Leading the way

It is increasingly accepted that a robust cultural life (including a vibrant and diverse artistic landscape), is a critical component of healthy communities, cities and nations. Official and unofficial cultural leaders around the world have traditionally tended this life – shepherding the growth of their nation’s arts and culture by managing institutions, setting policy, and shaping our collective identities. But what makes a cultural leader? How are different countries approaching the challenge? And where are the cultural leaders of the 21st century headed?