In this inaugural lecture, Professor Nick Wilson asks us to reconsider what we mean by ‘this thing called art’. He suggests there is much more at stake than the creation and enjoyment of artworks, the specialised work of professional artists, or, indeed, the sector we call the arts. In a wide-ranging and personal talk, Nick argues for a radical new account of art that acknowledges its central role in experiencing, valuing and connecting with self, with each-other, and with the world. How we respond to the major challenges of our time, including the persecutory nature of contemporary global society and climate emergency, depends upon our coming to know the value of [commitment to] this aesthetic knowing for ourselves.