Monday 28th March was a significant day for Australia’s regional and remote artists, arts organisations and arts industries, marking the nation’s first National Arts Broadband Forum (NBN) hosted by Regional Arts Australia at Parliament House, Canberra.
Held on the same day as the House of Representatives final Parliamentary approval of a crucial legislative aspect of the National Broadband Network (NBN), the forum highlighted to the assembled audience of seventy, including representatives of the Australian Government and the NBN Co that the roll-out of the broadband network unlocks potential new projects, skills development and content creation for those working in creative industries right across Australia.
Special guest, the Hon. Simon Crean MP, (Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government; Minister for the Arts) addressed the Forum during a break in parliamentary sittings highlighting in his speech that the NBN has a role to play in developing the regional arts sector and that regional arts can contribute new ways to utilise the broadband network.
“Affordable high-speed broadband will provide a huge boost for many sectors - including health and education - but there is also enormous opportunity in the arts sector," Mr Crean said.
“The forum is the next step to making the arts and creative industries an important driver of change and opportunity in regional Australia - and of truly realising that - through the NBN - a creative nation is a productive nation”.
Broadcast live via an audio webcast by Feral Arts, an astonishing six hundred plus people tuned into the Forum and contributed online.
"It was fantastic to see the sector coming together in Parliament House and helping get the arts on the NBN agenda. But for us it was even more exciting to see the online participation with more than six hundred people from across Australia, New Zealand and the US connecting to the Forum webcast and commenting via Twitter”, said Sarah Moynihan and Norm Horton, Executive Directors from Feral Arts.
President of Regional Arts Australia, Julie Boyd said, “The National Arts Broadband Forum is a significant first step in what will be an ongoing discussion for the regional arts sector”.
“Regional Arts Australia will be publishing the outcomes of the Forum for further comment as well look to prioritise projects and initiatives informed by the potential of the digital space” she continued.
“Feral Arts will host the continuing discussion online and people can contribute their ideas and suggestions right now”.
“There have already been some great suggestions for priority projects exploring the potential for the arts and the broadband network to contribute to education, health, the environment, local government, employment, training, regional development and cultural institutions”.
Julie concluded, “We look forward seeing what can develop in the coming months and years and will certainly continue to push for a focus on the interaction between regional arts and the online space”.
You can contribute your ideas now via http://ps3beta.com/project/7715/contribute or view the webcast at http://ps3beta.com/events/webcast
Top of Page | Site Map | Privacy | Site Credits
© 2007 Regional Arts NSW. This page last modified
4 April, 2011
.
Site maintained by Elinor Heard
Regional Arts NSW · Pier 5, 15 Hickson Road, Millers Point NSW 2000 Australia
Tel 02 9270 2500 · Fax 02 9247 7829 · Email info@regionalartsnsw.com.au
A member of Regional Arts Australia
