Old Words #11 – ‘All in this together’
Still from ‘Ghost Town’ The Specials, 1981 THE DEPOLITICISATION OF COMMUNITY ART IN BRITAIN, 1970-2011 In 2011, I was asked
Author: François Matarasso
Community artist, writer, researcher, trainer, consultant, policymaker – I’ve had many roles since I started work in community arts in 1980, but always in the hope of protecting human rights. I work independently, mostly in Europe, from my home in France. I always work with others, accompanying them, sometimes guiding, in the journeys they want to make. My latest book is about the history, theory and practice of community art: it’s free to download from www.arestlessart.com
More carpenters than jackasses
In this part of Northern Europe, midwinter skies are often bright and clear. The low sun floods in like stage
Guest post: Arlene Goldbard on her new book
NOTE: This post is to introduce you to the 24th episode of the monthly podcast, ‘A Culture of Possibility’, which
Old Words #10 – ‘Approximate Visions’
‘Descriptio Maris Pacifici’,, the first known map of the Pacific, drawn by Abraham Ortelius, in 1589, Antwerp This month’s Old
There exists a genuine mystery at the heart
“I believe that there exists a genuine mystery at the heart of songwriting. Certain lines can appear at the time
Radical Hope: Carol Bebelle on Belonging, Becoming, and Healing
This post from Arlene introduces the new episode of our monthly podcast, ‘A Culture of Possibility’, which is available from
A museum is a strange place
On 9 November 2022, I was invited by Fondazione Brescia Musei to contribute to a discussion on ‘participatory museums today’,
Watch the making of ‘La Gata Perduda’
Reading about ‘La Gata Perduda‘ in these posts must be a somewhat frustrating experience. After all, it has often been
Old Words #9 – ‘Another Angle of Vision’
The Brough of Birsay from Orkney, August 2011 (photo François Matarasso) In 2011, I was commissioned to research cultural life
A time of endings
This morning’s news bulletin led with the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk, so I’ve deleted my account. I’d kept
Parliament of Dreams 