Kevin Harris punctures the pomposity of the RSA’s latest wheeze, the Launch of Citizen Power. Why Kevin asks, is this project about empowering people in Peterborough being launched at a VIP event in London? And how come it’s being led not by Peterborough folk but by the RSA and Arts Council East? Great questions.
The tone of the RSA site is a bit breathless (“a unique and exciting partnership”) and it says:
the Citizen Power project will span two years and be made up of a number of programmes based around the arts and social change, an area-based learning curriculum, a sustainable citizenship campaign, user-centred drug services and the use of online social media.
Which sounds suspiciously like the superior intellects of the RSA have saved the poor citizens of Peterborough all that tiresome work figuring out their own priorities.
I’m a big fan of social media and what it makes possible. But I am weary of old institutions seeing it as just another tool with which to patronise us.
The RSA conclude: “In the meantime, please feel free to join this site and add your thoughts, ideas and opinions!”. Soooo empowering. Not.
