• Leaning in to the uncertainty

    The pandemic has caused all sorts of trouble to the Traction project, as it has to everything and everyone, everywhere. The team has had to reinvent its working methods and approaches, while coping with the now-familiar practical and human difficulties of lockdown. Still, we’re finding solutions and getting on. In this guest post, James Bingham…

  • A Culture of Possibility #3: Clare Reynolds on Restoke’s Work in Staffordshire

    This post, written by Arlene, introduces the third episode of “A Culture of Possibility,” our monthly podcast, in which we speak with Clare Reynolds. Restoke was one of the projects included in A Restless Art, with the photo above, taken by Jenny Harper during ‘You Are Here’, during their 2016 project about migration. You can…

  • A Culture of Possibility #2: The community murals of Amber Hansen and Reyna Hernandez

    Amber Hansen and Reyna Hernandez live in Vermillion, South Dakota, a small city of about 10,000 people in the American Mid-West. Both women came to here to study at the University, where Amber is now Professor of Fine Art and Reyna works in the administration. They share a passion for murals, especially when they are created with, by and for…

  • Rehearsing and performing co-created music remotely: Can you help?

    The lockdowns and physical distancing measures introduced to contain the spread of Covid 19 have had a devastating impact on the performing arts – music, theatre, opera and dance. Barely able to perform in public for almost a year, artists have had to experiment with ways of working remotely and/or using digital technologies in creating…

  • Guest blog: Art as vaccination against the Covid misery

    Tony Stacey is Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Housing Association, which provides over 4,000 homes in Sheffield and the wider region. He’s also one of my oldest friends, so we’ve often talked about how SYHA uses participatory art activities in a people-centred service that embraces decent housing, social care, living well and reducing climate impact. When…

  • New year, new projects…

    Today, the first of A Culture of Possibility podcast series is available in the usual places. As I explained earlier, this is a journey I’m starting with Arlene Goldbard, during which we’ll share ideas and experiences about art, community, social action and similar issues. If that sounds vague, it’s partly because we’re not sure where this will…