Demos Project : The Cultural Age http://www.demos.co.uk/projects/theculturalage/ en-us Copyright 2008 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:58:03 -0100 Latest items from The Cultural Age on http://www.demos.co.uk/ - the thinktank for everyday democracy Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:58:03 -0100 The Cultural Age - Integration and Cohesion http://www.demos.co.uk/items/12068 http://www.demos.co.uk/items/12068 The Cultural Age.

It focused on integration and cohesion.  One of the most interesting things to emerge was that much is going on in the cultural sector, policy-making and academic research but, often, each is unaware of what is going on in the other.  At the very least, some of those ends could be tied up in conversations between participants of Monday's session.  Another area of debate was long-term change.  Cultural participation can be a vital means of drawing communities together and raising awareness of different values, but this takes time.  Many of the cultural practitioners present on Monday made the point that funding structures do not necessarily support this. 

As we go on with the work, we'll be tackling these issues, and others raised in the first seminar.  In particular, I'll be interested in looking at the implication that emerging cultural forms and the wider participation brought about by easier access to technologies and means of distribution will have on the importance we will have to place on cultural interpretation in education and other agenda.  In the meantime, we've posted the introductory speech on the website.]]> Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:40:53 -0100 samuel[dot]jones@demos[dot]co[dot]uk ( Sam Jones ) The Cultural Age http://www.demos.co.uk/items/11957 http://www.demos.co.uk/items/11957 Cultural Age Seminars.  It addressed education for the cultural age.  We've put a transcript of the opening speech on the website - it's available for download here.

The next seminar will be held on 23rd June and will address Integration and Cohesion in the Cultural Age.  Speakers include Rushanara Ali Associate Director of the Young Foundation, Kim Knott - Head of the AHRC Diasporas, Migration and Identities Programme and Moira Sinclair - Director of Arts Council London

Online and in the streets, we encounter a more diverse range of cultures than ever before.  Mass immigration, the permanent settlement of diaspora communities and the global media have brought different cultures into greater proximity; even those not living in the places of highest immigrant population encounter new levels of diversity and difference. With cheap air travel and mass communication, diaspora communities themselves are able to stay in closer touch with friends and relatives at home.  Such changes add new layers of depth and complexity to senses of identity. 

In the second seminar in our series, we will be asking how cultural practitioners and academic thinkers can work with policy-makers to come to terms with the challenges that an intercultural world throws up, and develop the opportunities for integration that it offers? The Commission for Cohesion and Integration flagged up the potential role for culture, but how do we make this a policy reality?]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:43:01 -0100 samuel[dot]jones@demos[dot]co[dot]uk ( Sam Jones ) The Cultural Age http://www.demos.co.uk/items/11756 http://www.demos.co.uk/items/11756 Speakers

Rushanara Ali - Associate Director of the Young Foundation
Kim Knott - Head of the AHRC Diasporas, Migration & Identities Programme
Moira Sinclair - Director of Arts Council London


A second seminar on culture, integration and education, hosted by Demos in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

Culture is a space in which values are expressed and interpreted. It can provide a safe space and mechanism to confront difference, but it can also be a space in which values are contested.  Online and in the streets, we encounter a more diverse range of cultures than ever before. This is the 'cultural age' - how can we approach and accommodate it?

The second seminar on the cultural age will address how cultural practitioners and academic thinkers can work with policy-makers to meet the challenges that arise in an intercultural world. It will involve speaker presentations and a debate on how to make the best of the opportunities for integration that the cultural age has to offer.

This event is by invitation only. If you would like to attend the event, please contact seminars@demos.co.uk.

]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 16:42:50 -0100 The Cultural Age http://www.demos.co.uk/items/11755 http://www.demos.co.uk/items/11755 Paul Roberts - (Chair) Creative and Cultural Education Board
Linda Woodhead - Director, AHRC/ESRC Religion and Society Programme
Angharad Wynne-Jones - Director, London International Festival of Theatre

The first of two seminars on culture, integration and education hosted by Demos in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

You can download Samuel Jones' presentation here.

Culture is a space in which values are expressed and interpreted. It can provide a safe space and mechanism to confront difference, but it can also be a space in which values are contested.  Online and in the streets, we encounter a more diverse range of cultures than ever before. This is the 'cultural age' - how can we approach and accommodate it?

This first seminar explores the relationship between the cultural age and education. It will ask how cultural practitioners, institutions, policy-makers and the education sector work together to provide young people with the skills they need to interpret the new and different cultures that they increasingly encounter.

This event is by invitation only. If you would like to attend the event, please contact seminars@demos.co.uk.]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 15:52:13 -0100