Free Trade & Cultural Diplomacy – What’s Old is News

By Sean Graham

I’m is joined by Sarah E.K. Smith, author of Trading on Art: Cultural Diplomacy and Free Trade in North America. We talk about Sarah’s interest in cultural diplomacy, what constitutes art in the context of free trade, and how cultural policies shaped artistic and curatorial expression at the end of the 20th century. We then discuss art as a form of resistance, the benefits and challenges of touring exhibitions across countries, and how contemporary questions on trade have influenced the book.

Historical Headline of the Week

Mexico says Canada wishes it had its ‘cultural riches’ amid tariffs feud,” The Guardian, December 4, 2024.

Sean Graham is a cultural historian, an Adjunct Professor at Carleton University, and a contributing editor with Activehistory.ca

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