# Art, Political Culture, and Civic Life ## expand\_more ![Crowd of people in a painting](/sites/g/files/omnuum4936/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/mahindra/files/artculture.jpg?itok=gjXOsDxq) Explores the interplay of the arts, political culture, and civic life. Our goal is to provide a vibrant, international forum for the exchange of ideas and ongoing projects. The seminar includes artists,academics, journalists, architects, writers, photographers, urban planners, filmmakers, musicians, and members of civic organizations from Harvard and acrossthe globe. Among the topics we have discussed are: “Does National Identity Need Borders?, " The Power of Art: Contending with Censorship Hard and Soft,” and “Shaping a Common Life: Architecture and Public Space.” ## Past Events [### Democracy in Peril: Pathways for Renewal ](/event/democracy-peril-pathways-renewal?occ_id=0)April 26, 2026 | 1:00PM EDT [### Triumph or Tragedy: What Lessons From the Civil Rights Movement Are Relevant Today? ](/event/triumph-or-tragedy-what-lessons-civil-rights-movement-are-relevant-today?occ_id=0)Mar 1, 2026 | 1:00PM EST [### Friend and Foe: What Chimpanzees Can Teach Us About War and Peace ](/event/friend-and-foe-what-chimpanzees-can-teach-us-about-war-and-peace?occ_id=0)February 8, 2026 | 1:00PM - 3:00PM EST [ More past events arrow\_circle\_right ](/calendar/past_events?f%5B0%5D=event_hwp_c_seminars%3A170362) ## Chairs [### Kiku Adatto ](/people/kiku-adatto) ![Kiku_Adatt0](/sites/g/files/omnuum4936/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/mahindra/files/kiku_adatto_photo_portrait_copy_0.jpg?itok=sYr3G5HW) [### Michael J. Sandel ](/people/michael-j-sandel) ![Michael Sandel](/sites/g/files/omnuum4936/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/mahindra/files/michael_sandel.jpg?itok=I7KD5nMO) See also:- [ Seminars ](/page-type/seminars) - [ Art, Political Culture and Civic Life ](/seminars/art-popular-culture-and-civic-life)