International + National Currents in Regional Arts Development

The multi-faceted impact of arts and cultural activities on communities, focussing on international and national trends in regional arts delivery and the issues that drive distinctive cultural identities.

International currents - Undercurrents in Pacific Regional Arts
Makerita Urale, independent Pacific producer (NZ based).
Makerita will explore the development of the arts in the Pacific region as a major contributor to regional development and in forming Pacific identities. She will look at initiatives within the region involving partnerships and the goal of regional regeneration, focussing on the importance of developing artistic collaborations and exchange within the Pacific region, and the position of Australia within the Pacific regional identity.

International currents - Indigenous Arts and Cultural Practices
Carol Geddes, Banff Centre for the Arts (Canada).
Carol will give an overview of Canadian Aboriginal arts vis-a-vis state policies and the needs of Aboriginal artists. She will address how marginalised people find avenues through the arts to assist them in either becoming artists, or at minimum, allowing an experience of success that can be translated into a sense of empowerment that helps build other areas of life.

National currents - Regional Arts Festivals
Robyn Archer, AO, Festival Director
Robyn will contribute insights into the driving forces behind high profile state festivals that give voice to Australia's cultural identity. She will address how these relate to Australia's regional identities and how the regions contribute to the development of the national profile, demonstrating what metropolitan and regional festivals can and do learn from each other.

Cross currents panel

Cathy Craigie will give a national overview of current issues relating to the regeneration of rural and regional Indigenous communities and the role and position of arts in this. Where are the connections between the issues, policies and mechanisms for support? Do these go far enough? Examples of arts and cultural initiatives focussing on community rebuilding in rural and regional communities.

Bill Hauritz will give his perspective on whether the current growth industry in festivals is sustainable. When is the carnival over? Does every community have to have a festival? How do you ensure a balance between enhancing a local arts celebration, working together as a community, and the danger of becoming a major tourist attraction that leaves no room for the locals?

Dr Onko Kingma believes that rural communities are, indeed 'riding the rapids'. He will talk about how, in the face of relentless change, many communities are realising that the only way of survival is through cooperative effort and the rebuilding of social capital. In the toolkit for this purpose, the arts stand as a beacon, providing not only the practical framework for developing new community cultures, but helping to build social capital, overcome serious communications problems and boost productivity growth in economic activity. [paper]

Undercurrents - Social Politics + Regional Culture

Examining the social, cultural and political environments in which regional arts development functions in Australia. How closely is this environment tied to national identity? Where does regional identity fit within this? Has recent support for regional arts development emerged as a result of a social need or in recognition of a political opportunity?

The Arts, The Regions + National Development
Emeritus Professor Donald Horne, OAM
Donald will give an analysis of the political and cultural national context in which artists and artsworkers work regionally, providing an intellectual and connected historical and contemporary view that is non pariel. As Chair of the Australia Council and CCD in its first days, he offers an overview of where the arts fit (and have not fitted) in the political landscape and how this impacts on arts in rural and regional Australia. [paper]

The Crossing Place in Australia's National Identity
Fay Nelson, OAM, Regional Indigenous Cultural Officer
Fay will address how far Australia has come in recognising Aboriginal culture and arts in the national arts agenda and how far it still has to go, exploring where Aboriginal arts and culture fit within the national identity, the role regional Indigenous communities have in forming this identity, and the part that resourcing and community cultural development play in facilitating the participation of regional Indigenous communities in the national forum through arts and culture. [paper]

Regional Arts in the National Focus
Jennifer Bott, CEO, Australia Council for the Arts
Australia is a culturally rich nation and the work of our artists is central to contributing to our sense of national identity. The Australia Council's national focus reflects the culture and creativity of regional, remote and urban communities, and it has an obligation to ensure access to, and participation in, the arts by all. Jennifer will explore the importance of regional identity, how it connects and informs the concept of national identity and the role of regional arts development in the current social, cultural and political environment. She will speak about the need to ensure appropriate and ongoing commitment to regional arts development to assist in developing and sustaining communities.

