What do we love about the arts?

Convener(s): Sally Christopher

Participants: Laura Cubitt, Maddy, Patricia and others who came and went…

Summary of discussion, conclusions and/or recommendations:

The question was asked…what do we love about the arts?

Why ask such a question?

Surely if we are here now at this event, supporting and discussing the arts… creating…making…working…surely we don’t need to talk about this?  Or do we? 

The question came into being after a few people took to the Saturday morning microphone with a heavy rain cloud hanging over their frustrated heads.  With a sigh and a nervous shake of the head, the one who posed the question wondered – have we forgotten what (or maybe who) we fell in love with when we first started on this long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long journey into the place signposted (the) ART(S)(ISTS)?

What follows are a few of the thoughts which came out of our discussion on what we love about the arts.  [As the sun shone through the window and the radiator warmed our backs…]

 

The emotional connection                                                                                                                           Passion

The Arts’ ability to deliver information / feelings / thoughts / the ‘norm’ in many, many, many different ways 

Being allowed to make sense of self                                                                                     Allowing yourself to feel

Being able to put passion on the page and on the stage 

Art is more than the ordinary

We are allowed to tell stories.  It is understood why we need to share our stories

 Magic!

Sword fighting!

Sharp intakes of breath!

You can be whoever you want to be

People are encouraged to talk, to discuss, to argue

 

You are judged on your art, not on your background

 

Art gives you another perspective

Another way in

Another way out

Empowerment

Learning                                                                                                                                                    Growth

 

It can connect us to our environment [Suggested text: ‘Nature Cure’ by Richard Mabey]

 

The Arts are diverse                                                                                             The Arts can provide us with relief

 

We are reminded by the art of surprise                          

We can see that there is magic out there…

 

Power, Energy, Strength

The Arts provide us with the confidence to debate, to challenge, to ask….to think 

It inspires                                                                                                                                            It provokes

People keep doing it.  People keep trying.

End thought…

We discussed the idea of personal mission statements.  Should we create something that we can come back to when it all feels a bit….rubbish?  Whether lodged in our heads, written on a small bit of paper or painted on our bedroom walls…maybe this is an idea? 

 

Thank you

Bye  bye