Press releases
Leading UK organisations call for a battle of ideas
publication date: 14 September 2005
The Academy of Ideas, together with the Medical Research Council (MRC), the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA), the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the Royal College of Art, will launch the inaugural Battle of Ideas festival at the Royal College of Art on 29 and 30 October 2005.
Claire Fox, the director of the Academy of Ideas, called for a real battle of ideas:
Never has a Battle of Ideas been so urgent. Since we conceived the festival, Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for a ‘battle of ideas’ in response to the London bombings on 7/7. He knows a good slogan when he sees it, but unfortunately, many of the government’s policy proposals since then seem more about closing down debate than opening it up.
As the name suggests, the festival will see no holds-barred arguments between agenda setters from politics, the sciences, the arts, academia, business, the media and education about the key ideas and issues of our time.
Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, Rector of the Royal College of Arts and Chair of the Arts Council England, welcomed the Battle of Ideas as ‘long-overdue’ and continued:
'The Battle of Ideas promises to dig into many of our most important themes –
education, creativity, innovation, community – and give them a good shake-up.'
Other organisations who will join the headline partners in this endeavour include: Arts & Business, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), cScape, the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE), Intelligence Squared, the Liberal magazine, Poptel Technology, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), and The Times.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. A full list of speakers and all events can be found at the Battle of Ideas website http://www.battleofideas.co.uk/
2. For further information, to request press passes or to interview speakers please contact Shirley Dent on 020 7269 9229/ 07841 583058 or email shirleydent@instituteofideas.com
NB an experts media directory accompanies the festival. If you are looking for comment from experts with opinions please call Shirley Dent, the festival press officer, on 020 7269 9229/07841 583058