"Internet minister" and public schoolboy Ed Vaizey was in Notttingham today, but managed to avoid protesters eager to challenge him about the Coalition government's cuts.

"The Honourable" Edward Vaizey (his full moniker by virtue of being the offspring of a peer) is the "Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries," which covers arts, media, museums and galleries, libraries, the intranet and that sort of thing. In recent weeks it is his interest in teh interwebs which has attracted particular attention following his suggestion that the UK might abandon the principle of "net neutrality," but this doesn't seem to have had anything to do with his visit today.

Vaizey joined anti-piracy figurhead and Undertone Feargal Sharkey to open a new rehearsal space in Nottingham. The associated press release describes this as "a great example of the Big Society in action" despite the fact it has been funded by a £500,000 grant from the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). Confirming once again that the Big Society means just about whatever you want it to.

According to his underwhelming Twitter page, Vaizey also visited "Antenna" (a quick web search reveals that this is "a new Creative Industries Business Hub," no I don't know either) and the Nottingham Contemporary art gallery.

His day also included a trip to the Nottingham Playhouse (one of the institutions hit by County Council cuts earlier this year). Local anti-cuts campaigners had got wind of this appearance and turned up to challenge him about government policy. Unfortunately, despite keeping an eye on the various entrances and exits he seems to have slipped the noose. Whether he came earlier or found another way to leave isn't clear.

Campaigners hang around for sometime hoping for the opportunity to have a full and frank exchange of views with the Minister, but were denied the opportunity. No doubt this was an entirely accidental oversight on Vaizey's part and one I'm sure he'll take immediate steps to correct.