The State of the Union - American Culture in the Trump Era

With US midterm elections looming, this extraordinary panel discussion asks: how is culture faring in the age of Donald Trump and MAGA?

From universities and public broadcasting to iconic cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institution, the American arts landscape has been put under unprecedented strain. To debate these crucial issues, music journalist and author Philip Clark is joined by world-renowned historian and Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash, alongside former BBC North America editor and BBC Today presenter Justin Webb.

As our concert halls echo with the visionary masterworks of Barber, Gershwin, Cage, and Price, this panel steps beyond the music to analyse the socio-political climate surrounding this year's festival theme, New Worlds.

Perfect for followers of global politics, a lover of American arts, or a festival-goer looking to deepen your perspective on this season's repertoire.