GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUNDS (1987)

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUNDS looks at the existence of an underpaid Gallery Director. The video uses humour to provide a glimpse at working conditions, stressing the more dismal aspects of the job. Found footage of Joan Crawford's strong performance in Johnny Guitar (1954) provides a Hollywood counterpoint to the down-to-earth strength and perseverance demonstrated by the women at the gallery. With tongue and cheek, it's spliced inclusion also suggests that chance may intervene despite one's best efforts. 

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUNDS is a collaboration between Cathy Busby and Melodie Calvert who were both running Halifax galleries in the late 1980s when they came up with the idea for this video. Both had recently completed BFA's at NSCAD and were happy to have found work in the field. However, with this work they wanted to draw attention to the amount of invisible and gendered labour often involved in running an arts space, drawing attention to some of the unseen things that go into creating the veneer of the seamless white cube.