Author Carol Becker, former professor and dean at Columbia University School of the Arts, reflects on the role of artists at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos – a town in the Swiss Alps that turns into a thriving mini city hosting international thinkers and speakers.
“any effective agenda for changing the world must include the force of visionary artists” (Becker, 2019).
The article’s insights reminded me of how creativity can permeate unexpected spaces and how artists assert themselves within global discussions traditionally dominated by business and politics.
The WEF’s tagline is ‘bring together governments, businesses, and civil society to improve the world’, yet I find it curious that artists were initially absent from these conversations, not originally considered in this realm as big thinkers who can effect change. Becker’s highlights the effort required to routinely integrate art into Davos, a space usually associated with profit and policy rather than creative expression. For UAL: should its “The World Needs Creativity” tagline be championed beyond the arts sector? Beyond our walls and ears? Should we push for artists to be recognised as essential thinkers in shaping society and policy? This would improve the job market, better linking graduates with career prospects and direction.
This article resonated with me while preparing my ‘Skills for Now and the Future’ webinar for graduates struggling to establish their careers. Many lose motivation by early January, and feeling helpless if they haven’t secured a sustainable job by February. I considered referencing Becker’s article in my webinar, reinforcing the idea that artists monitor global shifts and attempt to repair the world’s disturbances (Becker, 2019). This perspective is crucial for graduates to recognise their own value beyond traditional career paths or reconnect with their reasons for pursuing this starting point. And highlight the notion that a graduate’s fresh mind and new learning is a positive contribution, not a hinderance to the wider world and for them trying to figure out a future within it.
During a workshop discussion, my peers and I explored key themes such as positionality and infiltration—how creative professionals can carve out space in unfamiliar territories, and their presence and background is just as powerful as the content they deliver. However, I remain cautious about the role of artists at Davos. Does their presence serve a meaningful purpose, or are they used for sensationalised spectacle, offering shock-value experiences to break up corporate monotony? The question remains whether artists are truly being integrated or merely commodified as a form of high-profile entertainment. Novelty-seeking up a Swiss mountain?
As this article was published in 2019—post-Brexit but pre-Covid-19—I was curious to see if Davos still platforms artists today or if economic challenges have deprioritised creative contributions, as they often do. Reviewing the 2025 programme, I found that Arts and Culture remain integral, alongside voices like David Beckham! A key theme this year reflects sentiments from my skills workshop:
“The Intelligent Age holds immense potential for artistic expansion, but it also demands that we fiercely protect what makes human creation so powerful” (WEF, 2025).
This reinforces the necessity of equipping graduates with the mindset that their creativity is not just career-focused but a lifelong skill with the power to influence global conversations.
Harvard References:
Becker, C. (2019) ‘How art became a force at Davos’. World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/02/how-art-became-a-force-at-davos (Accessed: 19 Feb 2025).
World Economic Forum (2025) Arts and Culture Programme. Available at: https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Arts_and_Culture_Programme_AM25.pdf (Accessed: 19 Feb 2025).