DIRECTOR OF THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION PRESENTS A CASE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN A PROSPEROUS SOCIETY
Dr. Dorothy Kosinski discusses issues facing museums and other cultural institutions and illuminates the benefits such organizations provide.
Washington, DC—On January 27, Dorothy Kosinski, director of The Phillips Collection, will present a case for the importance of culture in a prosperous society. The discussion will be based on a paper of the same title, authored by Dr. Kosinski as part of her Legatum Institute Global Fellowship.
Throughout history, culture has been at the root of flourishing societies, fostering creative capital, economic opportunities, and educational advancement, as well as serving as a moral force for expression, citizenship, and democratic values. Yet the humanities are now on the defensive as decision-makers on both sides of the Atlantic reassess global competitiveness and education policies. Dr. Kosinski’s paper discusses why the humanities should be center in the conversation about creating solutions to 21st century policy challenges. Furthermore, she posits, culture remains vital for driving growth and innovation—even in a down economy. She offers critical prognosis for the future of museums, which comes at a pivotal point in the debate over the relevance of such institutions in today’s society.
“The Legatum Institute is committed to exploring the roots of prosperity through interdisciplinary studies,” says Alanna Putze, Senior Programme Director at the Legatum Institute. “Arts and culture can profoundly impact societies with long lasting effect, and should therefore be examined as much as economic and political structures. Dorothy Kosinski’s fellowship paper provides valuable insight into how the humanities contribute to flourishing societies and why they remain vital in preparing for the future.”
Dr. Kosinski’s decades of leadership in the museum field make her uniquely qualified to weigh in on the relevance and resonance of culture. Under her direction, The Phillips Collection has expanded its global outreach initiatives, including major international tours of its collection and the launch of the International Forum program. She has trained as an art historian and has served as curator and in leadership capacities at major cultural institutions, both in the US and Europe. She is the author of books and exhibition catalogues on 19th-, 20th-, and 21st- century art. And in August 2013, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Council on the Humanities. She currently serves on the boards of the Association of Art Museum Directors and the Musée Rodin, Paris.
The January 27 presentation takes place at The Phillips Collection, and is hosted, in partnership with, the Legatum Institute. Dr. Kosinski is joined by Dr. Steven Knapp, President of the George Washington University, and Jeffrey Brown, Chief Correspondent for Arts, Culture, and Society for PBS, moderates the discussion. Attendance is by invitation only.
Dr. Kosinski’s paper, A Case for the Importance of Culture in a Prosperous Society, can be found on the Legatum Institute’s webpage: http://www.li.com/publications/a-case-for-the-importance-of-culture-in-a-prosperous-society.