François Matarasso in conversation with Lyn Gardner

Photo Kevin Ryan

The role of the artist in cultural democracy

Cultural democracy is back in fashion; a generation after the term was first coined, contested, and then forgotten. Why? Are these two seemingly popular words really such natural allies? Perhaps this connection is more demanding than it seems, and more radical too. In this lecture, François Matarasso will explore the cultural democracy’s long roots and suggest why – and how – its ideas might be relevant to artists at a time of rapid, intense change. He will be in discussion with Lyn Gardner who currently writes about theatre for The Stage and @Stagedoorapp.

Community artist, writer and researcher François Matarasso combines practice with research and consultancy, working in numerous countries, from Columbia to Kyrgyzstan. His latest book A Restless Art, How participation won, and why it matters was published earlier this year.

Unfortunately due to illness this event was cancelled.

A Dance Umbrella event in partnership with the National Theatre
Supported by One Dance UK

Live Event

Venue: National Theatre, Cottesloe Room
Date: Wed 9 October

Access: BSL interpreted

Dance Umbrella Festival 2019 Across London
8-27 October

This event has passed.

Venue and access information +

This lecture will be BSL interpreted

Venue

Address

National Theatre
Upper Ground
Bishop’s
London SE1 9PX

Getting there

The National Theatre is on the South Bank, just minutes from Covent Garden, the West End and Waterloo. The main entrance is on the riverside walkway, facing west.

By Bike
There are bicycle racks outside the Espresso Bar at the corner of Theatre Square on the North-West side of the National, and opposite the Dorfman Theatre on the East side.

By Bus
All the following buses cross Waterloo Bridge:

1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68.

77 (Upper Ground near the Festival Hall), 211 & 507 (Waterloo Road near Waterloo station), 381 (Stamford Street).

45, 63 & 100 all stop at the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge, and there is a 10 minute walk along the riverside to the National.

Stationlink provide a fully accessible, low-floor bus service stopping at Waterloo. Route 705 runs every 30 minutes, linking Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, London Bridge, Waterloo, St Thomas’ Hospital, Victoria, Victoria Coach Station and Paddington.

By Car
Car Park – National Theatre basement, accessed from Upper Ground.
Opening times: 6am to 12 midnight (Mon – Fri) and 7am to 12 midnight (Sat and Sun).

Access users please note: when the National Theatre building is closed there is no step-free access from the car park. This applies all day on Sundays, and before 9.30am and after 11pm on most other days.

The entrance ramp to the car park is at the south-west corner of the National Theatre, on Upper Ground, by Theatre Avenue (the road between the National Theatre and the British Film Institute).

By Train
Waterloo, Waterloo East and Charing Cross (across the river via the Hungerford Bridge) are all a 10-15 minute walk from the National.

By Tube
The nearest Tube stations are Waterloo (on the Northern, Bakerloo & Jubilee lines), Southwark (on the Jubilee line) or walk over the Hungerford Bridge from Embankment (on the Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle lines).

Access information

Visit the National Theatre’s website for detailed access information.

François Matarasso in conversation with Lyn Gardner Dance Umbrella Lecture 2019

Live Event

The role of the artist in cultural democracy

Live Event