The photo shows the Performance Ensemble in Leeds, in 2019 Whatever else it might—or more likely might not—achieve, the current … More
Author: François Matarasso
Some selfless artists
None of this work has been captured by power. It happens on the margins, largely unseen and ignored by state actors. Consequently, it can nourish a real alternative to the normative (and increasingly indistinguishable) ideologies of government and consumer capitalism. It enacts humanist values of connection, open-mindedness, tolerance and dialogue. It puts freedom before security. People before art.
Why Nicholas Hytner is wrong about how to save the arts in England
Curtain call of ‘La Gate Perduda’, a community opera I helped with at the Liceu Opera House, Barcelona, October 2022 … More
Remembering Steve Lobb, muralist and pioneer of community art
Yesterday, I received a copy of Geraint Franklin’s Murals and the Community Arts in England 1968–86: A Thematic Study. It’s a … More
Failing to write about uncertainty
A Restless Art was written from a place of relative confidence, although that confidence ebbed during the four years it took … More
Reading optimism
A Restless Art has been available as a free PDF, as well as in print, since January 2019, for reasons … More
A Selfless Age? From ‘Winter Fires’ to ‘1001 Stories’
Gwen Sewell and Rosie Wheatland, iPad painting by Mik Godley from Winter Fires (2012) I think about unravelling it, but … More
What is a ‘selfless’ art?
To be honest, I don’t yet know. For now, it’s a signpost, pointing in the direction that seems most promising. … More
‘HerStory’ – A co-created opera for World Parkinson’s Day
In May 2021, as part of our research into opera co-creation, I arranged a meeting between some of the Traction … More
The power of attention
When Elon Musk bought Twitter, in October last year, I deleted my account. I’m wary of social media, which feeds … More