Making the Case 

Making the case - what is it we need to be asking of government to enable the visual arts to flourish?

The visual arts have seen unprecedented growth in popularity and scope in the last decade and the creative economy as whole is being positioned as key to the country’s recovery from recession. Meanwhile the ‘crunch’ has escalated an already rapid pace of social change, with uncharted ‘post-crunch’ territory commanding renewed focus and imaginative navigation. With organisations and individuals across the board feeling the direct economic effects of the downturn and all public sector expenditure under pressure the visual arts have recently hit the press (and been taken up politically) with adverse scrutiny of the Government Art Collection’s purchases over the last year, not to mention the inevitable tabloid ‘is it art?’ coverage of the Fourth Plinth.


Against this backdrop and a forthcoming General Election what is it we need to be asking of government to enable the visual arts to flourish? How do we grasp the opportunities presented by the 360 degree moment in which we find ourselves and use it to the advantage of all? The afternoon will offer opportunity for future thinking and discussion on how the challenges can be met and the case made.


Speakers  include:  
Jude Kelly, Artistic Director Southbank Centre
Samuel Jones, editor of recent Demos publication  Expressive Lives
Maria Balshaw, Director of the Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester
Lina Dzuverovic, Director Electra, London
Sarah Munro, Director Tramway, Glasgow

John Kieffer, Independent Arts Producer, Cultural Broker, Consultant and a co-editor of After the Crunch, published 2009 will Chair the event.

The presentations will be followed by a panel/floor discussion and the afternoon conclude with networking drinks.

http://www.vaga.co.uk