Playing for Time: Making art as if the world mattered

This handbook is a resource for artists, community activists, and anyone wishing to harness their creativity to make change in the world. It explores the pivotal role artists play in re-thinking the future, reinventing and re-imagining our world at a time of systemic change and uncertainty. It identifies collaborative arts practices emerging in response to planetary challenges, reclaiming a traditional role for artists in the community as truth-tellers and agents of change. Fifty experienced artists and activists give voice to a new narrative, shifting society's rules and values away from consumerism and commodity towards community and collaboration with imagination, humor, ingenuity, empathy, and skill. Inspired by the Transition movement, it models change in communities worldwide and provides readers with 'recipes for action' to take and try.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Triarchy Press

This groundbreaking handbook, first published in 2015 by Oberon, has become increasingly essential in the face of numerous unfolding crises. It serves as a valuable resource for artists, community activists, and individuals seeking to harness their creativity for positive change in the world. Playing for Time delves into the pivotal role artists play in re-imagining the future, reinventing, and re-imagining our world during times of systemic change and uncertainty. The book identifies collaborative arts practices that emerge in response to global challenges, reclaiming the traditional role of artists as truth-tellers and agents of change within communities.

Fifty experienced artists and activists contribute their voices to this new narrative, challenging societal rules and values that prioritize consumerism and commodity over community and collaboration with imagination, humor, ingenuity, empathy, and skill. Drawing inspiration from the grassroots Transition movement, Playing for Time models change in communities worldwide and connects key drivers of change, such as energy, finance, climate change, food, and community resilience, with practical "recipes for action" for readers to adopt and implement.

In conclusion, this handbook is a must-read for anyone seeking to unleash the power of creativity for social and environmental transformation. It provides a wealth of insights, ideas, and practical strategies for artists, activists, and individuals to engage in collaborative practices and create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.

Weight: 1118g
Dimension: 186 x 246 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913743819
Edition number: 2nd ed.