François Matarasso

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  • Participation can be more important than art

    My talk at last week’s SIMM-posium in Ghent was an opportunity to share some concerns about widely held assumptions in the field. (You can download the paper from the Resources page.) One of those assumptions is that the effects of participation and the effects of art are the same – but they’re not. It’s something I touched on long…

  • Community or amateur?

    The first day of the symposium on the Social Impact of Music Making that I’m attending in Ghent (Belgium) closed with a performance by the Ledebirds, described in the programme as a ‘community orchestra’. As I listened to their joyful repertoire of Turkish, Russian and Afghan melodies, I found myself wondering what the difference might…

  • An unspoken contract

    ‘For me It’s an inquiry into an aspect of life that I don’t know about [that] I’m curious about it. I’m interested in looking at my own prejudices – that’s why it’s about yourself in a way.  But it’s also attempting to reflect and record on behalf of a culture something which is important to them…

  • The Lawnmowers

    The Lawnmowers are a theatre company run by and for people with learning disabilities. Founded in 1986 by Them Wifies, they became a fully independent company in 2001. With a base in Gateshead, North East England, the company has 35 members, all training in every aspect of the company’s business, from performance to administration. I’ve…

  • Contributing (or participating)

    Thanks to everyone who has been in touch since the project went live. It’s been great to see the interest in the idea and people’s willingness to contribute to it. If I’ve not yet replied to you, I will very shortly. Over the coming months, I’ll suggest ways in which people can participate in the project…

  • Introducing ‘A Restless Art’

    What is community art and where is it going? Whether you call it community art, participatory art or something else entirely, art work with people seems to be thriving. I’ve worked in the field for many years and I don’t remember a time when so much was happening, despite the public spending cuts. More importantly,…