Some of our cultural institutions are already centuries old. But today’s arts and cultural scene has widened to embrace multitudes. Film, design, comics, graffiti, photography, jazz, and many other forms of vernacular and popular culture represented a dramatic expansion of what culture means to our societies, amid shifting political, economic, social and technological landscapes. Yet even in today’s digitally connected world, the logic behind private and public funding supporting the production and display of cultural artefacts and art forms is still largely connected to institutional gatekeepers. On the other hand, many institutions feel the pressure to reach larger numbers of people, influenced by market forces to increase their income at the expense of producing work with less obvious popular appeal. This session looks at whether there is a balance to be struck, dealing at the same time with concepts of popularism, elitism, inequality and democracy.

Register here (registration deadline 3/9/2020)