ART IS ESSENTIAL
Image by Kelliepics who is on Pixabay
A few weeks ago I was invited to a webinar to launch the Art is Essential movement.
I have to be honest, I initially had my doubts about tuning in.
Don’t get me wrong, the message Art is Essential is preaching to the converted here.
But a tiny part of me did wonder whether parents, teachers, businesses, the world basically, needed yet another thing to have to worry about.
As well as buckling under the pressure to stop our children falling behind with the ‘important’ subjects on the curriculum, do we now need yet more hoops to jump through in order to keep up with whoever it is we are supposed to be keeping up with.
I think are children have been superstars throughout this pandemic
LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
I am nothing if not an optimist. Probably annoyingly so at times.
At the start of the first lockdown, all those months ago now, when I started seeing all those posts on social media of people turning to art of all types as a natural form of self care, I can remember thinking to myself, surely, when normality returns, art will be viewed as essential.
Because it is becoming blindingly clear, how fundamental it is to our mental health wellbeing. Surely then, looking after our mental health wellbeing will be high up on the tick list once schools are back up and running.
This blog is not about bashing the government. I wouldn’t want to be the one charged with sorting out the mess Covid has left this country and the world at large in.
But I do think it is a crying shame that what became so obvious to us all – the joy that art can bring. The cathartic effect engaging in art can have forpeople of any age, is not acknowledged more.
Although it was good to see the arts not being completely overlooked in the budget recently.
Art of any type can be so therapeutic
ART IS ESSENTIAL MOVEMENT
So I did log on to the webinar. And I was glad I did. Because listening to fellow artists talking so passionately about their craft. Demonstrating how people they work with have been helped by the arts, and how accessible art can be pushed any doubts I may have had right back into the box they had wriggled out of.
Art is essential. And I will say this loud, and I will say it proud. And I encourage you to do the same.
Art at any level is essential. Whether it is a child drawing shapes in the sand with a stick, to a modern day artistic genius wowing the art world with new and vibrant creations.
Art is essential. It has been from the days when cavemen would paint on the walls. It’s essential in the fairy stories that have weaved their way through the ages, and in the comforting smell of lovingly home made bread.
Creating art is a natural instinct within all of us
And it doesn’t have to be eye candy.
If I travel to a beautiful city that I know nothing about, one of the things learn most from is the grafitti. Not the gorgeous murals that decorate some walls, although I am a huge fan of these. But I also stop to look at the angry graffiti. Because angry art is honest, and raw, and in my opinion, always worth thinking about and learning from.
If art is important to you, I would encourage you to have a look at the Art is Essential website. And sign up to shout along with the rest of us. ART IS ESSENTIAL. And if, like me, you’re more of a quietly get on with it person than a shouter – I firmly believe in the power of persistence.
As long as we all keep on keeping on repeating this message, in whatever way works for us. Then I am convinced that the message will get out there, and be listened to.
If you fancy checking out any of my own art, you can find me over at facebook instagram twitter
