I miss the arts

[chomalungma]

Live concerts. Gigs in pubs, drink in hand, people just out enjoying themselves.

Going to the theatre, seeing a show, sharing such events with other people.

I was just starting to get a good social life, based around this kind of stuff and it's been kicked away. I know it will come back.

TV is just not the same, I've just watched Les Miserables concert and it was fantastic. Hopefully, we will be able to enjoy such events again.

Anyone else missing the arts.

Yes. But someone will soon be by to tell you that it's not essential and Covid is king.

me too. I’ve got to the stage where I don’t need a babysitter so was out at gigs, theatre, comedy shows.

So many livlihoods at stake

Yes same I watched it (sky arts?) and was thinking how much I miss the theatre/opera houses
Was meant to be seeing Andre Rieu for my big birthday this year in Vienna

I had joined a social group - and one of the big things was just going to a local pub for a drink, chat and live music.

It was just enjoyable.

And yes - so many livelihoods at stake.

I know there are plenty of other things people miss - such as being at live sport etc.

I miss it dreadfully. I'm a musician and affected by this in lots of different ways, as a performer and audience member but also my social life.

I walked past one of my regular concert venues this week and welled up for all the lost music and the uncertainty of when, if ever, that particular orchestra will be able to play again.

Many orchestras, museums, theatre groups, choirs, venues, artists, actors, sound companies are not going to weather this storm. Its gone on too long already. The support isn't sufficient. There are already some terrible statistics on how much the Arts has already lost.

I miss hearing music on a loud PA system in a room full of people dancing and smiling having the time of our lives. Last gig on 6th March. Its the quietest summer I've ever had.

I missed being allowed to go to my local art gallery, which meant missing an Eric Ravilious exhibition. Then when it opened I was only allowed 45 minutes to look around an exhibition of local artists (Ravilious, Tirzah Garwood, John Aldridge, Walter Hoyle, Edward Bawden etc), and the thing that caught my attention was a piece by Richard Bawden titled Cat Bowl. It's beautiful, so if you're in the area book to go and have a look around the Fry Art Gallery.

I’ve just booked to see a musical in a London theatre in November.
Cinemas are open.
You can still go a pub with 5 other people and have a chat.

It’s not all doom and gloom

Yes but plenty of people will be here soon to tell you it is frivolous and worthless.

It's still happening; museums and galleries all open, concerts starting up again, even if it's not a full orchestra; theatre - maybe there's not much to choose from, but it's there. It's a pain having to book in advance but I'm going to arts-related events at least a couple of times a week. Be flexible - the live classical music is happening in churches rather than concert halls. Literary festivals are happening on-line (and talks are often free which is a bonus!). Right now, I'm happy to support whatever's on.

DoctorTwo I love the Fry Art Gallery, Bawden et al! Highly recommend it.

I work for one of the larger museums and the next few years are going to be tough, even more so for smaller institutions like the Fry.

We’re all working so hard to make places safe and welcoming for visitors, but please, don’t book tickets unless you’re pretty sure you’re coming. No-shows are affecting restaurants badly and this has been in the news. It’s affecting cultural institutions too. You would not believe how many people are booking tickets and simply not turning up..the fact that they’re free doesn’t mean that they should be treated as a cheap commodity - we’re having to strictly limit numbers & every person that doesn’t show is another potential nail in the coffin..all of us from small to large need your support!

Me too OP, me too.

At the start of lockdown I was happy to enjoy more simple days.
I stopped watching TV and just enjoyed being outside more. I also work outside every day but somehow I began to appreciate nature more and more.

Then bit by bit I missed the arts, theatre, cinema, live music more and more.

I've become a lot more aware that personally I need a balance of everything, and that the arts are a huge part of enjoying life for me.

I miss it. I love gigs and theatre. I've just ordered dvds of Les Mis, The Producers, Phantom and Love Never Dies.

My local theatre is showing a small production in November so I've booked for that too.

Desperately! Music specially. So sad and worrying for everyone who works in the sector and the uncertainty they face.

And I disagree it's not essential. The arts and culture is what makes life enjoyable, what makes humans human. Also, one of the pillars of keeping my mental health on the right side of the tracks...

@RunningFromInsanity come on. You must know in all likelihood that west end show (SIX I presume) will be cancelled.

Missing gigs, summer festivals. Like pp, just reached stage no babysitter required and was going to see live music 1/2 times every month.

Yes massively. Got so much from both theatre and exhibitions. Used to travel far and wide at weekends with the children to see new things.

Such a loss.

I desperately miss theatre and art exhibitions. I’m not taking about west end musicals (although I miss them too), but touring productions and small scale theatre groups.

I've been a regular at the RLPO for decades now and had a couple of concerts booked for November, which have just been cancelled. I'm just gutted, for the organisation and the artists.

As time goes on, I worry more and more that the Arts sector won't be able to survive .

I can't believe how many posts there on this thread and no one's been on yet to scold you and tell you that we're in the middle of a global PANDEMIC and people might DIE and covidcovidcovidcovid EMPHATIC CAPITALS...

I miss the arts too. Every now and then, I'd book a ticket to something in the West End and just hop on a train down to London for the day. Wander round a gallery, have lunch, go to a matinee, train home. It all seems so impossibly remote now.

The Arts will survive, but it may be very changed. But the instinct to create will not be killed off.

That's what I tell myself, anyway.

We've got tickets for school of rock in Feb for my big birthday, first time taking DD to a proper show (as opposed to the child friendly hour long plays, which I do enjoy but I bloody love a musical) I'll be gutted if we can't go.

NQuartz School of Rock is great hope you get there

Galleries are open to pp who miss them. Most are free but if you have to pay I bet they’d like more visitors

I miss the bits I cannot go to or enjoy on line. Live music especially, and theatre.

Very glad to have had a BFI film subscription over the summer, have now been to the cinema a few times, and to the National Gallery.

@RepeatSwan

The Arts will survive, but it may be very changed. But the instinct to create will not be killed off.

That's what I tell myself, anyway.

Quite

It's the social togetherness as well that I miss. When a band does a really good song and everyone's dancing along, getting into it.