We are living through a period of profound geopolitical instability. Conflict, division and uncertainty dominate headlines, shaping how we see the world and, increasingly, how we react to one another.
And yet, last week in Maastricht, something powerful unfolded, writes Charlotte Heath-Bullock.
Over 50,000 people from every geography, background and belief system came together at TEFAF - collectors, curators, scholars, designers, institutions and art lovers - united not by politics or ideology, but by a shared appreciation of culture. Under one roof sat 7,000 years of human creativity: objects that tell the story of who we are, where we’ve come from, and what we value.
It is easy to underestimate the role of art and culture in moments like these. To see them as secondary, even indulgent, when set against the gravity of global events. But that would be a mistake.
At the TEFAF Summit this year - Beyond Economic Impact: Rethinking Culture in Public Policy - a compelling case was made for culture not as a luxury, but as essential infrastructure for society.
Speakers explored the measurable impact of cultural engagement on both mental and physical health, with growing evidence showing that exposure to art can reduce stress, improve wellbeing and even support recovery. So much so that some countries are now prescribing culture - literally. Museum visits, exhibitions, creative programmes - written alongside, and sometimes in place of, traditional medicine.
It is a powerful shift in thinking: recognising that culture does not simply enrich our lives, it sustains them.
Nowhere is this more stark than in times of crisis. Organisations such as Cultural Emergency Response are working on the frontlines to protect cultural heritage in regions affected by conflict and disaster. Their work is a reminder that while the preservation of human life must always come first, the preservation of culture is not far behind.
We all know that it's culture which gives people and communities identity. It provides continuity when everything else is lost. And crucially, it gives people something to rebuild.
If we lose our connection to heritage - to the objects, stories and traditions that define us - we risk losing not just our past, but our sense of future.
TEFAF, in its own way, is a microcosm of this idea, and a meeting point for a global community that believes in the true and lasting value of culture: across borders and disciplines.
Perhaps we need to stop thinking of culture as a byproduct of stability and start recognising it as one of the conditions that makes stability possible.
