With the collapse of overstretched banking systems and a nation plummeting into spiralling recession there was a whisper in the streets, that like the banks which were the saviour of the economy from the depression of the early 90s, the creative sector could be the saviour of the one we are now enduring.

As quickly as this whisper was spoken we now hear the Arts & Creative sector will feel the wrath of a relentless reduction of government spending. As we jump into the breech of what can only be seen as a fight on wavering pockets of public funding I believe without financial incentives or personal gain but a fighting spirit to achieve and an unconditional hope, the people will rise from the struggle and shout that whisper out loud.

These are our unsung heroes.

Well ok I’ve got the doom and gloom out of the way, let’s start talking action.

“How can we sustain, improve and develop our creative and artistic infrastructure not only in our country but right here in our city?”

It’s commonly heard ‘think globally, act locally’, I prefer to think community, act individually. I’m proud to preach that Leicester has some of the most creative, extrovert, artistic people our nation has to offer. The richness in ethnicity, nationality, religion and colour provides a melting pot of talent and diversity. The most important value we must sustain is ‘unity’. This starts at the bottom but must rise to the top.

If we are all pawns in a game we cannot control, we have a fighting chance if we all work together. Personally I feel we could have a helping hand if the financial controllers changed the way the money is to be spent and the roots of the city can be heard. To be blunt, stop investing money into initiatives with no passion or drive but create funds that invest in opportunity for the people who are actually out there connecting with the people and making things happen!

Time is not on our side anymore and cash certainly isn’t. Lets create positives from the negative downturn and most importantly the negative views of the hierarchy of the public sector to the minds and spirits of the creative folk.

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” - Winston Churchill

Our creative community is more important than a lonely banner attached to a lamp post and initiatives that come from inexperienced, unmotivated and badly decorated board rooms.

To all of you skint artists, bedroom DJ’s, singers, players and producers, breakers, grafs, movers and shakers, actors, wordsmiths and get up and go risk takers...

Keep the faith! x

For all of you who are doing something from the list mentioned and want to shout about it, come and tell us on our facebook group ‘We Are Lesta’.