The next time you walk through a city – stop for a moment. Look around and imagine the environment without the places and spaces where people gather to share their stories. Imagine a city, a life, a time, without the stories that give us context, strengthen us and help us develop. All that remains is a place without a soul.
Art fills the void. Sometimes it only appears for a short moment and dissipates – that’s fine. At other times it opens our minds up to new impressions, awakens our curiosity and courage, allows us to recognise ourselves. It can build identity, community and stronger bonds. It makes us and our societies more resilient, preparing us for a future we know nothing about. It provides us with a common language when words are not enough. We can see it when people come together after upheavals – gathering around text, music and song.
The strongest arts experiences contain tones, movement or narratives that resonate with something deeper in us. When that happens, it can expand our perspectives in unexpected ways. One concentrated experience has the porential to expand infinitely. The Göteborg Opera has welcomed seven million visitors during the thirty years we have existed – individuals who have shared experiences in our auditoriums, found community and returned again and again. The emotions that a cultural experience generate don't stop with just with us as individuals, but continue outward like ripples on water.
