Events

Britishness, Heritage and the Arts

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04 March 2008 -

Should cultural institutions promote shared values and a common national identity?

ippr was delighted to host a breakfast event to discuss the role of the arts and heritage sector in promoting shared values and a common identity. The event featured a keynote speech by Rt. Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Minister of State for Culture.

Download the audio of Margret Hodge MP's speech (mp3).
Download a pdf of the speech.

Issues of cohesion, diversity and identity have moved to the centre of public debate. With evidence of increased community tensions in some parts of the country and with immigration consistently at the top of the political agenda, the Prime Minister has argued that promoting a shared sense of Britishness is an important way of improving social cohesion and fostering good relations between people from different walks of life.

This event explored the role of the arts and heritage sectors in addressing these issues. It asked:

Do local and national cultural institutions such as our museums and galleries have a responsibility to promote social cohesion? Is promoting a shared understanding of Britishness the best way to do this?
Is there a trade off between promoting shared national identities and embracing cultural diversity, or can the two go hand in hand?
What are the practical implications of this agenda for those working in the arts and heritage sectors and those responsible for delivering community cohesion on the ground?

The keynote speech was followed by a panel discussion with contributions from:

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Actor and Playwright
Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage
Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery

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