Weaponising peace: the Greater London Council, cultural policy and 'GLC peace year 1983'

This paper explores how the Greater London Council (1981-1986) deployed community focused cultural policy initiatives to disseminate cultural forms of nuclear scepticism during its 'GLC Peace Year 1983' campaign. Drawing upon archival sources and interviews, this paper will present an overview of Peace Year's cultural programme, which promoted London's 'nuclear-free zone' through arts commissions, poster campaigns, pop concerts, murals, documentary films and photography exhibitions. Focusing on two GLC funded projects aimed at promoting positive representations of women's peace activism, this paper will reflect upon the emotional and political impacts of the GLC's radical cultural strategy.