Regional Arts NSW

Crack minds crunch creativity|culture conundrums

"How are we going? Directions for the arts
in The Creative Age"

Free DVD now available! To order see below

DVD cover All over the world, the arts are making a case for their social importance and economic value in this new-post-industrial,information-driven,global-marketplace-age.

But does the evidence support the claims? And which policies and what infrastructure will support cultural development in this “Creative Age”?

On 4 August 2005 a group of significant Australian and international thinkers came together to talk about directions for the arts at the opening day of the Byron Bay Writers Festival.

This new DVD contains highlights of the day in a film made by award-winning documentary film makers Cathy Henkel and Jeff Canin, audio transcripts of the papers and discussions, and the live broadcast of ABC Radio National's 'Australia Talks Back' asking the question, "Does Australia need a cultural policy?".

Topics:

Cultural Policy for Cultural Development
The Contribution of the Arts to Creative Economies
The Value of the Arts in Community Wellbeing
Links Between the Arts, New Ideas and Innovation
Cultural Industry Development in the Rural, the Remote and the "Godforsaken Wilderness"

Speakers:

Professor David Throsby, Kate Oakley, Lisa Andersen, John C. Barsness, Pamille Berg, John Birmingham, Dr Paul Brown, Julian Burnside, Jill Eddington, Toss Gascoigne, Courtney Gibson, Cathy Kenkel, Victoria Keighery, Ralph Kerle, Ron Layne, Christopher Madden, Sandy McCutcheon, Deborah Mills, Martin Mulligan, Jeremy Sim, Sam Wagan Watson, Sam Watson and the forum participants.

Order the DVD

To order your copy of "How are we going? Directions for the arts in The Creative Age" simply send an email to admin@regionalartsnsw.com.au with 'DVD' in the subject line and your name and address in the message and we'll post one out to you.

Don't forget to include your address!

	Kate Oakley (UK) Keynote Session: Directions for the Arts in the' Creative Age' Pioneer in the study of the knowledge economy and creative industries public policy development, Author of Creative London and co-author of The Independents, Surfing the Long Wave and Creative Skills. [More] David Throsby Keynote Session: Directions for the Arts in the' Creative Age' Internationally known for 30 years of work in the economics of art and culture [More]
	Louise Adler The role for writers in this "Creative Age" CEO and Publisher, Melbourne University Publishing. [More] Lisa Andersen Cultural industry development in the rural, remote and 'godforsaken wilderness' Audience Development Specialist, Regional Arts NSW. [More]
	John C. Barsness (USA) Cultural industry development in the rural, remote and 'godforsaken wilderness' Executive Director, Montana Arts and member US President's Advisory Committee on the Arts. [More] Pamille Berg, AO Hon FRAIA Plenary Discussion: What should an Australian cultural policy look like? Award winning Public Art Consultant specialisting in major public art strategies and master plans. [More]
	John Birmingham Plenary Discussion: What should an Australian cultural policy look like? Author, He Died With A Felafel In His Hand, The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco, Weapons Of Choice and How To Be A Man. [More] Dr Paul Brown The value of the arts in community wellbeing, learning and social development Environmentalist and Playwright. Co-Author, Art and Wellbeing. [More]
	Julian Burnside How society “comes out” in the arts QC, Human Rights Advocate; Author; Chair of Fortyfive Downstairs; Chair, Chunky Move; Deputy Chair, Musica Viva Australia. [More] Toss Gascoigne The link between the arts, new ideas and innovation Executive Director of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS). [More]
	Helene George The link between the arts, new ideas and innovation Company Director, Creative Economy Pty Ltd. [More] Courtney Gibson Plenary Discussion: What should an Australian cultural policy look like? Head of Arts and Entertainment, ABC Television. [More]
	Cathy Henkel Cultural industry development in the rural, remote and 'godforsaken wilderness' Internationally acclaimed documentary film maker; Chair, Northern Rivers Screenworks; Board Member, Screen Producers Association of Australia. [More] Victoria Keighery The value of the arts in community wellbeing, learning and social development CEO Regional Arts NSW. Former Cultural Policy Officer, City of Sydney. [More]
	Ralph Kerle The link between the arts, new ideas and innovation CEO, Eventures; Australian Chapter Leader, American Creativity Association; Fellow, Center for Cultural Studies and Analysis (US). [More] Malcolm Knox "Pleasure & Pain": The best and worst arts experiences Award-winning novelist; Literary Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald. [More]
	Ron Layne Keynote Session: Directions for the Arts in the 'Creative Age' Manager, Audience and Market Development in the Australia Council's Community Partnerships and Market Development Division. [More] Christopher Madden Plenary Discussion: What should an Australian cultural policy look like? Research Analyst for the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) [More]
	Sandy McCutcheon Plenary Discussion: What should an Australian cultural policy look like? Novelist. Presenter, Australia Talks Back and Australia Talks Books, ABC Radio National. [More] Deborah Mills The value of the arts in community wellbeing, learning and social development Community and cultural development specialist; Author of Arts and Wellbeing. [More
	Martin Mulligan How society “comes out” in the arts Senior Research Fellow at the Globalism Institute at RMIT University, Melbourne. [More] Jeremy Sim (UK) Cultural industry development in the rural, remote and 'godforsaken wilderness' Development Manager, Association of Integrated Media- Highlands & Islands (aimhi), Scotland [More]
	Sam Wagan Watson How society “comes out” in the arts Winner of 2005 Book of the Year and the Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards for his book Smoke Encrypted Whispers. [More] Sam Watson How society “comes out” in the arts Writer, film maker, teacher and political activist from the Biri Gubba and Munnenjarl nations. [More]

