Making a song and dance about development - Tom Wilmot

Development can take many different forms, and progress can sometimes be impossible to measure. This is illustrated by the diversity of ways in which art and the social community can feed into the development process. In this issue we see examples of artistic expression and community activities, which promote awareness, improve ‘quality of life', or simply provide a means of expression. Such things have always helped mankind through repression, poverty or trauma in many different contexts. But, as David Cameron has recently pointed out, even stable societies need to foster happiness.

In his book ‘On Writing' Stephen King says " Life isn't a support system for art - it's the other way around. " The acclaimed author was reflecting on his road accident, which he subsequently incorporated into the final novel of his Dark Tower series. This is, of course, all a bit morbid, but the more I considered Mr King's assertion, the more I believed it to be true. Read the articles in this issue and see if you agree that it is certainly true with respect to our endeavours to reduce poverty, neglect and ignorance, and to move towards a sustainable world.

Art, by which I mean the expression of beauty, emotion, narrative or nature, is essential to maintaining a healthy life, healthy communities and ultimately a healthy world. In building economic and social stability, we should never underestimate the importance of empowering individuals and communities to express themselves. This encourages communication, stability, freedom, understanding, and, of course, happiness.

In this issue Nabeela Ahmed, our India correspondent during her time as a volunteer in Tamil Nadu, describes how a development organisation has used songs as a ‘tool' to promote awareness of important issues in rural communities.

Over a thousand miles away in the northern city of Chandigarh , there is an unusual public space where artistic creativity has both highlighted the issue of waste, and reduced the problem locally. Liz Horsefield describes the delightful Nek Chands rock garden.

Back in Tamil Nadu, Richard Sleight describes a community activity with a difference; the DEEDS ‘children's club trip' from Bangalore . The events that this involved enhanced the lives of a large group of disadvantaged children immeasurably. Oh, and looking back I think Rich quite enjoyed it too!

From yet another corner of India we have a visual treat from amateur photographer Alice Piggott, as she shares her photographic diary of community activities at VIDYA Mumbai.

‘What about the role of art and the community here in the UK ?' I hear you cry! Well, artist and Oxfam volunteer Amber-Lee Robinson describes a unique event involving concerned artists in Ipswich , in which they have been able to express issues of poverty, development and sustainability in a very public forum.