Interesting email from Artangel....politics singularly fails to mobilise the public spirit. Why?

From: Artangel [mailto:mailinglist@artangel.org.uk]
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 1:23 PM

Subject: Politics or the Arts?

& present
Politics or the Arts:
Which has the real power?
Tuesday 22nd May

Waste Man, Anthony Gormley, September 2006. Photo by Thierry Bal
Major arts events such as The Margate Exodus, The Sultan's Elephant and The Storr: Unfolding Landscape generated huge audiences and extensive media coverage through inspiring visions that have captured the collective imagination. In striking contrast, politics singularly fails to mobilise the public spirit. Why?

Associate Editor of the Guardian Madeleine Bunting will chair a panel discussion with artist Antony Gormley, filmmaker Penny Woolcock, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts and former Head of Strategy at 10 Downing Street, Matthew Taylor and Associate Director of the Young Foundation Rushanara Ali. Participating in the debate will be an audience of key figures from politics and the arts to discuss the power of the imagination in the public realm.

The Politics or the Arts podcast and blogsite launches on Tuesday 22nd May at 12 noon. Join the debate by going to blogs.guardian.co.uk/arts.
www.artangel.org.uk