Generation Protopia Proteus Theatre

Coronavirus has exposed inequalities in our society, most starkly with higher death rates among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people. But Covid-19 shone a light on other fault lines too: Poorer families found it harder to support their children’s learning at home; many LGBTQ+ people were separated from those they rely upon for support; and while we were in lockdown, George Floyd’s killing in the United States illustrated once again the violent racism and prejudice experienced by black people in the US. It sparked a wave of anger and protest that swept the world, demanding fresh action to tackle racism and address white privilege.

Like many other walks of life, arts and culture shut down entirely when coronavirus struck. Many artists went online to stay in touch with their fans, but the outlook for some areas of the arts remains deeply uncertain. Theatres, cinemas, art galleries and music venues were closed for months. Some will never re-open. So what is the future for arts and culture in the UK, and why does it matter?

In our busy lives time is a precious commodity. And during lockdown, many of us found we had much more of it on our hands than we’d anticipated. So what did we do with it? How did we entertain, stimulate and occupy ourselves? What was it like spending week after week with parents and siblings? And where did we find the motivation on those days when we didn’t even want to change out of our nightclothes?

Lockdown has been a demanding time for everybody. We are social creatures, and we don’t very much like being cooped up. So staying at home has been hard. The loss of freedom meant it could be challenging to look after ourselves, and stay fit and healthy, both mentally and physically. Many young people found themselves feeling worried and lonely. Many older people felt afraid to leave their homes and associate with other people, even as lockdown started to lift.

Coronavirus has had a hugely disruptive impact on education and work. As lockdown relaxes and more people return to their workplaces, this year’s crop of prospective undergraduates and new entrants to the workplace are facing a radically different outlook. For those planning to go to university, questions remain about whether they should take up their places when many universities are shifting away from traditional teaching, to socially-distanced online learning. And the heavy impact on the economy means uncertainty too, for those looking at vocational training or planning to go straight into the workforce.

What does it mean to reach for Protopia in a world that has been changed - perhaps forever - by coronavirus? In this final edition of Generation Protopia we consider how we support our family and friends, and ask how we might we overcome uncertainty to thrive and prosper in our careers, as well as what options are available to secure a vibrant future for the arts sector.