Originally published in
May is here and with it comes the perennial discussions of the old proverb and its meaning. The saying goes back in written form to the 16th century in Old Proverbs where it originally states as ‘Till May be out Ne'er cast a clout’. Some will argue the 'May' in the saying signifies the Hawthorne blossom, others will take the line that it is the month. Notwithstanding the interpretations, the meaning is clear: do not be taken in by the sunny skies as the weather remains inclement and unpredictable so, keep your coat on.
Strangely, as I listened to the Prime Minister’s latest roadmap announcement regarding the relaxation of social distancing rules, the rule of six indoors and thirty outdoors, the saying came into my head. Obviously, as I run an events team that typically (in a non-pandemic year) annually operates over 200 public-facing activities, the announcement was welcome. A year has gone by when we have moved our activities to online platforms, conducted team meetings by digital hangouts and missed the excitement of a live audience for our events. I have watched friends, colleagues and family members in the cultural and creative industries go from operating vibrant successful operations to ones where they are barely holding onto financial solvency - through no fault of their own. Sector by sector, the restrictions have been lifted, supermarkets have remained open and in April shops and public houses were opened their doors with restrictions. Now it was our time. I myself have longed for the time when I can watch a live theatre performance in person, enjoy the world-leading talents on display at the Crucible and the Lyceum and go to The Leadmill again, to name just a few of our cultural gems.
This past year has demonstrated to me how rich the cultural assets of our city are. So I will no longer take for granted the opportunities I have to pop into the galleries and museums in our city centre, the wonderful range of heritage attractions that we have within the wider city limits and the incredible free events we have on offer as a city.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin
Director of City and Culture
From May 17th we can once again visit our museums, go to our theatres, and enjoy a meal inside a restaurant or café and visit friends and family within their homes. Economists and other well-meaning political advisors announce it will be like the Roaring Twenties again, as an eager, locked-in public flock to our events and venues. But, as I frantically work out the various connotations of enforcing a different set of criteria for less than a month - as the road map will change again on 21st June - I think of that saying in a different context, and how it can be a useful strategy for understanding how our audiences will return.
If we replace the word 'pandemic' for the proverbial 'May', then some cautious heads will take the meaning to be the end of Covid and then run the risk of never leaving their home, as we are told the virus will always be with us in one form or another. If others take the lockdown roadmap to be the Hawthorn blossom, we can plan and hope that audiences will return to reap the benefits of some of the glories of the May sunshine and lockdown restrictions being lifted, with blue skies from then on.
With the English weather, the issue of May and casting your clout early or later is a perennial one and can always be mitigated with a sturdy umbrella and a raincoat. With Covid and the 'new normal', we have to understand that our audiences may at first err on the side of caution and might only want to take small steps. We, as cultural providers, event managers and leisure suppliers, must be prepared and hope for blue skies but understand that our audiences may not be as ready to cast a clout. Our role is to reassure and give hope but also be prepared for a slightly more realistic, bumpier path than the roaring twenties. What we can take from the Hawthorn blossom is, as the new growth blooms, it signifies warmer days and, as lockdown lifts (whether it be May or June) we all know that sunnier days will return.