Austere Creativity and Volunteer-run Public Services: The Case of Lewisham's Libraries

Abstract

The article explores a particular concept of creativity that which is being mobilised within Austerity Britain. This mobilisation involves capitalising on the resourcefulness and ingenuity of citizens in their ability to adapt and 'problem-solve' in the face of cuts to the welfare state; it lacks any oppositional or explicitly political aspects. Such a conception of creativity is also linked to imperatives to restore a perceived loss of community and authentic experience, and to the nostalgic belief that austerity provides an opportunity to do so by bringing us 'back to basics'. 'Austere creativity' becomes prevalent in the absence of alternatives and large-scale social movements challenging austerity. The article will explore these issues through the case of a campaign to save five libraries in Lewisham, London in 2010-11, and in the reaction of campaigners to the decision by the council to turn them over to charities and social enterprises, with volunteers replacing qualified librarians. It is based on interviews with key activists, ethnographic observations from the author's role as an activist in the campaign, grey literature and a promotional video on the outsourcing of public services.

The Community Asset Transfer of Leisure Facilities in the UK: A Review and Research Agenda

“…These varied from; 'accepting the situation as an inevitable consequence of cuts in public expenditure and focusing on the benefits; to feeling uncomfortable in acquiescing in a process, which by its success will justify further cuts' (Forbes and Nichols 2020 p. 9). This example, and those of Corble (2019) and Forkert (2016), identified a tension in that volunteers might oppose public budget cuts and facility closures; but by contributing to a 'successful' CAT feel they are legitimising the transfer to volunteer-run services.…”

“…We have not found a survey of volunteers' motivations in CATs; however, qualitative work shows a strong initial motivation is to stop a facility closing (e.g. Forbes et al 2017;Forkert 2016;Foxton 2018;Griffiths et al 2014;Penny 2019). A campaigning group against closure may transform into one, which then negotiates with local government to take on a transfer of management or ownership, and if successful will then manage the facility.…”

“…Libraries cannot charge for their main service, lending books. For example, Lewisham council were not able to consider a commercial bidder to run the five libraries it proposed to close (Forkert 2016). The only large trusts to have taken contracts for outsourced library provision are: Carillion, who are now bankrupt; Greenwich Leisure Limited, who run library services in Bromley, Greenwich, Dudley, Wandsworth and Lincolnshire; and Libraries Unlimited, who run Torbay and Devon library services (O'Bryan 2018).…”

CREATIVITY: AN INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CONCEPTS, TOPICS, AND DISCUSSIONS<br>USTVARJALNOST. UVOD V RAZŠIRJENE KONCEPTE, TEME IN RAZPRAVE</br>

“…Cities use such practices to prove how they abide by European (or rather EUropean) policies because they provide broad access to culture, ensure conditions for fostering creativity, encourage citizen participation, include vulnerable groups, support green practices, and revitalize brownfields. In the absence of alternatives, "austerity creativity" (Forkert 2016) thus generally reproduces dominant ideology and, in the best-case scenario, is merely a "social commentary" of the prevailing social system. Slovenia, however, is quite late in practicing "social cultural policy."…”

“…Mesta te prakse praviloma uporabljajo za dokazovanje uresničevanja evropske (oziroma EU-ropske) politike, saj omogočajo širok dostop do kulture, zagotavljajo spodbudne razmere za razvoj ustvarjalnosti, spodbujajo civilno udeležbo, vključujejo ranljive skupine, podpirajo zelene prakse in revitalizirajo degradirana območja. V odsotnosti alternativ »krizna ustvarjalnost« (Forkert 2016) pogosto reproducira dominantno ideologijo in je v najboljšem primeru kvečjemu »družbeni komentar« prevladujočega sistema.…”