Article written for the Arts and Humanities Research Council
After a year of on-and-off global lockdowns the need to gather and experience collective joy feels more urgent and pressing than ever. Festivals and outdoor cultural experiences offer us the chance to connect and feel part of a community in positive and inspiring ways.
In this blog, I reflect on the value of festivals and major events as essential catalysts for wellbeing and critical vehicles to express ourselves, recover from the trauma of isolation, be inspired and move forwards as communities.