S1:E3 Making the case for artistic risk-taking – Victoria Broackes in conversation with Adrian Ellis

The Three Bells

Summary:
In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Victoria Broackes, the current Director of the London Design Biennale. Drawing on her curatorial experiences, they speak candidly about the challenges facing cultural programming, particularly in relation to the opportunities presented by digital technology, and the untapped possibilities of experiential exhibition-making.

Thereafter, Adrian is joined by fellow host Criena Gehrke to discuss key takeaways. They reflect upon the tensions facing artistic risk-taking as well as the need for cultural programming to tell meaningful and resonant stories.
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References:

• V&A Exhibition: “David Bowie is..” (2013)
• V&A Exhibition: “ “Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains”
• theVOV
• London Design Biennale 2021
• The sudden flourishing of culture about trees

Further Reading:

• “Taking Risk in Times of Adversity”

Bio:
Victoria Broackes is a curator and exhibition maker, currently Director of the London Design Biennale. Prior to joining the Biennale in 2019, Victoria was Senior Curator for the V&A Department of Theatre & Performance. From 2009 to 2018 she was Head of the London Design Festival at the V&A. In 2016 she was the V&A curator for the British entry for the inaugural London Design Biennale, Forecast by Barber & Osgerby. Victoria has curated multiple successful exhibitions at the V&A, of which many are popular music displays. This includes Pink Floyd, Their Mortal Remains (2017), You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels, 1966-70 (2016) and David Bowie (2013), Kylie: The Exhibition (2007), The Story of the Supremes (2008) and The House of Annie Lennox (2011). David Bowie Is (2013), is the fastest-selling exhibition in the V&A museum’s history. She co-presented the film David Bowie is Happening Now and featured in the documentary about You Say You Want a Revolution? which was presented at the Mill Valley Film Festival in California.