In Praise of Idleness
As we head into the ‘holiday’ season I am mindful that this period often feels like anything but a holiday. Here’s a reminder that idleness has a real value.
Reading for pleasure, watching a movie, resting and enjoying undistracted time with friends and family are worth doing simply because we enjoy them.
Arts Council England – an independent review by Baroness Margaret Hodge
Just in case you’ve been away or locked in a rehearsal room we couldn’t leave the year without featuring the Arts Council review. More to follow on this in the New Year but there are already lots of commentaries on social media.
DemocracyNext: More-than-human governance experiments in Europe
Just one of a number of interesting resources published by DemocracyNext. Good to see artistic approaches feature.
How to Learn Anything 10x Faster: The 7 ChatGPT Prompts That Actually Work
I appreciate the use of AI is an increasingly contentious topic but was intrigued by these seven prompts. Useful advice:
Stop looking at AI as a tool that “does the work for you.” That’s lazy. Start seeing it as a tool that helps you do the work better.
Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey
I had the privilege of working with Joy many years ago when I was part of the photography sector. It is brilliant that this survey show is now on at the Whitechapel, definitely one to catch if you can.
Conceptually rigorous and visually seductive, Gregory’s work invites important reflection on power structures, representation and cultural memory. The exhibition’s title comes from the proverb, ‘you catch more flies with honey than vinegar’,
Sofie Layton: Making the Invisible Visible
Literally work that I have taken to heart. Having joined the ‘heart warriors,’ and now living well with what my cardiologist calls heart insufficiency (which he prefers to the more common ‘Chronic Heart Failure’ – and so do I!) I have been thinking a lot about doing something creative on the topic. It is fantastic to see there have been many arts-based projects focued on the heart over the years. Sofie’s particularly struck a chord.
In the meantime, I also want to add a bit of a public health announcement in that heart insufficiency is badly underdiagnosed in women. Another topic I’ll probably pick up in the New Year.
This draws our 2025 selections to a close. In the New Year my steadfast companion Susan will be moving on to other things, nothing untoward we are still the best of friends, just a wise life-balance decision. I’ll be reviewing the selection box approach in the New Year, possibly a new focus or format. If you have any suggestions, or there is something that would be especially useful do let me know. Wishing you season’s greetings and all the very best for 2026.