Art & Class

You are invited to a talk and Q&A with David Kennedy, the author of Art & Class: How the middle classes hijacked the nation's galleries.

On a bright autumn day in 1857, the workers from Salts Mill in Yorkshire were waiting for special trains to take them on a day trip. But they were not going to Blackpool: they were going to The Manchester Art Exhibition which attracted 1.3 million visitors in less than six months the majority of whom were mill hands, factory workers and domestic servants.
 
Today less than 8% of visitors to our great galleries are from the working class. When and why did the working classes stop visiting art galleries and why does this matter?
 
David Kennedy will share aspects from his book, Art & Class, which describes the advent of public art in the 18th Century, the development of national galleries in London and the explosion of regional galleries, all of which were crowded with working-class visitors. It tells the story of how this all came to a halt in 1946 when Keynes and the Bloomsbury Group seized control of the art world by establishing the Arts Council, slashing the countrywide Art for the People budget and pouring money into opera and ballet.

This event is organised by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies Working Class Network and the Staff Working Class Network at the University of Leeds.

Light refreshments will be provided. Booking is recommended via the link below.

About David Kennedy

David Kennedy had his first brush with art history whilst serving an apprenticeship in the cotton mills of Paisley, as the mills of Coats and Clark were the source of art historian Kenneth Clark’s great wealth. After a period working abroad, David returned to the UK, training as a social worker in inner city Bradford.

As his career progressed he was able to champion the arts, particularly for the benefit of disadvantaged communities. As a Strategic Director (and ultimately Chief Executive) his role encompassed the Council’s arts, museums and galleries services and he was able, with like-minded politicians, to influence arts delivery. David’s achievements include developing The Bradford Festival and championing community-based arts in and around West Yorkshire.

In 2024, David published his book Art & Class: How the middle classes hijacked the nation's galleries. Art & Class charts the advent of public art in the 18th Century, the development of national galleries in London and the explosion of regional galleries, all of which were crowded with working-class visitors, before Keynes and the Bloomsbury Group seized control of the art world by establishing the Arts Council.

David’s book explores the histories of the UK’s galleries and museums, including how the metropolitan elite still dominate the nations arts and culture sector, and calls for more diverse and inclusive curatorial policies to attract visitors from all classes.

For further information on David Kennedy's work, please visit his website.

Book cover for David Kennedy's Art & Class: How the middle classes hijacked the nation's galleries (2024).

Book your place

Please register here to attend.

You will then receive an email nearer the time to confirm details.

Venue

Student Common Room
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
University Road
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT

Image

Salts Mill in Saltaire. Image © University of Leeds.