Due to the sad closure of a local Post Office I was able to salvage this sign which had been left abandoned and discarded in a side street. I took it back the HQ of the Creativity Manifesto, re-wired it and turned it into a "Ready-made work of art" as a tribute to Marcel Duchamp. It is now being used as an evening wall light in the reception hall. It always provides an interesting point of conversation for evening visitors. It sums up our creative social philosphy. Be creative, don't waste anything, and try to solve social, economic, and political problems through innovation, ideas and creativity. Recycle the old into something new, useful, and beautiful; without changing everything, and without wasting money.
Creative Notes.
The Government is closing down hundreds of local Post Offices with little regard as to how this affects local communities in terms of identity and social cohesion. The fact is, small local Post Offices provides services that no other public outlet does. On the community side (as I know from the local Post Offices in my area) these local hubs of community interaction often provide a communal place for neighbours and newcomers to chat, ask questions about local issues, and bring a local sense of familiarity and belonging; this is especially true for the elderly who have often spent many years going to one branch and built up community friendship and networks through doing so. If I don't use mine for a few weeks it is noticed by the staff who often enquire about my health! Such community concern and social politeness is sadly disappearing in many govenment services, and in many communities, which is not helpeed when the Govenrment closies down post offices which are exactly the type of "community centres" which could help sustain Communities. The Creativity Manifesto (along with of others!) regards the Government Policy of local office closures as financially short-sighted and detrimental to the long-term benefit of UK Society community cohesion at a time when we should be doing as much as possible to encourage social interaction not social segregation. I wonder how long it will be before they start closing our local libaries as well.
David. A