Crosscurrents panel

'Alopi Latukefu will explore the challenges and successes for Goolarri in its attempts to achieve economic sustainability and foster Indigenous artistic growth, and how self determination, self representation and a community voice through Indigenous media contribute to the social, cultural and economic regeneration of Indigenous communities in regional and rural areas. 'Alopi will also address how the arts contributes to and benefits from this.

Janet Cohen will address recent trends in cultural planning and the need for local government to engage with the community as a whole. Where are the gaps in cultural planning processes that fail to address a "whole of community" approach by local government? Is the future of cultural planning in legislation or incentive for local government? Janet explores the value of programs like 4th City of the Arts, a partnership between Hastings Council, the area's artists, arts/cultural organisations and the Hastings community, aimed at supporting arts and cultural projects and initiatives with sustainable outcomes. [paper]

Scott Rankin will address issues underpinning youth cultures in rural and regional areas and how these manifest in their relationships with mainstream institutions and cultures, providing insight into challenges and successes for the role of arts and culture in these relationships and the outcomes they can achieve for young people. What happens once the project is over and the funding is gone? What must be set up to serve as a continuum for young people finding their voices through the arts?

National currents - Regional Regeneration + Crossing Places

This session will examine the role of the arts in establishing distinctive identities, whether through the physical environment, community expression or individual arts practice. Artforms have a powerful capacity to provide a framework for these expressions that reflect value systems, aesthetic ideals and social and cultural realities. You will be treated to stimulating models and ideas that can translate across location and distance.

The Arts, The Built Environment + The Currency of Place-Making
Pamille Berg, Art/Architectural Consultant
Pamille will address issues that surround art in the built environment and the role of artists and the community in the design process. She will explore collaborative, consultative and creative approaches to the planning and design of built environments and the currency of place-making in relation to the arts. How can art in the built environment reflect aesthetic values that have resonance with community ideals and values? Does it work? What makes it work? [paper]

Creative Engagement
Jon Hawkes, Author/Consultant
Jon Hawkes will explore the many ways culture affects and relates to human activities and policy realms. What are the essential ingredients for keeping arts and culture on the public planning agenda given the competing priorities and needs of rural and regional communities throughout Australia? How do we develop a stronger commitment to the arts as a process of engagement by the community as a whole? What's working, what's not? [paper]

Regional Identity in Focus
Doris Pilkington Garimara, Author
Doris will explore the importance of regional identity in her life and how she draws upon regional inspiration and identity - traditional cultural practice - that give identity and meaning to her work. She will talk about how her work comes together and what influences and inspires it. She will also share her thoughts on the state of the arts and the situation for Indigenous artists in the regions she works in/belongs to, drawing on her experiences writing her trilogy, especially Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, the film of which has had a powerful impact both nationally and internationally. [paper]

Crosscurrents panel

Maggie Maguire will explore issues of community involvement in events - looking for the best outcomes for communities while at the same time ensuring a uniform standard of quality over the whole event. She addresses the importance of creative ideas as an inspiration for communities and the effects of successful inspiring art made through active and real engagement with local communities (TBC).

Dr Maureen Rogers will talk about the innovative partnerships and community responsibility that make up Small Towns Big Picture. Collaborations and partnerships, arts and non-arts - when, how and why do you consider them? How do they enable communities to move forward, toward a desired future? What are the essential ingredients for making partnerships work? An analysis of Small Towns Big Picture, a project partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities and the Cultural Development Network (Victoria).

Tim Newth + David McMicken will address the issues that arise in supporting and reflecting cultural diversity and inclusiveness in project development and delivery in regional contexts. In particular, how these collaborations work in regional and remote communities and across both professional and community groups. They will emphasise the importance of working cross culturally for the maintenance, development and showcasing of Australian culture. [paper]