It asked those involved in the arts to examine policy and the wider cultural climate, and to address new proposals looking at their implications, tensions and future possibilities. The conference considered the keywords and statements of present cultural policy. Some examples:Successful societies in the twenty-first century will be those that nurture a spirit of creativity and foster the cultural activity that goes hand in hand with it.Social inclusion should be mainstreamed as a policy priority for all libraries, museums, galleries and archives.Traditional concepts of access will be complemented by a new emphasis of participationThe government 'seeks to join up the policies which range across education, economic development and culture to create for the first time coherent pathways for individuals to develop their creativity in culture and media'.What possibilities and dangers do they present? Are there alternative avenues that need to be explored?A collaboration with the Institute of Ideas.