Full speaker's biographies online [here].

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Thursday 4 August
8.30am	Coffee & Registration
9.30am	Welcome to Country and Welcome
9.55am	KEYNOTE SESSION Directions for the Arts in the 'Creative Age' Chair: Ron Layne The Contribution of the Arts to Creative Economies - Kate Oakley Cultural Policy for Cultural Development - Prof David Throsby
	Introduction of 'listeners' for the final session of the day.
11.25am	Morning tea
11.45am	MORNING PRESENTATIONS: CASE STUDIES & EVIDENCE The Call of the Wild Cultural industry development in the rural, remote and "godforsaken wilderness" Chair: Lisa Andersen Panellists: John Barsness, Cathy Henkel, Jeremy Sim or Great Expectations The value of the arts in community wellbeing Chair: Victoria Keighery Panellists: Dr Paul Brown, Dr Clive Hamilton, Deborah Mills
1.15pm	Lunch
2.15pm	AFTERNOON DISCUSSION PANELS: ARTS AND THE BIGGER PICTURE The God of Small Things The link between the arts, new ideas and innovation Chair and Panellist: Toss Gascoigne Panellists: Helene George, Ralph Kerle, Kate Oakley or Sense and Sensibility How society “comes out” in the arts Chair and Panellist: Sam Wagan Watson Panellists: Julian Burnside, Dr Martin Mulligan, Sam Watson
3.45pm	Afternoon tea
4.05pm	FINAL GROUP DISCUSSION (TO BE RECORDED) The Magic Pudding What should an Australian cultural policy look like? Participants: the Forum audience Pamille Berg, public art guru John Birmingham, author and journalist Courtney Gibson, Head of Arts & Entertainment, ABC Television Christopher Madden, International Federation of Arts and Cultural Agencies. Facilitator: Sandy McCutcheon, Presenter, Australia Talks Back, ABC Radio National
5.15pm	Sunset drinks
6.00pm - 7.00pm	Australia Talks Back - ABC Radio National broadcast live from the Forum. >> Back to top
Byron Bay Writers Festival Sessions
Friday 5 August
	There will be two public sessions at the Byron Bay Writers Festival. Entry with Writers Festival ticket:
11.30am	"Pleasure and Pain": the value of the arts - best and worst experiences.
2.45pm	The role for writers in this "Creative Age"

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Bibliography of related research

An annotated bibliography of related research was produced for the day. If you would like a copy of the bibliography please send us an email and request a copy.

Outcomes from last year's forum

"How are we going? Directions for the arts in The Creative Age" followed on from the 2004 forum, “What do we reckon? Measuring the cultural, economic and social impacts of the arts.” For more information about that forum, including a free CD recording and annotated bibliography of research prepared for that, click here

More information

Contact Lisa Andersen, Audience Development Specialist, Regional Arts NSW Tel 02 9270 2508 Email lisa@regionalartsnsw.com.au.

More information about the Byron Bay Writers Festival is available here.

"How are we going?" was developed by Regional Arts NSW in collaboration with the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre and with the assistance of the Australia Council, the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body, as part of the 'Leading Voices' program of its Audience and Market Development Division.