The freedom of art is one of the imperatives of every democracy. But does this freedom make art inconsequential? Does art have a role in addressing social issues, promoting social justice, or in defending democracy when it comes under pressure? In short: does art have a political mandate and what is the role of art in weakened democracies?

The Student Council consists of a team of highly engaged, talented, and diverse high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who invite prominent guest speakers to discuss topics relating to art, culture, politics, and society. In conversation with visual artists, musicians, dancers, writers, theater and filmmakers, cultural critics, curators and others, the students will explore how the arts can make a difference in times of social and political crisis; on what social issues they can give new impulses; how they can help shape local communities; and how the alleged freedom and autonomy of the arts might impede or help the arts in terms of social and political significance.

The program takes place live every fourth Wednesday of the month 4.15pm PST, where you can join the Q&A . More details HERE

ABOUT CAULEEN SMITH
The guest speaker for our June program is interdisciplinary artist Cauleen Smith. Raised in Sacramento, California, and now based in Los Angeles, Cauleen Smith is a prolific and critically acclaimed artist specializing in film, installation, and object art. Currently a faculty member at the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture, Smith’s work disrupts traditional representations of image and language, inviting contemplative engagement from her audience. Her work has been showcased in esteemed institutions like The Whitney Museum of American Art, MassMoCA, and LACMA, and she has received numerous awards, including the 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship and the inaugural Ellsworth Kelly Award in 2016. Smith’s innovative practice underscores the transformative potential of art, as she continuously pushes boundaries and invites audiences to consider new perspectives​.