Chinese thinker and social philosopher, Confucius
At London in England on January 14 a State of the Arts Conference will bring together a wide range of creative voices to debate the value and purpose of the arts at a time of significant change. It is about harnessing creative thinking to assist solve many of humanity’s most pressing problems and debate working together towards a strong future.
The debate is with key figures such as artists, entrepreneurs, cultural leaders and policy makers about what kind of arts landscape we need and how best they might achieve it.
Growing up in a climate that sought the greater good, then living through a prolonged period of sustained self interest, is this a pointer to the pendulum returning?
Will they seek an answer that is about the nation as a whole? Are those involved able to surmount their own agenda? Will sustainability be taken seriously or does the future mean globally that people, and the planet will pay the price?
What about predictably irrational human behaviours? How will they take those into account? How do you factor in being led astray in the heat of passion, or those unlikely to achieve deadlines set. What about the simple mistakes many people make every day? How do you break through established habitual patterns of thought to ensure that we make, and continue to make capable decisions?
A just society surely is one that works towards the greater good, seeks to conserve freedom of choice and continually debates the right way to value, reward and encourage its citizens. But how do you advise and encourage humanity to forget injuries, but never to forget kindnesses.
Facilitator of the conference is Matthew Taylor who, in November 2006 when he became Chief Executive of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) at London set about removing the barriers to social progress. He immediately called for a shift from a government centric to a citizen centric politics as a remedy for what ails democracy.
With a public services in crisis, a public purse that is shrinking, debt mounting daily, high unemployment, an ageing population and, an alarming increase in homelessness it is certainly time for action. These are all global challenges and I for one will watch for the results of this conference with a keen interest.
Taylor should know what he is on about because formerly he was Chief Adviser on Political Strategy to the Prime Minister of England.
Is he one of a host of three new wise men we now need to lead us forward?
Carolyn McDowall January 2009
To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle…Confucius
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