Friday Selection Box: 5th May 2023

All work and no play?  Cultural participation should become a key focus for social mobility

New research from the Social Market Foundation

‘..children from the least deprived neighbourhoods have a significantly higher participation score than those from the most deprived communities. In other words, better off children participate in a far wider range of cultural and extracurricular activities than kids from the poorest neighbourhoods….. this participation gap has continued alongside a worrying fall in the breadth of cultural participation among children from all walks of life…’

Four Insights for Radical Organizing From the Mysterious World of Mushrooms

Poses four questions to help us benefit from the wisdom of mycelia:

  1. What’s happening underneath the surface?
  2. How can we make the world digestible?
  3. How can we strengthen our connections?
  4. What do we do with the pain?

Gen Z mental health: The impact of tech and social media

Really interesting new global research on both harm and positive benefits across age cohorts.

The Rise of Human Machines

We create technology to do our jobs, but end up working more — and more like machines

Another interesting take on our relationship to work and technology.

Vermeer

A stunning film on the current exhibition at the Rijksmuseum is now being shown in cinemas.  Most joyful 90 minutes Susan can think of right now.

Police shootings and poignant messages: the Blk Art Group 40 years on

Another important show worth catching.

The radical Wolverhampton art collective have reunited for a rare group exhibition of their work – and their critique of racism and empire is as relevant as ever