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The Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and Arts Council England are hosting a major conference for the arts.

Recognising that arts and cultural experiences are more diverse, disruptive and fast moving than ever before, the State of the Arts conference will explore with artists, entrepreneurs, cultural leaders and policymakers what kind of arts landscape we need in the 21st century.

Taking place on 14 January 2010, the conference will feature keynote speeches from Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Ben Bradshaw MP, and Shadow Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt MP. Other confirmed speakers include Director of Tate, Nicholas Serota, ex - CEO of Columbia Pictures, Lord Puttnam, Director of the Whitechapel Gallery, Iwona Blazwick and Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner.

With over 300 practitioners and cultural leaders attending, State of the Arts will examine current and future challenges and opportunities around domestic arts policy, strategy and funding and Britain's position within the global cultural landscape.

Commenting, ACE Chief Executive Alan Davey said:
“The arts industry is not a monolithic public service ripe to be cut - but part of a complex mixed economy, which could provide a model for how public investment might work elsewhere. Funding the arts is rational, economically sound, and essential to our quality of life.

"I hope that State of the Arts will provide a platform for debate about how funders can support artists in what they do best – challenge, thrill, excite and inspire us, by producing the marvellous and the beautiful."

Commenting, RSA Chief Executive Matthew Taylor said:
“State of the Arts will provide an important opportunity for artists, entrepreneurs, cultural leaders and policy makers to get an early insight into how the arts can respond to the challenges of the 21st century.”

What to expect from State of the Arts 2010:
•        Policy-focused debate on what a new settlement for arts and culture will look like over the coming years.

•        Debate about how to develop and deepen the relationship between arts and the public  (as both audience members and engaged participants).
 
•        Insights into whether the arts are doing enough to shape progressive change. How can artists best be supported to respond to the unprecedented environmental and societal change of our era?

•        An examination of how cities can best encourage the arts. Are the UK’s major cities really taking flight culturally? Do our major cities work together enough to enrich the UK’s cultural experience?

•        The latest thinking about how we can encourage the UK to be world class in developing creative talent.

1. Confirmed participants include:
• Ben Bradshaw MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports
• Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport
• Dame Liz Forgan DBE, Chair of Arts Council England;
• Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England;
• Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA;
• Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director, Royal National Theatre;
• Jude Kelly, Artistic Director of the South Bank Centre.
• Lord David Puttnam, ex CEO of Columbia Pictures;
• John McGrath, Artistic Director, National Theatre Wales;
• Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House;
• Iwona Blazwick, Director, Whitechapel Gallery;
• Dominic Cooke, Artistic Director, Royal Court;
• Mandani Younis, Artistic Director, freedomstudios.co.uk;
• Charlotte Higgins, Chief Arts Correspondent, The Guardian
• Helen Marriage, co-Director, Artichoke Prods;
• James Naughtie, Today programme presenter;
• Dame Gail Rebuck, CEO of The Random House Group;
• Lucy Prebble, Playwright, ENRON
• Riz Ahmed, Award-winning actor and musician;
• Professor Bill Ivey, Director of the Curb Center for Arts, Enterprise and Public Policy, Vanderbilt University
• Andy Field, Director, Forest Fringe;
• Anne Bonnar, Independent Consultant;
• Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee

2. 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.

www.artscouncil.org.uk