Art & the Academy - Round table discussion

Date

October 28, 2010

Time

14:00–15:30

Place

King's College London, Strand Campus: London

Room

Anatomy Theatre

Price

See below

This round table discussion addresses some big questions around the role of higher education institutions in public life, focusing especially on the visual arts. Most universities own works of art, some possess very considerable collections, depending, of course, on how we define ‘art’. We advocate a broad definition, and are interested in including materials in archives. How should such works be used and displayed in higher education institutions? Should exhibitions primarily serve to generate memories of the institution in question, that is, to connect with current notions of public history and cultural heritage? In all sectors, successive governments have privileged engagement with the public, and public art is now a major issue, witness, for instance, debates about the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, a major ‘site of memory’. There is now a lot of experience in the museums world that is relevant here, so should universities be collaborating with galleries and museums in new ways? How can we learn from curatorial colleagues and what responsibilities does King’s in particular have to engage the public with its collections and its own past? Whose memories might be involved? What, after all, is the public? The session will include the presentation of proposals for the activities that King’s might promote in this area.

Panelists:

Sandy Nairne has been closely involved with the fourth plinth decision making processes.

Frances Carey is a key figure in the public engagement activities around the History of the World in 100 Objects project.

Peter Jenkinson, who has been the director of a museum, is helping with the plans for Derry/Londonderry in 2013 when it will be the first UK city of culture.

Ludmilla Jordanova is a historian with a training in art history and an interest in both public history and forms of display.

Cost: Free, booking required. To book, please contact humanities-events(at)kcl.ac.uk

Part of King's College London Arts & Humanities Week

Organizers

Inside Out Festival

Registration

For this event no registration is necessary on the Inside Out Festival website but may (if stated above) be required elsewhere