Good Work: Building a Stronger Ecosystem in the Arts

MA of Arts and Cultural Management, The University of Melbourne

The Arts and Cultural Management Program hosts four industry guests to discuss how we can build a stronger ecosystem in the arts.

University of Melbourne

<p>In January, Prime Minister Albanese and Arts Minister Burke formally launched Revive, the first National Cultural Policy in a decade. Revive frames the arts and cultural sector as being comprised of a diverse collection of artists and arts workers, arts and cultural institutions, not-for-profit and commercial organisations, online and physical spaces, and independent creative practices…all embedded within their communities.  In this way, the arts are an ecosystem, a place where individuals, organisations, and institutions are constantly interacting with one another and with their environments.   </p><p>The National Cultural Policy acknowledges that the arts are in a period of rebuilding.  This provides us all with the opportunity to contribute to making the sector more robust and more sustainable. But it also poses the question, what does it actually take to establish and sustain a thriving arts ecosystem? </p><p>Join the University of Melbourne’s Arts and Cultural Management Program for an Industry Forum examining the Australian arts ecosystem and the role we can play in reviving it. Featuring insights from four of Melbourne’s arts and cultural leaders, this conversation will explore the opportunities offered by a strong arts ecosystem—and the obstacles standing in our way. </p><p>Friday 31 March 2023, 4:00pm-5:30pm, in person and via Zoom. In person event followed by networking drinks on campus.</p><p><strong>This event is free, but bookings are essential.</strong></p><h2>S﻿peakers</h2><h3>Dr Liz Jones, AO </h3><p>Dr Liz Jones has been the Artistic Director of La Mama Theatre since 1976 and has overseen hundreds of theatrical productions.  She was awarded the Kenneth Myer Medallion for the Performing Arts (1995), the Sidney Myer Facilitator’s Award (2000), the Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), the Australia Council Award for Theatre (2018), and Live Performance Australia’s Sue Natrass Award (2019). </p><h3>Seb Chan</h3><p>Seb Chan is Director &amp; CEO at ACMI in Melbourne. Appointed to the role in August 2022, he was previously a key part of the team behind the organisation’s $40 million renewal project, underpinned by co-design methodology, which transformed ACMI into a multi-award winning, multiplatform museum. He designed and leads ACMI's CEO Digital Mentoring program, working with CEOs and directors across the Australian arts and cultural sector. </p><h3>Zii Nzira   </h3><p>Zii Nzira is the Interim Co-CEO of Multicultural Arts Victoria, where he leads and supports the organization's initiatives to promote cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion.  He is also the founder of ZIIMUSIC, a creative practice that allows him to explore his passions for spoken word poetry, hip hop, and instrumental jazz music, and a member of Black Music Alliance Australia and Creative Victoria’s Respectful and Mentally Healthy Workplaces Working Group.</p><h3>Dewi Cooke </h3><p>Dewi Cooke is the CEO of The Social Studio, a not-for-profit social enterprise providing education and work opportunities in fashion and the creative industries to people from refugee and new migrant backgrounds. Prior to joining The Social Studio she was a journalist with 15 years experience working across the arts, social affairs and podcasting, much of it spent at The Age in Melbourne. </p><h3>Dr Caitlin Vincent (moderator)</h3><p>Dr Caitlin Vincent is the Head of the Arts and Cultural Management program at the University of Melbourne where she researches cultural labour, digital performance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts. A former professional opera singer, she was the artistic director of The Figaro Project (opera company) from 2009 to 2015 and is an award-winning opera librettist.</p>

<h3>Venue Information:</h3><p>Forum Theatre is located on level 1 North Wing of the Arts West building at the University of Melbourne Parkville Campus. The pathway on the North East side of Arts West (Building 148) provides a continuous accessible path of travel to the cloister via the gardens. Once in the undercover cloister there are automated doors at both the North-West and South-East ends of the building. Alternatively, there is access off Medical Road. At this entrance there is a platform lift to ascend to ground level. There is also a ramp at the northern end of the Baillieu Library (Building 177) that connects to the Arts West Atrium. You can find a map of the building <a href="https://maps.unimelb.edu.au/parkville/building/148a/153" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p><p>Zoom link:</p><p>https://unimelb.zoom.us/j/82396543676?pwd=MlZuRzEwQ0x6dWtCMkl5Z2R2KzBLQT09</p><p>The post-forum drinks will be held upstairs at University House, located at the north end of Professors Walk. You can find a map of the building <a href="https://maps.unimelb.edu.au/parkville/building/112" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Due to venue availability, the drinks have stair access only.</p><h3></h3><h3>Covid-Safe Information:</h3><p>To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our community, this event will be run in keeping with the <a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/coronavirus/covidsafe-plans" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">University of Melbourne Covid-safe practices</a>.</p><p></p><p>Vaccination is part of a <a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/coronavirus/attending-campus#covidesafe" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">comprehensive public health response</a> at the University, and we strongly encourage all members of the University community to stay up to date with vaccinations. For further information regarding vaccination at the University, please visit our<a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/coronavirus/vaccination-at-unimelb" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> website</a>.</p><p></p><p>Please DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, including a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, or loss or change in sense of taste or smell – however mild, even if you have a negative rapid antigen test result.</p><p></p><p>While face masks are not currently required (except for household contacts / close contacts, who must wear one on campus), the University strongly encourages wearing of face masks indoors and where physical distancing isn’t possible.</p>