Susan Ashmore argues that, in the rush to engage with public agendas, we must be wary of losing what distinguishes the arts from other participatory activities.

I have been reading with interest Peter Hewitts recent Smith Institute lecture (which can be downloaded from Arts Council Englands website at www.artscouncil.org.uk). In it he proclaims how the arts need to be recognised both for the inherent personal value they deliver for citizens and for their contribution to other... more