Recording of a debate at the Battle of Ideas Festival 2018 at The Barbican, London.
Should funding for cultural projects be scaled back in a time of fiscal crisis? As we approach the National Lottery’s 25th anniversary, many are asking questions about where funding for culture should come from. Some anti-austerity campaigners say that new projects like the V&A museum in Dundee, at a cost of £80million, put unnecessary pressure on already stretched budgets. Others argue that a vibrant cultural scene is key to building confidence in communities and creating social cohesion, threatened by visible inequalities in wealth, housing, health and education. What about private funding? Could that compromise artistic freedom? And should we view culture as a luxury or a necessity in a modern-day society?
ALEXANDER ADAMS
artist, writer and art critic; author, Culture War: art, identity politics and cultural entryism (forthcoming)
DR TIFFANY JENKINS
writer and broadcaster; author, Keeping Their Marbles: how treasures of the past ended up in museums and why they should stay there
BARB JUNGR
award-winning singer, songwriter, composer and writer
SEAN GREGORY
director of learning & engagement, Barbican Centre and Guildhall School of Music & Drama
CHAIR: CLAIRE FOX
director, Academy of Ideas;
Disunited Kingdom: the rebirth of nations?
Is AI the end of art?
The politics of hate: is everyone a bigot but me?
Should we leave the European Convention on Human Rights?
Power play: who really rules today?
Why do comedians keep siding with the Establishment?
Podcast of Ideas: 24 February 2024
Reviving economies: Is the state a help or a hindrance?
Deifying diversity: a value for our times?
What would a Labour government look like?
Football fans, farmers and failed pledges - Podcast of Ideas
WhatsAppened to privacy?
Let's talk about race
Still in the race: understanding Trumpism
Extreme weather: can we adapt to a changing climate?
Podcast of Ideas: Rwanda, Rochdale and the Middle East
Still in the race: understanding Trumpism
Trust me, I’m your doctor: are GPs in crisis?
Jack Hues in conversation: Reflections of a Rock Star
Cancel culture comes for Claire Fox
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free