WIREDGOV

The Arts Council has teamed up with the Centre for Public Policy to host a wide ranging discussion on how to sustain excellence in the arts during the recession.

The seminar, Maximising the importance of arts and culture through the economic downturn, will take place on the 24 April 2009 at The Brewery in central London.

Chaired by Andrew Whyte, Executive Director of Advocacy and Communications at Arts Council England, the seminar will bring together key figures from the arts world to discuss how arts and culture can best be supported, so they can maximise their impact and maintain their quality and excellence during the downturn.

The event will mark the first keynote speech for Dame Liz Forgan in her new role as Chair of Arts Council England.

Other contributors include:

• Sir John Tusa, Chair, University of the Arts
• Cllr Warren Bradley, Leader, Liverpool City Council
• John Knell, Co-Founder, The Intelligence Agency
• David Kester, Chief Executive, Design Council
• Colin Tweedy, Chief Executive, Arts & Business
• Gillian Moore, Head of Contemporary Culture, Southbank Centre
• Tom Bewick, Chief Executive, Creative & Cultural Skills

The seminar will cover a wide range of questions including:

• How do we continue to achieve world class arts and culture throughout the downturn?
• How can we ensure culture and arts are seen as essential in a recession?
• How can culture and the arts help revive the economy and underpin regeneration?
• How do we sustain a mixed economy of private and public funding?

Arts Council England is sponsoring the day long seminar. Tickets for the event are £100 and can be purchased from the CPPS website.

For any queries about the seminar please contact Louise Rushworth at the CPPS on 01422 845004 or email louise@cppseminars.org.uk.

1. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives.

As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts.

Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better.

Between 2008 and 2011, we will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk