Editor's Letter - All Change

Times they are – a- changing.

In the nineties we had the YBA’s, the bright young bucks including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, who heralded a new, exciting age for art.
They came at a boom time: we were rich ( well, I wasn’t. I was a poor student with a hefty overdraft and a yet-to-be-remedied clothes habit )  house prices were rising, Tony Blair was fresh and fame was the ultimate accolade.
So, what now?
Gordon Brown is in charge, there’s serious talk of a recession, there’s a war, an environmental crisis and a widening chasm between rich and poor.
But, despite  ( or, perhaps, because )  of all this we’re looking at an explosion in the creative industries and ‘soft skills.’
Communication is king.
The arts have never been more popular and accessible and are increasingly permeating into mass culture.
There’s a return to real glamour, vintage beauty, one-off, meaning, individuality, conviction, collaboration and community ( albeit beginning online.)
What have all these got to do with each other…. and am I right in thinking that we’re on the cusp of a new era?
And, if so what shall we call it?
Let me know your thoughts, either in the comments box below or email me on editor@openmagazine.co.uk

Loma xxx

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