Tag Archives: participation
The Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans
Next week, I will be in Sarajevo for a conference to mark the end of the Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans, (SCP) after almost 15 years. Set up … Continue reading
What is the Parliament of Dreams?
When I started this site, at the beginning of last year, I called it the Parliament of Dreams because I’ve used that metaphor to suggest how I see the unique … Continue reading
‘All in this together’
The de-politicisation of community art in Britain, 1970-2011 The term ‘community art’ came into use in Britain at the beginning of the 1970s, at a time when the cultural experimentation … Continue reading
Drawing together
A couple of years ago Deborah Aguirre Jones began a project working with women experiencing mental health problems in Bristol, where she lives. Supported by a local organisation, Creativity Works, she … Continue reading
Arts outreach programmes: self-development or social instruction?
On 7 November, I took part in a symposium about cultural mediation in Basel, organised by Pro Helvetia with Migros. It marked the end of a four year programme supporting … Continue reading
An even break for young artists
Three months ago, I agreed to make a ‘digital postcard’ for the engage conference, which takes place in Cardiff today and tomorrow. It was a mistake: saying something useful (or … Continue reading
Dementia Friendly Arts
Dementia seems to be replacing cancer as the unmentionable disease. Until quite recently, people were reluctant even to use the word ‘cancer’, a fearful reticence that surely increased suffering and … Continue reading
Arts and Health evaluation (MCV5)
Learning about evaluation Fifteen years ago, at the end of Use or Ornament?, I rather naively raised the possibility of producing an evaluation handbook for arts projects. I’d been concerned … Continue reading
The problem of ‘impact’ (MCV 4)
A conversation with Peter Wright at the Creative Communities 3 conference made me realize that it might be useful to explain why I no longer use the word ‘impact’ in … Continue reading
On the use of the word ‘professional’
‘Contempt for and indifference toward intellectual passions and creativity where these are not remunerative are precisely concordant with financial hierarchies. The painter is taken seriously when the hype of the … Continue reading
