SEMINAR: 'Whose Art Is It Anyway?' & 'Cultural Policy in Australia and the UK' - John Knell

CIF and CCI are delighted to invite you to a seminar with John Knell, a UK leading consultant on the changing face of work and organisations on Thursday, 16 September 2010, to present the following 2 seminars

Whose Art Is It Anyway?
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Venue: Queensland University of Technology
Z2 Block, Level 4, The Glasshouse
Creative Industries Precinct
Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
RSVP: infocci@qut.edu.au by
Thursday, 9 September

Abstract:
In 2006 I was commissioned by Arts Council England to write a provocation, entitled ‘Whose Art Is It Anyway’, on how key emerging drivers, such as the digital revolution, personalisation, and co-production – were likely to reshape the arts and their relationship with audiences. In the report I explored a number of key questions: How can the arts best engage the public? How far does the language of personalisation, choice, and co-production aid our understanding of these challenges? What would it mean for arts organisations if they were to become much more responsive to their public?

In this session, I will revisit these questions, to see where we’ve reached some five years on. How adequate is the current response of the arts sector in the UK and Australia to these challenges and what might happen next?

Cultural Policy in Australia and the UK
Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Venue: Queensland University of Technology
Z2 Block, Level 2, Room 226, The Hall
Creative Industries Precinct
Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
RSVP: infocci@qut.edu.au by
Thursday, 9 September

Abstract:
The cultural policy debate in Australia is heating up nicely against the backdrop of the Australian election. Ben Eltham and Marcus Westbury’s recent ‘Cultural Policy in Australia’ piece (http://morethanluck.cpd.org.au) and Christopher Madden’s response, ‘In defence of the Australia Council’ (www.artshub.com.au), rehearse some interesting arguments about where any reforming zeal might best to directed.

In this session I will discuss some of the emerging developments and tensions in contemporary cultural policy – few of which are new or novel. How are these playing out in the UK and how are they likely to impact on the arts ecology in Australia? Does anyone agree on the end game? What are the outcomes we should be demanding from the arts and how might this shift the cases made for arts funding?

Bio:
John is one of the UK’s leading thinkers on the changing face of work and organisations, and has consulted to a wide range of corporate and public sector clients. John’s recent client work has focused on strategic reviews, thought leadership and high-level public policy work particularly in the cultural sphere. He was previously Director of Research Advocacy at The Work Foundation, where he played a key role in transforming the organisation into an authority on work issues. He has authored numerous reports on work, organisational change and public policy including ‘The Art of Dying’ and ‘Whose Art Is It Anyway.’ His latest book, ‘The 80 Minute MBA’ (with Richard Reeves), is published by Headline.