March 08, 2012
7:30pm
£8, £5 concs
DOWNLOAD THE LECTURE HERE >>
Battersea’s old motto - 'not for me, not for you, but for us' is inscribed in the Lower Hall in BAC’s building, the Old Town Hall, local monument to civic pride and collaborative effort. In his lecture, Oxford historian Frank Prochaska, will look beyond stereotypes of Victorian philanthropy to reveal the people and social dynamics behind societies for mutual aid, benevolent funds and other charities. He will explore the key role these societies played in fostering local democracy and neighbourly cooperation as well as raising funds for the needy. The lecture is part of BAC’s investigation into new notions of philanthropy for the 21st Century as a grassroots, creative activity, not simply the preserve of wealthy individuals, but strengthening neighbourliness and imaginative capacity across the board
Frank Prochaska is an historian of modern Britain with a special interest in philanthropy and nineteenth-century political thought. Currently based in Oxford, he has taught at universities on both sides of the Atlantic and in recent years taught British history at Yale. He is a member of Somerville College and Wolfson College. He is an Honorary Fellow, Institute of Historical Research, London University, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Dr Prochaska contributes to media programs and the press in both Britain and the US on such subjects as contemporary social policy and the British monarchy. Recent contributions include How New is the New Philanthropy? – a three-part series broadcast on Radio Four in December 2011.
The lecture will be introduced by David Jubb and David Micklem, Joint Artistic Directors at BAC. It will be followed by a Q&A session chaired by Julia Rowntree, Arts Development Adviser.
