The press of Heather & Ivan Morison
Publication: Headline Caption: Selected editorial: By Claire Newbon, Evening Mail "Taxpayers are shelling out thousands of pounds for a married couple to go on a round the-world trip of a lifetime - in the name of art. The Midland pair will be paid £6,000 to send postcards, telegrams and text messages back from their globe-trotting adventure. The "starter" grant, to send Ivan and Heather Morison to 14 countries around the world, was today condemned as a "flagrant waste of taxpayers' money". The "major new artwork" will see the couple visit New Zealand, Australia, America, Antarctica, Russia, China, Singapore, Japan, Namibia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Latvia and Poland. The Morisons, from Edgbaston, are getting cash from the lottery and tax-funded West Midlands Arts Board, as well as galleries in the countries they visit. They will mix with locals and send e-mails and holiday videos back to the Birmingham's Big Peg gallery, in Vyse Street, Hockley, for an exhibition next year. Mrs Morison today defended the trip: "It is very important to the people of Birmingham as we plan to show that, even if we're thousands of miles away, everyday life is very similar for everyone across the globe. Birmingham-based arts group Vivid has organised funding for the 2003 'Hothaus' project. Vivid director Yasmeen Baig-Clifford said: "The project is an important cultural exchange and the Morisons will be taking 12 months out of their comfortable lifestyle to promote Birmingham. Heather Morison, who with her husband will be adding to the grant, currently works as a marketing manager at Cplex in West Bromwich".
| |
 | |
