Regional Arts NSW

Opening of the forum Over 120 academics, arts and policy workers and other specialists gathered at the Byron Bay Writers Festival at the Byron Bay Beach Resort on 29 July 2004 for a day of discussion and networking to explore ways of measuring the cultural, economic and social impacts of arts activities in Australia.

Mandy Nolan's comic relief at lunch time The day provided a unique opportunity to showcase current research and thinking on the topic and to participate in discussion on an important industry issue.

It also laid the groundwork for the development of an ongoing network of researchers and thinkers in this area.

What has happened since the forum?

Report & CD

A free audio 3 CD set of the day's highlights.

*** SORRY - SOLD OUT ***

but DVD of 2005 forum available here

Online forum

A discussion with speakers and participants at the forum online at fuel4arts over ten days from 20 September to 4 October 2004.

Facilitated by Regional Arts NSW Audience Development Specialist, Lisa Andersen, the email based forum was the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between and Australian and international researchers and arts workers. Featuring forum speakers:

Jan Muir
Anne Bamford
Christopher Madden
plus
Carol Scott
Other speakers from the day

Transcript available
A transcript of postings from the forum is available on the fuel4arts website here. The file is in PDF and it is 260KB.

Audit of research

You can download a copy of an audit of current research on arts impacts which was prepared by UTS Masters student, Joanna Winchester for the forum here:

Download Arts Impacts Research in PDF (370K)
Download Arts Impacts Research in Word (240K)

Work will continue to add to this document, which will eventually be made into permanent online database as part of the ongoing development of the networking and research work begun with the forum.

Speakers on the day

	Professor David Throsby Economic impacts - speaker Internationally known for 30 years of work in the economics of art and culture. [More] Rhoda Roberts Cultural impacts - speaker Broadcaster, actor, producer, director, writer and member of the Bundjalung nation. [More]
	Scott Rankin Social impacts - speaker Writer & Director, National Artistic Director and Founder of the social change arts organisation, BIG hART. [More] Bev Abbot Economic impacts - panel Strategic Services Manager, Creative New Zealand, whose roles include strategic projects, business planning, external reporting and evaluation.
	Dr Anne Bamford Social impacts panel Arts educator recognised for her important research in emerging literacies and visual communication. [More] Christine Burton Cultural impacts panel Cultural planner whose research includes projects with Comedia, the British Library, the National Museum of Australia, Parramatta City Council and the Scottish Arts Council. [More]
	Professor Stuart Cunningham Economic impacts panel Author of some of Australia's most influential works in media, communication and cultural studies and Director of Creative Industries Research and Applications Centre at QUT. [More] Ros Derrett Economic impacts panel Manager at the Centre for Regional Tourism Research & a leading researcher on the impacts of festivals and events. [More]
	Nick Earls Forum Discussion/Debate - Chair Author of nine books, including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses and Perfect Skin. His new novel, The Thompson Gunner, is about to be released. Clare Keating Social impacts panel Clare's work includes projects with practitioners and Arts Victoria on community arts and community wellbeing and VicHealth on the health impacts of arts. [More]
	Christopher Madden Social impacts panel Research Analyst for the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) [More] Tony Moore Cultural impacts panel Commissioning Editor of Pluto Press, TV program maker and cultural & political commentator. [More]
	Jan Muir Economic impacts panel General Manager of Research, Statistics & Technology at the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts. [More] Alan Pigott Cultural impacts panel Director of Arts Development, NSW Ministry for the Arts and former General Manager of Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art. [More]
	Michael Richards Social impacts panel - chair Researcher, writer and academic who has been conducting a major ARC funded research project under the auspices of the CIRAC at QUT. [More] Dr Mandy Thomas Forum Discussion/Debate Executive Director for the Humanities & Creative Arts, Australian Research Council (ARC). [More]
	Roger Wilkins Economic impacts - Chair Director-General of The Cabinet Office and Director-General of the Ministry for the Arts. [More]

Additional online forum guest

Carol Scott
Carol Scott is the President of Museums Australia, the national professional association representing museums and galleries. She is also the Manager of Evaluation and Audience Research at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. She has worked for the Australia Council and the national arts industry training body, Create. Her work and research are concerned with the value of culture and its social impact within a context of change.

>> Back to 'What happens now?'

Running Order 29 July

9.00am	Coffee & Registration Venue: Lakehouse Conference Room, Byron Bay Beach Resort
9.30am	Introduction and Welcome to Country
9.40am	Economic impacts Professor David Throsby
10.10am	Panel of experts and participant discussion
11.10am	Morning tea
11.30am	Social impacts Scott Rankin
12.00	Panel of experts and participant discussion
12.55pm	Screening of VicHealth video
1.05pm	Lunch
1.50pm	Comedy performance by Mandy Nolan "Art for Art's Sake"
2.00pm	Cultural impacts Rhoda Roberts
2.30pm	Panel of experts and participant discussion
3.20pm	Afternoon tea
3.40pm	Forum Discussion / Debate - "Is it worth it? How the arts measure up culturally, economically and socially"
5.15pm	Drinks at the Byron Bay Beach Resort Restauranted hosted by Regional Arts NSW
6:30pm	Ends

Public Forums

In addition to the forum there were two sessions sponsored by Regional Arts NSW and the Australia Council at the Byron Bay Writers Festival on the value of the arts in Australia on 30 July 2004. They were:

Is it worth it? Art in Australia

Panellists discussed how the arts measure up culturally, economically and socially.
Scott Rankin, David Throsby, Tony Moore and Rhoda Roberts.
Chaired by Lisa Andersen

Why Can't Writers Make a Dollar?

What are the implications of the Throsby report for writers?
Scott Rankin, David Throsby and Jill Jones.
Chaired by Nikki Fuda

More information

Contact Lisa Andersen, Audience Development Specialist, Regional Arts NSW Tel 02 9247 8577 Email lisa@regionalartsnsw.com.au. To be updated of upcoming events subscribe to the Regional Arts NSW e-Bulletin (a free service - you can unsubscribe at any time) here.

More information about the Byron Bay Writers Festival is available at www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au.

"What do we reckon? Measuring the cultural, economic & social impacts of arts activities in Australia" has been developed by Regional Arts NSW in collaboration with the Audience & Market Development and Policy Communications Research divisions of the Australia Council for the Arts and the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre.

This event is supported by Arts Northern Rivers, LitLINK and the Queensland Arts Council