What Do Arts & Culture Speakers Do & Why They're Important

Arts and culture encompass the creative expression, shared traditions and values of a society. From music composing and artistry, to dance and spoken word, the arts are a creativity haven that thrives on innovation and uniqueness.

Bringing fresh perspectives, igniting creativity and giving audiences a new cultural perspective, our artists are experts in their unique craft and are incredibly passionate about what they do. But why are the arts so important?

What Do Arts and Culture Speakers Offer?

Here to inspire audiences to think differently, our experts in visual arts, literature, performance and other cultural fields, all challenge thinking and inspire innovation across a whole range of sectors.

Offering rich and engaging experiences that goes beyond surface level entertainment, talks and sessions with arts and culture specialists tend to cover topics such as diversity in the arts, unlocking imagination, the business of creativity and cross-sector inspiration.

The unique insights into business will really make you think differently, leading you to look at your organisation through a different lens.

Why Arts and Culture Matter in Business and Society

You may be wondering why arts and culture speakers matter in the business world. Well, these speakers contribute hugely to the way society thinks, connects and evolves, which in turn affects businesses.

In the business sense, arts and culture most prominently fuel creativity. Exposure to the arts boosts innovation, problem-solving and fresh ideas at work, whether it be for marketing and advertising techniques, or for more strategic business ventures. Along with humanising brands and supporting wellness, diverse thinking is encouraged through the adoption of the arts.

For society, arts and culture help us understand who we are. Creative outlets help us connect with cultures and identities, building empathy for one another by seeing the world through other’s points of view. Challenging and inspiring conversations, arts and culture helps push society forward!

Popular Topics and Themes

The arts and culture are such a broad topic – there are many subgenres within it!

From diversity in the arts, the role of AI in creativity, cultural heritage, public art and the future of creative industries, there’s so much to discuss.

No matter how niche your topic is within arts and culture, we have the perfect speaker or workshop host for you. Get in touch with us and we’ll talk through your event together and find you the right person.

Notable Arts and Culture Speakers to Consider

These artistes not only entertain their audiences, but they also educate and inspire, relating teachings back to business principles.

We’ve highlighted a few here, but you can see more fantastic arts and culture speakers here. Remember that we don’t showcase all of our speakers on our website, so do get in touch if you have a different speaker in mind...

Will Gompertz

Will was appointed the Director of Arts and Learning at The Barbican in 2021. He is Author of international bestselling art history book What Are You Looking At? and is one of the most respected commentators on The Arts. Voted one of the World’s Top 50 Creative Thinkers by New York’s Creativity Magazine. He was formerly the BBC Arts Editor and previously the Director of The Tate Gallery.

Kate Bryan

Art historian, curator and arts broadcaster, Kate is Head of Collections at Soho House.

Writer and presenter of ‘Galleries on Demand’ (Sky Arts) and presenter of ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ and ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ (Sky Arts), she’s passionate about bringing art to life for everyone and removing the stigma that floats around the art world.

Refik Anadol

Leading media artist and expert on big data visualisation through the aid of AI, Refik specialises in the application of machine and deep learning.

His installations address the intersection of art, data and cutting-edge technology – making the invisible visible. Creating live AI data paintings and augmented data storytelling, Refik’s work is truly unique.

Oona King

Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SnapChat, Oona was previously Google’s Director of Diversity Strategy, YouTube’s Director of Diverse Marketing and Chief Diversity Officer for Channel 4.

Recipient of a life-time appointment to the UK House of Lords in 2011 as Baroness King of Bow, Oona addresses current affairs, diversity, trade, commerce and peace measures.

Grayson Perry

Turner Prize Winner, Reith Lecturer and author, Grayson is known for his colourful wardrobe and his ceramics.

One of the UK’s best-known modern artists, working with tapestry, fabrics and ceramics, he’s sought to popularise art. His work featured intricate, freehand drawings depicting a range of satirical, humorous and thoughtful images.

Katy Hessel

Leading art historian, curator, broadcaster, Katy is the author of ‘The Story of Art Without Men’; a ground-breaking book that explores 500 years of art by women.

Katy writes a fortnightly column for The Guardian and hosts The Great Women Artists Podcast, where she’s interviewed over 130 artists and writers.

A visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge and a Trustee at Charleston Trust, Katy’s also been recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30.

Topjaw

Will and Jesse are the creative minds behind TOPJAW. Travelling the globe, capturing visually stunning content that spotlights the world’s best food and drink spots, their beloved ‘Best of London’ series is humorous and candid, gaining vast media attention.

The pair have collaborated with the likes of Google, Bumble and Deliveroo, and they launched their own craft beer in 2022.

Emma Bridgewater

A celebrated tastemaker in the UK, Emma tapped into English pottery traditions over two decades ago and made them her own.

Now, a multi-million-pound business, Emma is well and truly established creative voice in the market. Alongside her illustrator husband who helps on design work for the business, Emma makes all of her ceramics in Staffordshire, the historic home of pottery manufacturing in Britain.

Will.i.am

Front man and producer of the multi-platinum award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas, the seven-time Grammy Award-winner Will.i.am has sold more than 31 million albums worldwide.

He’s produced with artists including U2, Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey, and is an accomplished tech advisor who serves as a global advocate for the vital importance of STEM skills.

Bompas and Parr

Sam Bompas and Harry Parr design spectacular food-based experiences.

Working on architectural scale with cutting-edge technology; from creating a glowing jelly installation, to an alcoholic cloud, the duo’s creativity is unmatched.

Seen someone who sparked your interest? We’re here to help make it happen! Get in touch with our team for tailored speaker recommendations for your next event.