In conversation: Chris Smith and Martha Kearney | Art Fund Annual General Meeting 2024

Опубликовано: 16 Август 2024
на канале: Art Fund

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At this in-conversation event, Art Fund’s retiring chair, Chris Smith, Lord Smith of Finsbury, reflects on 10 years as the charity’s chair and his fascinating career in the wider cultural sector, including his role as the UK’s very first Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The Q&A is hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Martha Kearney, best known for her six-year tenure presenting BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

The Q&A was recorded at Art Fund’s 2024 Annual General Meeting, which was open to members and trustees of Art Fund.

Chris Smith has been chair of Art Fund for 10 years, and during this time he has overseen the awarding of £58.5m in grants to help museums build their collections and reach audiences. During his time as the UK's first Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport he introduced free admission to national museums across the UK. He is currently Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge and President of the Wordsworth Trust.

Martha Kearney’s career spans almost four decades having presented several of the UK’s longest-running political and current affairs programmes such as Today, Newsnight and Woman’s Hour. Beyond the newsroom, Martha has fronted documentaries about history, literature, nature and art. Martha has won the Sony Radio Bronze Award and has been nominated for a BAFTA for her coverage of the Northern Ireland peace process.