Post-political arts policy

The photo shows the Performance Ensemble in Leeds, in 2019 Whatever else it might—or more likely might not—achieve, the current … 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

When I began in community art, the photocopier was new technology. In the printshop where I was an apprentice, we … More

The problem of opera Opera is a problematic art. It’s not just the extravagant cost of producing it, or the … More

In another time, I was asked by Fuel Theatre to write the introduction for a book called Signal Fires, collecting … More

Regular readers (thank you for your interest) will know my admiration and affection for John Fox, Sue Gill and the … More

Over past year or two, I’ve had a series of conversations with people about books they’ve been working on. Some … More

In late January 2021, in the depth of winter and the midst of lockdown, a small group of people gathered … More

Last night I sat in a Dublin B&B for watching a performance unfold in Leeds Playhouse through a laptop screen. It was … More

There’s no moment quite like this. So much of community art is in the journey, the being-together, listening, learning and … More