‘The importance of the arts in our lives, as a force for empathetic connection and building bridges to understanding our differences and encouraging divergent thinking, is as vital now as ever before.’ This was choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor, writing this summer for the Biennale Danza in Venice, of which he was artistic director. McGregor has been a major figure in the arts for some 30 years, at the forefront of contemporary dance. He designs mesmerising works combining dance, visual arts, technology, science and philosophy – and is in a strong position to have an overarching view on why the arts are so important for society. His wish is for us all, no matter what age or ability, to be involved in dance. Inside, in our exclusive interview, he also explains why and how that might involve ‘misbehaving beautifully’.

 

Elsewhere in this issue our hope, as always, is to bring you an energising scoop of the arts for this season. News of a show and book on the little-known area of Nordic art has led us to the curator behind both to tell us more. We examine, too, a powerful art form that’s taken time to be fully recognised – textile art – and ask why so many of the fantastic innovators behind its ascent are women. From page 28 we dive into the story of the art of vintage film posters; and from 34 meet art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon, to discover more about his radical new findings on Johannes Vermeer.

 

Whether this winter sees you in the glow of a cinema, or witnessing McGregor’s extraordinary new show, we wish you an enriching time with the best the art world has to offer.