I wake at 4.30am in the lake district,  get on the 6am train cause I missed the 5.30 and at 9.45am I am on level five of the Royal Festival Hall just as Jude walks around the corner.  I am with Hannah from the cape farewell team.  Cape farewell are the original residents of THE RIVERSIDE ROOMS where my “office” is.  

Jude delivers her talk on The Entire Vision and artistic Policy of the South Bank. It is assisted by  four massive pieces of art plastered on the wall with sticky tape stuck on by Becky and Sarah. These pieces were constructed by an artist and Jude. It’s visionary and it’s clear as a bell.  The term “inclusion” is not lip service but an  an active part of the vision, at the heart of the vision and at the heart of the day to day working practises. It makes sense. 

At 11.30am I meet MC the head of literature. I hear for the first time that all the events for January to April 1st are
now closed as the brochure is due. It's a shock. I put one question to Martin  “. What can we  do to enable free flow of communication and ideas between us - what can you do to make it easier for me and what can I do to make it easier for you". I suggested that I could    try to attend the fortnightly literature meetings, though this is difficult becuase of my work schedules. And the second suggestion  was from Martin that I  send email (via calendar) notification to Martin of when I am in the building.  

This was the conclusion to our meeting. I suggested that having organised thirty events for between January and April 1st it may have been in keeping with The South Bank Vision (or at least in keeping with the reason I am here)   to have at least chatted to me about what any of the bookings were. I suggested that Martin may let me know of events he is organising in future. I could attend meetings with him as writer in residence etc. I also outlined that I am the individual entering the organisation on a part time basis. I need a little give, a litte sharing a little less territoriallity and a little more action towards the  shared vision.

After our meeting It slowly dawns.  After offering the opportunity of openess I received  nothing by means of positive action. It’s after the meeting that  it  also dawns that in my entire time at The South bank as part of this residency the literature department has asked me to do nothing as part of its programme, outside of its obligation.  I am equally aware that over the past I am unaware of not one of the thirty readings booked in the brochure for January to April. So this is inclusion in practise. It's very isolating.  It’s not what’s said, It’s what’s not said that say it all,  I say. 

At 3pm I should've been viewing the Hayward Gallery with Helen Faulkner but instead I just splurged out my anxiety over coffee and a cigarette. By the end of it all through discussions I find a solution and try to work on it.