How Do You Communicate the Value of Arts and Culture?
Convincing others of the instrumental and intrinsic values of the arts
Moderator Fielding Grasty with panellists Vikan, Prins-Solani and McIntyre Sunday, October 27 saw the opening plenary discussions of the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Leaders. Tackling the topic of 'The Creation and the Communication of Value' were Gary Vikan, Director of the Walters Museum of Art, Deirdre Prins-Solani, an independent heritage and cultural expert in South Africa, and Patrick McIntyre, Executive Director of the Sydney Theatre Company. Below, they share their opinions on the key questions, with our Young Cultural Leaders giving their response. What can science tell us about the art experience? Gary Vikan, Director of the Walters Museum of Art on how neuroscience, evolutionary biology and the cave paintings in Lascaux might point to the fact that aesthetics is "hard-wired into our heads." How do we communicate the instrumental and intrinsic values of the arts? Vikan talks about the dangers of using economic impact as argument for the arts, the importance of articulating the intrinsic nature of the art experience and how neuroscience might unlock the mystery of that experience. What value does the arts create and how do we articulate it? Deirdre Prins-Solani, an independent heritage and cultural expert in South Africa talks about the interaction between the sacred and public spaces and how that tension creates value. What are the arguments for the arts that resonate with contemporary society? Patrick McIntyre, Executive Director of the Sydney Theatre Company on the need to talk about the arts in terms of its benefits rather than its features. What our Fellows think: The Creation and Communication of Value: Discussion Points