This talk poses a fundamental question: how good are we at understanding the difference that arts and culture makes to individuals and to society?

We’ve become accustomed to presenting it in terms of benefits that are supposed to persuade the government of the day, because the aim is usually to make the case for public funding. So, we point to benefits to the economy or cities or health or education.

Some of these stand up to investigation but by no means all, but in any case is there a danger that in doing this we neglect some of the more fundamental benefits that matter to us all?

This is not a question of claiming art for arts sake, but of identifying the most compelling ways in which arts and cultural engagement make a difference to individuals and make a difference to society.

This event is free to attend. To register, click here.