CAN ART BE TAUGHT TO THE FACEBOOK GENERATION?

CAN ART BE TAUGHT TO THE FACEBOOK GENERATION?
The Saatchi Gallery / Sunday Telegraph Art Prize for Schools debate, presented by Intelligence Squared
July1, 2009


Speakers:

Camila Batmanghelidjh Advocate for vulnerable children and founder of two children's charities, The Place 2 Be and Kids Company where she currently works with some of the most traumatised young people.

Stephen Bayley Broadcaster and consultant. Founding director of London's Design Museum and outspoken commentator on all matters concerning art in everyday life.

Alain de Botton Writer of a number of bestselling essays including most recently 'The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work'. Co-founder of The School of Life, 'a new social enterprise offering good ideas for everyday living'.

Antony Gormley Artist best known for his large-scale works such as 'Angel of the North' and 'Event Horizon' which explore the collective body and the relationship between self and other. He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1994 and has been a Royal Academician since 2003.

Grayson Perry Winner in 2003 of the Turner Prize which he accepted wearing a purple satin party frock. Best known for his elaborate ceramic vases which at a distance seem classically decorative but on closer inspection are covered with narratives and commentaries dealing with aesthetic, cultural, social and political subjects.

Chair: Joan Bakewell Journalist and broadcaster.

Event Information: The discussion will take place on 1 July 2009 at The Saatchi Gallery
Doors open at 6:15 pm. The discussion starts at 7:00 pm and finishes at 8:15 pm.

'Britain has become indifferent to beauty'

'Britain has become indifferent to beauty'

(Source The Guardian)
This motion was proposed last week at a vigorous debate asking if Britain had become indifferent to beauty, from architecture to landscape and from art to music. Stephen Bayley, the Observer's design critic, opposed the motion and argued forcefully that Britons retain an enthusiastic appreciation of both classic and modern aesthetics
The great thing about the present economic calamity is that it is forcing a thoughtful re-examination of values, rather than the coarse pursuit of acquiring more stuff we don't need with money we don't have.
So, right on cue, the National Trust, guardian of collective memory, has held its first public "Quality of Life" debate, organised by Intelligence Squared, the business that makes brainy argument into an extreme sport for urban intellectuals. During last Thursday's cocktail hour at the Royal Geographical Society, 700 guests paid to hear a debate on whether "Britain has become indifferent to beauty". Read the article...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/mar/22/national-trust-intelligence-squad

Intelligence²
The current economic crisis gives us all an opportunity to rethink our priorities. What really matters in life? The endless round of getting and spending, or less tangible things - spending time with friends and family, a walk in the countryside, admiring something beautiful? The National Trust 'Quality of Life' Debates, in conjunction with Intelligence², aim to stimulate people to think about their deepest values - the kind that are frequently ignored in conventional political debate.
http://www.intelligencesquared.com/past-events.php?event=EVT0190