Now in paperback, an intellectual history of contrasting ideas around the power of the arts to engender personal and societal change - for better and worse. A fascinating account of the value and functions of the arts in society, in the private sphere of i

This collection of essays by scholars with expertise in a range of fields, cultural professionals and policy makers explores different ways in which the arts and humanities contribute to dealing with the challenges of contemporary society in ways that do not rely on simplistic and questionable notions of socio-economic impact as a proxy for value.