Join Leslie Primo at one of his book events, where he explores the themes and insights from his new work, The Foreign Invention of British Art.
September 2025
- Leslie will be touring Edinburgh Bookshops and National Galleries of Scotland, on Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th of September.
October 2025
- Join Leslie, in conversation with James Payne, incorporating his book, The Heritage Behind Great British Art at the W
imbledon Book Festival, Saturday, 18th October.Two esteemed experts, Leslie Primo and James Payne, demystify the art world as they reveal the narratives and contexts behind significant British artwork and show why they still matter today.To truly bring a work of art to life, it is essential to comprehend its historical context, influences, and contemporaneous works. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this event will prove there is more to art than just watching paint dry. Leslie and James will be in conversation with Rachel Wang, film producer, director and trustee at the National Portrait Gallery.‘This beautifully put-together book is simply the best introduction to the lifelong pleasure and rewards of looking at pictures… an instant classic.’You can find out more here.
November 2025
- Join Leslie, in Conversation with: Darren Henley (Chief Executive of Arts Council England). The Folkestone Book Festival, Thursday, 20th November.Who gets to define culture – and what kind of future do we want to create?Folkestone is a town transformed by art. From artist-led regeneration to the internationally acclaimed Triennial, culture has reshaped the landscape – and redefined what’s possible. But as national debates about access, ownership and representation grow louder, urgent questions remain: Whose voices are heard? Whose stories are told? And who’s still being left out?
Join art historian Leslie Primo, CEO of Arts Council England Darren Henley, and cultural strategist and writer Amber Massie-Blomfield, for a vital conversation about identity, gatekeeping, and who gets to belong in Britain’s cultural narrative.In Primo’s The Foreign Invention of British Art, Primo powerfully dismantles the myth of a ‘pure’ national tradition, revealing how migration, empire and international influence have always shaped British creativity. Henley’s The Arts Dividend Revisited makes the case for access, investment and the civic power of culture. For Massie-Blomfield, in Acts of Resistance, art challenges power structures and reimagines the world around us.Together, they’ll ask how we tell our cultural stories, who gets to shape them – and what must change to create a more inclusive creative future. A must for artists, audiences, organisers and all who believe in the power of art to reflect – and reshape – place and possibility.Please note: this event lasts for one hour, followed by an opportunity to purchase the books upstairs in The Clearing and have them signed by the authors
