Sir John Tusa & Lord Chris Smith

Tony Blair delivers his keynote arts speech at The Tate, March 2007

In a Hardtalk Extra programme broadcast on Friday 22nd June, Gavin Esler talks to two leading figures from the British art world, to discuss how politics and art should mix.

Sir John Tusa runs London's Barbican arts centre, and now chairs the Conservative Party's independent arts review panel.

Lord Chris Smith was Tony Blair's Culture Secretary during New Labour?s first term in government.

To what extent, do they think, should arts rely on government funding?

HARDtalk Extra can be seen on BBC World at 0330 GMT, 0830 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 1830 GMT.

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30.