News

Why have the arts fallen behind?

Published 13 May 2013

Event 22 May 2013

Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, TV presenter, educationalist and writer on subjects from vampires to westerns, is giving a free lecture in Brighton.

His subject, Slaying the Sixth Giant, will discuss why the arts have "slipped down the agenda of public debate". He'll be speaking as part of the University of Brighton's Festival of Research.

Sir Christopher, until recently Rector of the Royal College of Art and Chair of Arts Council England and of the Design Council, said there has been much debate about the "spirit of 1945", the changing role of the welfare state and whether great achievements of the immediate post-war era still hold good.

He said: "Most of this debate has been concerned with health and education. But a neglected aspect of this is the role of the state in funding the arts – also an important part of the 'spirit of 1945'."

The lecture will explore the origins of arts funding in the UK, its development and its implications for today: "At the time, the arts were considered to be up there among the 'giants' to be slain – up there with the five giants of physical poverty. How do we view that argument today?

"Maynard Keynes spoke of 'poverty of aspiration' – what might that mean in 2013, 68 years later? And why have the arts slipped down the agenda of public debate in the intervening years?"

Sir Christopher's lecture is at the Sallis Benney Theatre in Grand Parade, Brighton, at 6.30pm on 22 May. The university's Festival of Research is part of the Brighton Fringe.

For free tickets, go to the Fringe box office.