The Big Question: There's an anti-intellectualism in Britain Elitism of the opera and ballet was compared to that of Olympic athletes, and the impact of the venues the arts were performed in was discussed. The panelists spoke about the different ways they were introduced to ballet and opera. Katie Mitchell said that the elitism associated with the genres was only apparent after she had been introduced to them in childhood, when they were just treated as events you went to. Turnage said he had to fight against the feeling that opera was elitist and not for him, a feeling that remained with him even as he began working with the Royal Opera House on Anna Nicole. He said he was suprised to find the ROH so supportive. Dreda Mitchell, who had been taken to the opera on school trips, said that when she was younger there was a feeling that ballet wasn't for black people. Avis commented that he had been bullied as a teenager for taking dance lessons and that outreach programmes were changing public perception of ballet. Audience members contributed thoughts on ticket prices, which most agreed were more affordable than those for sporting events or pop concerts, and the importance of education in attracting a larger audience to the arts. In the end, the panel concluded good art is good art, and should never be seen as only for a select few. Katie Mitchell said everyone who worked in opera and ballet should make a resolution to make sure that was the case. Here are some of the tweets from people in the audience and watching online.