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Podcast from the Cambridge Festival of Ideas: a creative call to arms

NDotM is glad to note that the Guardian is running a series of podcasts from the Cambridge Festival of Ideas. The most recent podcast, a 30-minute panel seminar discussion entitled ‘An age of austerity for the arts?‘, is of particular interest. It’s a rallying call for Britain’s creative industries.

The panel comprises Peter Florence, director of the Hay festival; Gill Bloomfield, of Arts and Business (formerly the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts); Sue Hoyle, director of the Clore Leadership Programme; and Professor Shearer West, of the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Peter Florence is quite right to argue, as he does, that ‘austerity is not bad for creative people’. He even draws on Orson Welles’ timeless “cuckoo clock” monologue from the Third Man to counter those who perceive the downturn to be the death knell of the arts in this country.

Sue Hoyle suggests we have “a tendency to run ourselves down in this country… but we have the most extraordinary creative talents. Arts offer tremendous value for money”.

NDotM couldn’t agree more. It is quite clear that the Cambridge Festival of Ideas really does have some good ideas. Tune in to the podcasts.