Museums and Galleries Month this year offers a challenging programme of debates on a range of topics: from class versus cultural identity, family history and the abolition of slavery to the importance of contemporary artists in shaping society.

In the Debates, members of the public join artists, journalists and leading figures from the arts and cultural world to discuss pressing issues facing museums and galleries today. Speakers include Turner prize-winning artist Grayson Perry, writers James Delingpole and Gautam Malkani and Tate curator Mike Phillips.

The Great Court of the British Museum after dark © Jon Pratty/24 Hour Museum

At the British Museum (Thursday May 10 from 6.30pm until 8pm) big questions are being asked about the state of art: just who do artists they think they are? Does contemporary art give us an understanding of our own identity? How do artists, writers and musicians help to define us? In an era where artists seem increasingly obsessed with themselves, do they still have something to say about society as a whole?

It’s going to be a fascinating evening, organised by The Art Fund and the British Museum for Museums and Galleries Month. In the chair will be Bonnie Greer and she’ll be joined by Ralph Rugoff, Member of Art Fund International's Committee and Director, Hayward Gallery; Dr. Deborah Swallow, Trustee of The Art Fund and Director, Courtauld Institute; Munira Mirza, commentator; Gautam Malkani, author; Yinka Shonibare, artist.

Telephone 020 7323 8181 to book tickets for the BM debate Tickets: £5, concessions and Art Fund members £3

The National Portrait Gallery - a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square. © Andrew Putler

At the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday May 12 at 1.30 pm they’re getting into our very DNA in a debate entitled Ancestry, Identity and Museums: Who are we and where do we come from? It’s all about examining our growing interest in tracing our family history.

Sara Selwood and Ludmilla Jordanova - Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery chair the debate and on the panel are Dave Annal, National Archives' Family Records Centre and Cecile Wright, BBC's Who Am I?

Booking: Free admission. To book your place please e-mail Helen Wharton at Colman Getty: helen@colmangetty.co.uk

Later that day at 3.30 (Saturday May 12), still at the NPG, they’re looking into Culture and Class - which is more important in shaping our identity? On the panel will be Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry and journalist and broadcaster Meredith Etherington Smith. Professor Laurie Taylor will be keeping things under control from the chair.

Booking: Free admission. To book your place please e-mail Helen Wharton at Colman Getty: Helen@colmangetty.co.uk

Tate Britain, courtesy Tate

At Tate Britain on the evening of Monday May 21 (from 6.30 to 8.30pm) the Institute of Ideas has organised Slaves to the Past as part of the MGM debates season. March 2007 marked the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. Is this cause for celebration, or should we instead reflect on the evil of slavery itself?

Many museums, galleries and heritage organisations are taking the opportunity to explore the legacy of the slave trade, and their own role in it as institutions implicated in the politics of Empire. How should they approach this? Should museums make restitution for collections built on slavery, for example?

Or are there problems with the current preoccupation with documenting and commemorating slavery? Does the focus on man's inhumanity to man obscure the more inspiring lessons of history? Are museums and heritage organisations neglecting their responsibility to document the past objectively, by engaging in 'the politics of apology'?

There’s plenty to talk about and doing the talking will be Mike Phillips, Tate Curator; David Miles, English Heritage; Maurice Davies, Museums Association and Josie Appleton, author. Tiffany Jenkins from Institute of Ideas will chair.

Booking: Tickets are free but must be reserved Please email museums@instituteofideas.com with your name and affiliation

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Up at The Merseyside Maritime Museum there’s The Great Debate – what are museums for? The debate (on Thursday May 17 from 6.00 until 8pm) has been organised by Kids in Museums and National Museums Liverpool. It was sparked off by some colourful views from columnist James Delingpole, who wrote a piece for The Times (in 2006) calling into question a lot of our assumptions about our museum culture.

Gillian Reynolds will be keeping the lid on the discussion from the chair, with David Barrie of the Art Fund and David Fleming of National Museums Liverpool joining in and the controversial Mr Delingpole present as well to get things moving.