Diocese of Chichester

Welcoming this week's government's announcement of £1.57bn fund to help save the short-term future of theatres, concert halls, museums and galleries, Dr Warner who previously lobbied the government for exactly that kind of rescue passage believes the true extent of the effect of the virus on the arts is yet to be realised.

In the wide-ranging article Dr Warner explains how the arts can be a vehicle for peaceful protest and engagement with the moral conscience.

But he also believes the contribution of the arts is much wider: "The arts have a capacity for social inclusion that transcends age, social status and any other form of categorisation. They act as an international medium of communication, ensuring that we sustain our relationships with Europe and the rest of the world."

Referring to way in which families turned to art as a form of an expression of thank the NHS during the lockdown Dr Warner writes:

"The pandemic has also taught us that one of the most powerful ways the dignity of each person can be demonstrated is through the arts. The rainbow symbol, painted by children and displayed in windows and drawn in chalk on the pavements, is more than a popular, widely understood expression of support for the NHS. It is a statement of hope for the future."

A copy of the full article is available here: https://www.thetablet.co.uk/