We have been enjoying a free month of the Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall (available until 6th May – no credit card required) and live streams from the National Theatre, Berlin State Opera, Royal Opera House and many others. I see that there are even scenes from ENO productions reproduced in Lego.
Culture isn’t something we are merely ‘entitled’ to; it’s not something that we are granted by the munificence of funding bodies and the government. It’s what we are and what makes our communities and society.
We can’t survive without the work of many millions of people providing essential services at risk to themselves and their families. Every single one of us is indebted to them.
But neither they, nor we, can thrive as human beings without succour for our souls and that is where culture plays such a vital role. The culture I turn to is of a particular type but others will get as much – maybe more – from streams of their own preferred music, drama, films, galleries, sports… Many will be taking advantage of this time to express themselves in many different art forms.
I hope that, when we return to some sort of normal, making and experiencing culture will have a permanently increased place in people’s lives.