Art has always been a mirror and a megaphone. Theatre collectives, indie musicians and street artists have been documenting anxieties around livelihood, identity and climate. Their language is subtle — metaphors, allegory, satire — but the message is clear: dissent is a democratic muscle that must be exercised to stay healthy.
Policymakers should see the arts as early-warning sensors. Funding arm’s-length institutions, reducing censorship chilling effects and opening public spaces for performance make societies more resilient.