Culture is Not an Industry : Reclaiming Art and Culture for the Common Good

Culture is central to what it is to be human, to live in a social world. Yet Twenty-five years ago, art and culture were re-branded as 'creative industries', valued for their economic contribution, and set to launch the UK as the creative workshop of a new globalised world. Where does that leave art and culture now ? With lack of funding, vision, exhausted workers, the value of culture is in the grip of accountancy firms, creativity gurus and Ted Talkers. At a time of sweeping geo-political turmoil, culture has been de-politicized, its radical energies reduced to factors of industrial production. This book is about what happens when an essential part of our democratic citizenship, fundamental to our human rights, is reduced to an industry. Culture is Not and Industry argues art and culture need to renew their social contract and re-align with this radical agenda for a more equitable future and offers a powerful vision for change.