The impact of the arts

I spent an inspiring day this week in Frome with Terrestrial, an arts organisation I’ve been involved with for some time. The people gathered together covered a range of disciplines and approaches including dance, writing, producing, and costume design. All were open to exploring new ways of working, of collaboration, and of encouraging others in the arts. All were cautiously optimistic that we might now finally see in Government someone who understands and values the arts. And I think all would have come away encouraged by the discussions, the sharing, and the possibilities for the future. I know I was.

All of which reminded me of the importance of art and the impact on our lives. This can be seen in the feedback and reactions to theatre and the community projects Damn Cheek have been producing these last few years, and in the work Terrestrial has produced and enabled, whether it be with children, older people, or people with addictions and whether it be through dance, drama, song, story or some magical mix of all of these. These projects are a kind of dance with participants joining in at their own pace, keenly or nervously, and finding their own means of artistic expression and a sense of connectivity.

The release of creativity, the creation of community, and the realisation of what it means to be human which spring from taking part in these activities make the arts immensely valuable and immensely important - so I’m hoping the cautious optimism proves to be justified. Whatever happens, I feel confident that these talented individuals will continue producing, dancing, writing, designing, performing and encouraging - and releasing depths of creativity in those they work with. I’m looking forward to seeing the results.

nerves and uncertainty
blossoming of creativity
as they join the dance