Launch

New Deal of the Mind was formally launched at an event hosted by Alistair and Maggie Darling at Number 11 Downing Street, on March 24th 2009 .

Prominent people from the arts, creative industries and politics heard Martin Bright warn that we risk losing a generation of talent and intellectual capital if we don’t react immediately and imaginatively to the challenge of the financial crisis.

Other speakers included the then Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, James Purnell, Ed Vaizey the Conservative Shadow Culture Minister and Lynne Featherstone who speaks for the LibDems on Youth and Equality.

Underlining NDotM’s inspiration from Roosevelt’s commitment to the arts during the 1930′s depression, Professor Alan Brinkley, of New York’s Columbia University, and D.D Guttenplan, London correspondent of The Nation, spoke passionately of the role that subsidised arts programmes can play in restoring and upholding the social and economic health of a nation.

Leading figures from the UK arts world included Sir Christopher Frayling, Sir John Tusa, Mark Thompson, Dame Jenny Abramsky, Jude Kelly and Lord Puttnam.

Martin Bright said he was delighted by the support from entrepreneurs, people in the arts and politicians from all parties. “I think this just shows that in extraordinary times, we need to do extraordinary things. We couldn’t do that without the support of such people, all of whom care about and understand the immense part that arts and culture play in our economic, financial and social well being.”