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François Matarasso

François Matarasso

Thinking about culture as if people mattered

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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.
20 May 2022 Community arts

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

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15 May 2022 Community arts / For itself / Thinking

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

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12 May 2022 For itself

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

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6 May 2022 Old Words / Old Words / Regular Marvels

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

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25 April 2022 For itself

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

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18 April 2022 For itself

Asking better questions

‘Why don’t you consider what the author is trying to do, instead of criticising him for not meeting your expectations?’

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10 April 2022 Community arts / Thinking / This changes everything

‘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

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6 April 2022 For itself / Old Words / Thinking

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

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1 April 2022 Old Words

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

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31 March 2022 For itself / Thinking

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

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Latest posts

  • The view from East Lawrence 20 May 2022
  • Friendship and the community artist 15 May 2022
  • Leaving the Tower of Babel 12 May 2022
  • Prisoners of Love, Amateurs and Professionals (Old Words #3) 6 May 2022
  • If you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need 25 April 2022

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  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Community art
    • Wish You Were Here (2021)
    • I Remember: Leicester
    • ‘A Dead Good Life’
    • Regular Marvels (2011-15)
      • Where We Dream (2012)
      • Winter Fires (2012)
      • Bread and Salt (2013)
      • The Light Ships (2014)
      • A Wider Horizon (2015)
  • Writing
    • Old words
    • Reflection Papers on Culture and Development (2020)
    • The 2020 Rome Charter
    • ‘Talking Until Nightfall’ (2020)
    • ‘A Restless Art’ (2019)
    • My European Home
  • Research
    • Evaluation
    • Place-based cultural research (1994-2016)
    • Social impact studies
    • Programmes
      • 2001-05 Living Heritage (SE Europe)
      • 2005-08 Rural Cultural Development (UK)
  • Downloads
    • Publications 1994 – 2022
    • Art books
    • Research reports
    • Evaluation reports
    • Papers and articles
    • Speeches and talks
  • About me
    • Contact me
    • Why ‘Parliament of Dreams’?
    • Support
      • Organisational development
      • Facilitation
      • Workshops
    • Speaking

Blogroll

  • A Restless Art

My other sites

  • A Restless Art
  • Regular Marvels

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François Matarasso

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.

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  • Regular Marvels
  • Parliament of Dreams
  • A Restless Art

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