Leading Through Art: An Interview With Vicki Heywood CBE, Chair, Royal Society of Arts

Abstract

A recent interview with Vicki Heywood, Chair of the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA), highlights the role that arts can play in dealing with complex problems in society today and particularly from an international perspective. The message from this interview resonates with recent literature on leadership that also recognizes the importance of the arts in leading successfully through wicked problems. The importance of linking arts interpretations of leadership with culture and place is also taken into consideration within the analysis of the interview. The article concludes by suggesting that leadership practice into the future should promote leading through art to uncover the multiple identities and belonging that shape global society. More specifically, the article proposes that by leading through art, artists can help uncover and discover complex intricacies within context and culture which may help to problematize large scale generalizations which have become the epitome of serious global issues.