europe – François Matarasso

Holding on to democracy

Yesterday I was asked why I accept the result of the 2016 referendum in which a majority of English and

Yesterday, Canada’s Parliament was attacked by an armed man. Twenty years ago, the philosopher Isaiah Berlin was awarded an Honorary

Migranland It is in the nature of artistic work to reach beyond the boundaries of language, culture and context. You

I have seen the future, brother, it is murder. Leonard Cohen, The Future, (1993) From the street corner where Gavrilo

It’s uncomfortable for a writer to admit, but sometimes words fail us. They seem to have done so both before

Gravitas, the heavy tread of moral earnestness, becomes a bore if it is not accompanied by the light step of

There’s has been a great increase in cultural policy data, research and commentary in recent years, reflecting culture’s greater importance in the

The speech of women There is a paradox, acknowledged by the speaker herself, in a woman giving a lecture about

As you approach the Acropolis Museum in Athens you see the Parthenon’s reflection floating in the dark glass wall of

Text of a talk for the Greek EU Presidency conference, “Heritage First! Towards a common approach for a sustainable Europe” •