François Matarasso

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  • More questions than answers: stories, art and ownership

    On Tuesday, I spoke about participatory art at a conference in Valletta. The questions people raised afterwards were mostly the kind I can’t answer—doubts about power, vulnerable people, appropriation and the relationship between professional artists and non-professional artists. Participatory art presents lots of ethical, political or philosophical dilemmas to which you can only respond with…

  • Cultural democracy and the European Parliament

    Today, I got to speak at the European Parliament, at a conference organised by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats. I’d never been before, and I was glad to have a chance to contribute as a citizen of the European Union while the UK is a member. The various presentations were interesting, but what I…

  • Is there a community arts movement once more?

    ICAF (the International Community Arts Festival in Rotterdam) has just published a photo book of the 2017 edition, and an hour long documentary film. Last year’s festival was the first one I’d attended (though I did speak at a mini-ICAF a few years ago) and I loved the atmosphere, and learning something about community art…

  • One for the historians

    In my view community arts must still be regarded as an experiment—an experiment in ‘cultural democracy’ of great importance not only for the immediate stimulus and enjoyment it can provide, but because its long-term results—or lack of results—will throw light on the question ‘arts for whom?’ which is vital for the future of our society.…

  • Relieved of duty

    Today, I turn sixty. Such anniversaries are foreseeable, and this one’s long presence on my personal horizon was a reason for writing A Restless Art. It is also why I made so many mistakes in the process, and it has shaped the final book. So here’s a little explanation of how my age, at once…

  • ‘Ja sam Muzej’ (Bosnia Herzegovina)

    “I am the Museum” is a civil society and media action aimed to mobilize a massive citizens engagement to save a museum in a difficult political and economic context and finally influence the policy change at a state level.  The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the largest and most important museum…