Culture is not an Industry: 1 Year On

This lecture was part of a series of educational visits at KU Leuven in partnership with Una Europa universities. They aim to foster the active involvement of young heritage students and professionals in the sector and provide them with meaningful education, training, volunteering, and networking opportunities. 

Justin O'Connor, professor of cultural Economy at Adelaide University and visiting professor at Jiatong University in Shanghai, gave a lecture on the role of art and culture in contemporary society, reclaiming them for the common good, on 14 May at the Faculty of Arts of KU Leuven. He discussed themes from his recent work, including Culture is not an Industry: Reclaiming art and culture for the common good (2024), focusing on the impact of the creative industries and the need for a shift in how culture is understood and valued. 

The lecture was followed by a debate with Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra & Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub, moderated by Koen Van Balen, Professor Emeritus at KU Leuven in the field of Cultural Heritage, Advisory Council member of the European Heritage Hub and one of our Dreamteamers.