Arts & International Affairs: Volume 2, Number 2 | Page 117

Art, Labour, and Empathy
Ann Henderson
Ann Henderson is Assistant Secretary at the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and Secretary
to the STUC Women’s Committee. Her responsibilities include government and parliamentary
liaison. STUC is an umbrella organisation, with 37 Trade Unions and 20 Trades Union Councils,
representing over 560,000 members and their families, from all sectors and communities in Scotland.
Prior to joining the STUC in 2007, Ann worked in the Scottish Parliament as a researcher, with a
labour and women’s movement background. Ann worked and was an active trade unionist in the
rail industry for a number of years, including as a station staff member and a train driver. Recent
public appointments included: Passenger View Scotland, representing rail passenger interests, and
the Women’s National Commission prior to its closure in 2010. Ann lives in Edinburgh.
This year marks the Edinburgh International Festival’s ��th anniversary.
Since ����, Edinburgh has hosted a growing bevy of arts and cultural festivals
in addition to EIF. These programs bring performers, writers, artists, and
musicians to the city. In our time of uncertainty, this annual gathering in
Edinburgh must be cause for optimism, as a willingness to look outwards,
and to listen, and to share experiences.
In Arts and International Affairs, J.P. Singh (����) suggests in his editorial
that “In a globalised world, otherness is bound to displace familiarity”. His
observation caused some reflection. Looking forward to this year’s festivals
brings for me the strengths of “familiarity”, not an unsettling “otherness”.
The arts and cultural expressions provide visitors from any background a
space to think and feel. There will be something for everyone.
But more importantly these experiences, if approached with empathy and an
open mind, will open up new ideas and perspectives
for their audiences.
And for networks such as the trade union movement,
the festivals are opportunities to rediscover familiarity,
solidarity, and common purpose. Performances at
every venue in Edinburgh require the support from
many unseen and unheard voices. The attention given
to art, music, and theatre should also appreciate the
technical, administrative, production, and practical
support that goes into every event.
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