Keep Making Art That Counts

By: Michael Finneran*

This blog is published as part of the #KeepMakingArt campaign. The curated series features voices in the arts/culture, education, and social change sectors to capture the deep thinking and innovation occurring as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

In the journey to the light,
the dark moments
should not threaten.
Belief
requires
that you hold steady.
Bend, if you will,
with the wind.

…..

Hold firm.

Take care.

Come home

together.

 

On the 25th of March, as the fullness of the new reality began to dawn on the people of Ireland, these words appeared in the social media feeds of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. From a 1993 poem of his own pen entitled ‘Season of Fire’, our President’s words resonated widely for their foreshadowing of what was upon us and their implicit reassurance that all would be okay, eventually. 

I shared the poem on my own streams and joked that every country should have a poet as President. On reflection, I take back that tongue-in-cheek tone, and reoffer it as a deadly earnest comment; every country should have a head of state who has the heart of an artist. 

Language is an art, and particularly in the last decade we have lain witness to the dark possibilities of heightened oratorical artistry. It is only right that at this time of global crisis, we all recognise the possibilities of the arts, of all kinds, as a vehicle for salvation, for reassurance and recovery. They act not just as a salve and a refuge, but also a means of making meaning. The fundamental oral, communal and ritualistic nature of artistic endeavour allows us a means of telling our stories and of marking significant moments during our time on the planet. The arts are to be spoken about, to be shared and to be joyfully celebrated.

A Call for Unity

Since Renaissance times they have been codified and we tend to place them in discrete boxes; “You’re a poet, I’m a dancer and she’s an architect.” A unity of purpose is lost in this. The deeply fundamental usage of the arts that we now call upon does not recognise disciplinary boundaries, but instead returns us to a more primeval time.  

[The arts] are helping us overcome the danger of becoming individually overwhelmed, helping us forge a sense of communality and resilience, and helping reinforce the importance of social cohesion and solidarity as we come together to defeat this common enemy.

The arts organisations and artists who #KeepMakingArt are fulfilling so much more than the roles of entertainment or aesthetic beautifying. They are helping us overcome the danger of becoming individually overwhelmed, helping us forge a sense of communality and resilience, and helping reinforce the importance of social cohesion and solidarity as we come together to defeat this common enemy. The importance that individual artists and organisations #KeepMakingArt should not be underestimated from a societal perspective.

Responding Rapidly

Many of the arts companies I have the pleasure of being involved with in Ireland are playing their part. 

Branar Téatar do Pháistí (Branar Children’s Theatre) is based in Galway and makes new work for young audiences which tours extensively in Ireland and internationally. Branar had just opened Sruth na Teanga (The stream of language), a site-specific, immersive performance piece based on the story of the Irish language and staged as part of the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture programme, when it had to close after one week of a month-long engagement. Despite the heartbreak of the closure of a once in a lifetime event, the company responded the next day by launching free screenings of previous productions, setting a trend for many to follow. Performances are available to view on their website.

The Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick has had to cancel several months of performances across both of its venues. The staff are now maintaining a resource page of shows that can be enjoyed from the comfort and safety of home. 

Finally from Ireland, an organisation that I am not involved with but which I admire greatly, the Civic Theatre in Tallaght is to the forefront in the Covid-19 response. Their resource page contains myriad items to assist audience and artist alike and they have instigated an Emergency Artist Relief Fund to enable financial assistance for professional artist who have lost work and are in dire need.

Responding For the Arts

As much as the arts can do for us, so we must do for the arts when this comes to an end. It is already clear that individuals and organisations may be in trouble: some will not re-open and many creatives will take work elsewhere of necessity. 

The #KeepMakingArt hashtag is one close to my heart. As a university teacher and researcher, the imperative from those around and above me has often been to stop making art and to get on with the real business of scholarly pursuits. Thankfully, I ignored all those warnings; I had no choice. All of us now need to #KeepMakingArt that soothes and illuminates, and we need to encourage and support other artists in this. And we need to resolve ourselves that the battle to restore and ensure the arts for all, will indeed be the next significant battle when this one is done. 

Photos: Branar Téatar/Sruth na Teanga/Colm Hogan

*Michael Finneran

Michael Finneran PhD is a university lecturer, researcher & theatre artist based at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland. He writes and speaks widely on arts education, creativity and social and applied theatre. He serves on the board of the Lime Tree Theatre and as Chairman of Branar Théatar and Dance Limerick.