The Trouble with Populism talk
Ahead of tonight's panel discussion The Trouble with Populism, chair speaker Melanie Gerlis, (art market editor of The Art Newspaper) has put forward some questions to be discussed in the talk.
The idea of The Trouble with Populism is to examine the tensions of ‘high’ and ‘low’ forms of culture and question the cultural institution’s role in attracting audiences.
As Gerlis points out, there is a practical argument for cultural institutions to exhibit popular shows as they need visitors to survive financially. But what implications could this emphasis on populism have on the arts?
Does populism, for example, necessitate the ‘dumbing down’ of a cultural institution’s programme? Our speakers Jude Kelly (Director of the Southbank Centre) and Sally Tallant, (Director of the Liverpool Biennial), will offer their insight on how institutions can strike the balance between populism and education.
There will also be a chance to put your questions to the speakers after the talk, but in the meantime we want to know what you think. What does it mean to be culturally relevant? Can/should visual art do what pop music is allowed to do? What is the trouble with populism?
