5 October 2013

Frank Madrid disappointed Canberra doesn't give him more money. Leaving.

| johnboy
Join the conversation
12

The Canberra Times has a lengthy story on local “arts personality” Frank Madrid spitting the dummy and moving out of town because we have insufficiently showered him in money to do his own thing.

Personally I would dearly love to see more of the arts sector in Canberra being based on putting on events that customers want to pay for and less about squabbling over taxpayer funding.

There are groups creating large self sustaining events in Canberra (Corinbank, Foreshore, In Canberra Tonight, the Slam Poetry scene, Scissors Paper Pen, the Canberra Musicians Club spring to mind) but they’re busy actually doing while a self appointed clique of “arts personalities” swan about the local media scene hogging the limelight, hoovering up the spare cash, and doing little other than talk.

That’s not all Frank’s fault, he seems like a nice guy and we wish him well in Sydney. But for mine the last thing we need is a bigger non-productive arts aristocracy.

What we do need is more support and less red tape for those who are getting stuck in. (Which, for its faults, is something the Centenary does appear to have been trying to do)

Join the conversation

12
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
Frank Madrid7:54 am 14 Jul 21

Looking back at this story I recognise I came across as a whinged. I could had chosen my words better. That is not to say that arts administrators play a role in the arts ecology. I left Canberra, went to Sydney and produced good events that provided a platform to many artists. I went to the South Coast and engage in community arts development and came back to beautiful Canberra to curate the music program of Art Not Apart over three editions, again nourishing Canberra artistry. My commitment to Canberra is real and yes, I should have not made a song and dance about leaving. Where is Robyn?

As someone who runs events, Canberra is incredibly hard to actually run events and make them sustainable. (Most events in Canberra I find are actually run at a loss or just break even, but they are put on because the people love what they are doing).

My experience has largely been that Canberras major issue for running events is it’s urban sprawl/low population density. Most people simply do not want to travel the distance to go to any event.

Canberrans are also notorious for not purchasing pre-sale tickets so it’s essentially impossible to gauge how well an event will play out in Canberra. I’ve seen musicians, that pull hundreds or thousands in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane etc etc, pull 1 or 2 people in Canberra. The event could have been canned, but when running an event in Canberra, that is the risk you have to take because nobody will purchase tickets beforehand.

Over years, Canberra has bled many good promoters and seen many good events go the way of the dinosaur. It’s sad, but it’s the way Canberra is and it’s a systematic issue, not really one of “red tape”.

Dv8 said :

LSWCHP said :

As far as I can tell, this guy isn’t an artist, he’s just another “facilitator”, like real-estate agents, used car salesmen etc…a ticket clipping drone with a big ego. And the last thing he did of any note was 2013.

Bye by Frank. Don’t let the door bang you in the arse on the way out.

yeah thats just rude as hell, event coordinators are essential for any scene and its a real shame that canberra has just lost someone who has been dedicated to improving the canberra Arts scene. Its no secret that Canberra is way behind the rest of Australia and most cities of the world as far as artist output, a real shame considering the fantastic talent that live here. But canberra is missing the institutions that connect artists to an audience something that event coordinators are constantly battling with, Something that has clearly become too much for Frank, and like SO many others and has been forced to leave.

Upon consideration, I think you may be right Frank. You really did deserve a bucket of public funding for not doing much of anything.

I hope you get lots of public funding in Sydney.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Canberra’s art money went into a giant inflatable whale look-a-like. Had that beast not gone ahead, there might be more cash to splash on locals.

Full of hot air and lots of public teats, I thought it was a perfect match for Canberra.

wildturkeycanoe7:17 pm 15 Oct 13

Canberra’s art money went into a giant inflatable whale look-a-like. Had that beast not gone ahead, there might be more cash to splash on locals.

LSWCHP said :

As far as I can tell, this guy isn’t an artist, he’s just another “facilitator”, like real-estate agents, used car salesmen etc…a ticket clipping drone with a big ego. And the last thing he did of any note was 2013.

Bye by Frank. Don’t let the door bang you in the arse on the way out.

yeah thats just rude as hell, event coordinators are essential for any scene and its a real shame that canberra has just lost someone who has been dedicated to improving the canberra Arts scene. Its no secret that Canberra is way behind the rest of Australia and most cities of the world as far as artist output, a real shame considering the fantastic talent that live here. But canberra is missing the institutions that connect artists to an audience something that event coordinators are constantly battling with, Something that has clearly become too much for Frank, and like SO many others and has been forced to leave.

I’m in quite some agreement with Frank Madrid (whom I don’t know). Robyn Archer has consumed pretty much all the Centenary oxygen. She has put herself front and centre of proceedings throughout – not to any purpose other than her own interests. That is why the Centenary is giving such a measly legacy for Canberrans. Archer could have mentored someone local and ensured ongoing activities and benefits for our city. But no. She’s a narcissist, and just had to be in the limelight. Centre stage, spotlight on Robyn Archer. Her eye for many months has been on her next gigs. She has long been distracted from this gig that she is being paid I believe more than a million dollars for. I think it’s a great shame that someone like this Frank, who appears to have put quite some commitment into Canberra, has been shabbily treated by Robyn Archer (who, by the way, can’t sing).

Frank Madrid3:55 pm 13 Jul 21

Thank you for your message. For what is worth, I regret saying what I said to the Canberra Times or how I said it. It really came across as superficial whinging and that was not the intention. I wanted to highlight how the Centenary had not left a legacy. I left, went to Sydney, produced major events in Parramatta, completed a master in arts management (arts administrators are an important part of the arts ecology) and came back to Canberra to curate the music program of ArtNotApart for three editions. I love Canberra. It deserved better in 2013. And I should not had picked up a fight with Archer. She is far too powerful. I agree, she can’t sing

Adios.

justin heywood11:31 am 08 Oct 13

LSWCHP said :

As far as I can tell, this guy isn’t an artist, he’s just another “facilitator”, like real-estate agents, used car salesmen etc…a ticket clipping drone with a big ego. And the last thing he did of any note was 2013.

.

He’s done nothing since 2013?

Unless he’s a magician…..
🙂

As far as I can tell, this guy isn’t an artist, he’s just another “facilitator”, like real-estate agents, used car salesmen etc…a ticket clipping drone with a big ego. And the last thing he did of any note was 2013.

Bye by Frank. Don’t let the door bang you in the arse on the way out.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.