When I began in community art, the photocopier was new technology. In the printshop where I was an apprentice, we … More
Category: First Generation
Can you teach community art?
TL;DR? No. In the 1980s, when the first generation of community artists had been around for long enough to feel … More
Innocence and experience: John Fox’s songs
Regular readers (thank you for your interest) will know my admiration and affection for John Fox, Sue Gill and the … More
Some thoughts on podcasting
In January, I began an experiment in podcasting, following an invitation from Owen Kelly and Sophie Hope, who host an … More
Safari park lions
BBC Radio has just broadcast a programme entitled ‘Everyone is an Artist’. It’s part of Archive on 4, a series … More
Other People’s Books: some recommendations
Over past year or two, I’ve had a series of conversations with people about books they’ve been working on. Some … More
Still thinking about co-creation
In March, I posted a question on Twitter about co-creation. What do artists mean by ‘co-creation’? I’m writing about the … More
What we have lost, and what we hold to still
I am looking up at the third floor window of number 36 – smaller than the windows below. We know there is a window seat inside. It’s where the midwife sat, almost 18 years ago, as our daughter Hannah gave birth to Rosa May, her second child, at 6am on a clear spring morning.
Which murals are worth saving?
Murals were a cornerstone of the early community art movement. Between the 1960s and 1990s, hundreds were painted, mostly outdoors, … More
The Roots of War: Continuing a conversation with Arlene Goldbard
A couple of weeks ago, I published a text on the ethics of participatory art by Arlene Goldbard on A … More
François Matarasso 