Is a genius born or made? Where did the idea of 'the artist' originate? What is the impact of the Cold War on British culture? What was the experience of war actually like?

From world history to art, culture and science, our all-year round talks programme offers you the opportunity to engage with world-renowned specialists and researchers, who are providing new insight and perspectives into contemporary culture, society and history.

Encounters season at The Arts Institute

This season we have shaped our programme around the theme of Encounters. At The Arts Institute we are interested in presenting the latest ideas and developments within culture, working with artists, musicians and thinkers who are often at the very cutting edge of their field, overturning pre-existing ideas through new discoveries, encounters and inventions.

With equal passion we are also interested in how the present is shaped by the past. The dialogue between past, present and the bringing to light of hidden seams of history that have directly, or indirectly shaped our landscape today, is what informs much of the development of our programme.

Conversation and collaboration, across art forms and disciplines, including the STEM subjects are key to this way of working, to ensure we present ideas to our audiences that are relevant and fresh. 

Antarctica Raft of the Medusa. Courtesy Lucy + Jorge Orta