Arts

Citizenship, Democracy, and the Arts

September 26, 2013  • Arts Program

On September 18 the Aspen Institute Arts Program held a panel discussion on the evolving role of the arts in the United States. Themes explored include:

Whether government should ensure that all have access to ways to express themselves — to find their voices as artists and citizens

How exercising one’s rights as a citizen creates power, and how arts and culture contribute to that work

What responsibility arts leaders have to foster a sense of shared national culture

The role of educational institutions in harnessing the benefits of “art for life’s sake”

The featured panelists for this event are Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Kate Levin; former speechwriter and Deputy Domestic Policy Adviser to President Clinton and author of “The Gardens of Democracy” Eric Liu; and President of Hunter College Jennifer J. Raab. Aspen Institute Arts Program Director Damian Woetzel moderates the conversation.