The view from East Lawrence
Dave Loewenstein, community murals and living democracy Browsing the artwork in Dave Loewenstein’s online shop, I was delighted by this
Author: François Matarasso
I'm a community artist, writer and researcher, working in Europe. My latest book, 'A Restless Art' (London 2019), is about the history, theory and practice of participatory art.
Friendship and the community artist
When I talk about community art practice with younger or less experienced artists, I often warn against offering friendship to
Leaving the Tower of Babel
I wander through Twitter’s alleyways like a refugee from another land. It’s vivid, disorientating, and full of drama; shouting behind
Prisoners of Love, Amateurs and Professionals (Old Words #3)
This essay is a slightly revised version of a chapter in Where We Dream, West Bromwich Operatic Society and the
If you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need
Elections simplify. The complex realities of millions of lives, events and forces are channelled into simple choices. In France that
Asking better questions
‘Why don’t you consider what the author is trying to do, instead of criticising him for not meeting your expectations?’
‘If not pure, then at least useful.’
Read this book. It is probably the most important book about art that will be published this year. Or about
Let’s start by valuing what’s already there
Last night, Arlene Goldbard and I recorded the next episode of our blog, ‘A Culture of Possibility’. Our guest was Lucy Wright, an
Making Nothing Happen (Old Words #2)
This essay was originally written in 2016, and revisited in the darker year of 2022 Download a PDF of this essay here On
Time to leave? (I’m getting grumpy.)
After 40 years working in the cultural sector, I have reached the point of being all but unemployable, except perhaps
François Matarasso 