Cod's Head Culture for the Poor

‘Cod’s Head Culture for the Poor’ is a documentary that critically reviews the history of the Community Arts Movement in the UK. Drawing upon recent publications and articles, the documentary examines the years 1968 to 1986, exploring how the concept of cultural democracy was integrated into the practices of artists and practitioners working in communities across the UK.

The documentary charts how the movement emerged from debates around art and culture in the late 1960s to establish itself as a force to bring everyday culture to towns and cities across the UK. While this history has been previously documented by scholars such as Sally Morgan (1995) and Alison Jeffers (2018), this film represents the first consolidation of this information in its current form.

‘Cod’s Head Culture for the Poor’ is a traditional broadcast-style documentary, featuring the structure, pacing, and aesthetic of historical documentaries produced for terrestrial British television over the past 20 years. The film includes talking-head interviews with community artists and several academic commentators, providing a foundational narrative for the history of community arts. The documentary also employs a Voice of God narrative to link different elements and provide analysis as to its impact and importance. Archive material, film footage, and still photography are used to illustrate the practices of community artists and give greater context to the history of this work.

‘Cod’s Head Culture for the Poor’ highlights the rise of cultural democracy through the Community Arts Movement and examines how the idea faded after 1986 with the development of participatory arts and the ‘democratisation of culture’ paradigm. It raises questions about why cultural democracy has re-emerged and what its future might hold.

George Fleming is an Assistant Professor and media practitioner with many years of experience working on media productions and in university education. He currently leads the practice strand of the Media and Creative Industries degree at the University of Warwick. George’s professional practice encompasses work on television documentaries, sports programming, award-winning short films, and feature film writing. He has substantial experience in developing film and media projects with community organisations, corporate companies, arts bodies, and universities.

Over his 20-year career as a media professional, George has taught and collaborated with young adults in a variety of formal and informal educational settings, helping them to develop their filmmaking, media production skills, and professional practice. His extensive teaching abilities have been refined through his continued work as a successful freelance practitioner and as an artistic and managing director.