"Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."
Virginia Woolf
These are of course uncertain and challenging times and our industry has been particularly hard hit – our thoughts are with all colleagues grappling with closures and cancellations. So we want to really reiterate that we are, first and foremost, a Sector Support Organisation. That means the very core of our purpose is to help you when you're struggling; that is what we are here for. If we can help – especially if you need evidence or guidance with contingency planning, do let us know. We’re working around the clock with fellow agencies and the Arts Councils of England and Wales, as well as Creative Scotland, to develop relevant joined-up sector support and will keep you abreast of developments.
It doesn't feel hyperbolic to say that, when all this is over, the world is going to look quite different. People will have changed, society will have changed and culture will need to change to meet them. So let's think about using our downtime wisely, to really understand who our audiences have been, who we would like them to be in the future, and what we need to do to make sure that we can welcome them back warmly, confidently and, above all, on their own terms.