Art Fund director Jenny Waldman responds to a philosophical article about art's intrinsic value, arguing that while art should be enjoyed for its own sake, promoting its measurable health benefits can serve as a crucial entry point for new audiences. She cites the organization's National Art Pass adverts and recent research with King's College London, which demonstrated immediate physiological responses to viewing original art, as tools to invite people who might otherwise feel excluded from cultural institutions.
This matters because it highlights a strategic tension in arts advocacy: balancing the defense of art's intrinsic worth with pragmatic, evidence-based arguments to broaden access and secure public support. Waldman positions Art Fund's mission of 'art for all' as complementary to philosophical purism, using wellbeing research as a bridge to engage those deterred by economic, geographic, or cultural barriers, ultimately aiming to expand the community of art lovers.