How the arts and humanities gave Andrew Motion ‘his life’ – poet to defend arts at Oxford University’s Romanes Lecture
31 May 2011
Professor Sir Andrew Motion will describe how the arts gave him ‘his life’ as he presents a staunch defence of the arts and humanities at Oxford University’s historic Romanes Lecture on Thursday 2 June 2011.
Professor Sir Andrew Motion, who served as Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2009 and is currently professor of creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, will assess the likely impact of the government’s policy on arts and humanities on the future social, economic and cultural well-being of the nation.
He will also read out four short poems to demonstrate why the arts and humanities should matter in the twenty-first century and talk about his personal experiences of poetry and life.
The Romanes Lecture is an annual public lecture at Oxford University. The first was given in 1892 by William Gladstone. Subsequent speakers have included Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Sir Isaiah Berlin, Iris Murdoch, Edward Heath, AJP Taylor, Tony Blair and Sir Paul Nurse.
This year’s lecture will take place at 5.45pm on Thursday 2 June 2011 at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford’s city centre. The lecture will be open to the public on a first-come first-served basis.
Professor Sally Shuttleworth, Head of the Humanities Division, said: ‘Andrew Motion has made a significant contribution to contemporary British poetry and we are delighted that he has agreed to give this year’s Romanes Lecture. As Head of the Humanities Division, I am particularly pleased that the lecture will focus on the arts and humanities and their importance in the twenty-first century.
’Professor Sir Andrew Motion has received numerous awards for his poetry, published four biographies and is co-founder of the online Poetry Archive. He received a knighthood for his services to poetry in 2009.
A full list of previous Romanes lecturers is available here: http://www.ox.ac.uk/public_affairs/events_office/lectures_and_seminars/romanes_lectures.html
For an image of Professor Sir Andrew Motion or more information, please contact Matt Pickles at the University of Oxford Press Office at matt.pickles@admin.ox.ac.uk or 01865 270046. Press are invited to attend the talk but we regret that interviews will not be available.