Arts Council Engalnd has provided the resources to prevent a catastrophic collapse of the public cultural sector in England, but that won't end the crisis, says François Matarasso.
Take a breath.
Two weeks ago, I was talking with friends in the local café about the worsening situation in Italy, and thinking that the International Community Art Festival in Rotterdam might be cancelled. Ten days ago, I wrote a post about how I thought Arts Council England could protect cultural life as theatres and galleries started to close. Today, the British government is building a 4,000 bed emergency hospital in a London conference centre. The number of (known) coronavirus infections rises like a rocket. The number of deaths is much smaller, but follows the same trajectory. Soon, more of the world’s population will be staying at home (if they have one) than those who are maintaining the services on which all our lives depend.
Take a breath.
Two weeks ago, I was talking with friends in the local café about the worsening situation in Italy, and thinking that the International Community Art Festival in Rotterdam might be cancelled. Ten days ago, I wrote a post about how I thought Arts Council England could protect cultural life as theatres and galleries started to close. Today, the British government is building a 4,000 bed emergency hospital in a London conference centre. The number of (known) coronavirus infections rises like a rocket. The number of deaths is much smaller, but follows the same trajectory. Soon, more of the world’s population will be staying at home (if they have one) than those who are maintaining the services on which all our lives depend.
Take. A. Breath. ... Keep reading on Francois Matarasso's blog