May update

Well, May's been a bit of a curate's egg weather-wise; cold up until a week or so ago and then melty-hot! What has been very fortuitous is that it's kept fine for both of EMVAN's first two netwalks; Washingborough to Lincoln and the Cromford circuit. The latter, in Derbyshire last week, saw 18 of us parading through swathes of bluebells, sundrenched fields and light-dappled glades - chattering all the way. Only when we were asked to cover some distance in quiet contemplation did the talking stop and reflection take over. After 2 and a half hours of walking and networking we took a well earned break and went our separate ways. Walks in Nottingham, Northampton, Leicester and Rutland are in the planning with dates and details to be announced soon. Fingers crossed again for good weather!

This month has also seen EMVAN travel to London for the annual national Turning Point Network summit. This year was a little different in that it started with a launch of the network's new identity: the Contemporary Visual Arts Network at the ICA on The Mall. This consisted of a lively debate led by the evening's MC the BBC's Arts Editor, Will Gompertz during which he posed a series of provocations about the contemporary art world to the national network chair and director of BALTIC, Godfrey Worsdale. The following day's summit at London Mayor Boris Johnson's pad City Hall was equally lively with debates about the following themes:

• Measuring value
• Alternative economies
• Conceptualising engagement
• Visual arts and the education agenda

Click here to find out more about the summit.

And so, as we head towards the summer EMVAN's busily making headway with its Open Season of open selection exhibitions and associated events across the region, a series of picnics (keep crossing those fingers for fine weather!) at PRIMARY in Nottingham and its annual event which scheduled for Thursday 20 September. Idle hands and all that!

Hoping to see you at some or all of these!

Bye for now