourism/hospitality. Promotions always took my fancy the most because I got more and more involved in events, projects and people managing. I’ve always enjoyed briefing photographers, visualisers, designers.

How did you start Art Culture Tourism? What inspired you to do so?

I came to settle in Beeston in 2012 and to focus on my writing (and yes, my book will get finished!). I met so many artists and writers and discovered its rich heritage, wealth of green spaces and its great sense of place and community spirit. Being so close to nature really inspires me every day. Being an events manager for 30 years, I could see a need to bring our local creatives and that heritage together and so in December 2013, I organised our first networking and mini exhibition themed around LACE at Beeston’s landmark building, Anglo Scotian Mills. I followed this in March 2014 with our first Cultures Crossing ‘experiment’ bringing international artists into the mix, many of whom I ‘met’ on LinkedIn.

It was at this event that I introduced Roberto Alborghetti showing his visual art on the screen, and then he actually came over to Beeston that October (from London for a 3 hour visit). So I took him to Barton’s garage, and his eyes through a macro camera lens fell on an historic rusty old bus that ‘told’ him a story. He came out of the garage inspired to make a film about the The Ghost Bus...and this has spawned into a collection of short films with music over the years where he shows us how we can see what we would never imagine to see. His concept of ‘making art’, caught on camera macro scale captures the randomness of deconstructionism, letting the picture tell the story. He doesn’t change what he sees, he documents the reality.

What does Art Culture Tourism involve?

Art Cuture Tourism in a community group (promotional) whose mission is to recognise, bring together and fuse the multi-cultural creatives in its network, promote Beeston, Nottingham and ACT’s artists, photographers, authors and performers on a local and international stage.

I host inward and outbound tourism opportunities encouraging local business investment, strengthening development and stimulating employment.

I’m a promoter of people and places. Heritage Tourism and Arts Promotion are my passions!

Can others get involved in ACT?

Yes certainly. We would welcome more volunteers - local and via NTU Employability who have been incredibly helpful with their 2nd year students helping us as ACT Interns. We also have 2 incredible Mums from Beeston and Toton who joined in January and will be with us for the rest of the year and hopefully 2020.

Are you working on any projects at the moment?

Cultures Crossing events until Nov and The Ghost Bus ‘Roads’ Project now touring…..conceptualised by Roberto Alborghetti, official biographer to Pope Francis, visual artist, best selling author and award winning Environmental journalist (European Pulitzer).

What are the creative communities like in the areas that you work closely to?

Fantastico!! For Cultures Crossing events 2019 - Beeston / surrounds, Long Eaton and Nottingham city centre and then from September Stapleford/Sandiacre, October at NTU SU building, and back to Beeston in November. December will be ACT’s 6th birthday so I suspect a similar At Home/Gallery/Garden Sunday afternoon ….

Also a half year Celebration ACT Party at my home/studio/garden for Sunday 23rd June for all our CC performers so far, friends and supporters, and any sponsors and partners who would like to come. A big thank you for them. My garden will be in full bloom and adjacent park through my garden gate for everyone to play sports games or whatever.

What can we expect from ACT? Is there anything coming up soon?

Continuation of CC events until Nov and ACT’s 6th birthday December. In 2020 I would like to see developed an ACT Online Gallery with shop facility. And to continue our Cultural Exchange/ tour programs to European cities and of continuing our Italian Connection, so more cultural exchanges there too. But our Cultures Crossing events will continue in 2020 when towns and cities request us in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire or other neighbouring counties.

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