Since our establishment in 2000, CDN has initiated or contributed to a number of public events. Designed to stimulate debate and learning across sectors, our past presentations include:
2016 – 2018: UCLG ASPAC (United Cities and Local Governments, Asia Pacific sector), Committee on Culture Workshops and Events, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Jeju, Republic of Korea, Workshops. In 2015, UCLG ASPAC (United Cities and Local Governments, Asia Pacific sector), established a Committee on Culture inviting CDN to be an advisor to that committee. Since then, CDN has worked with UCLG ASPAC, the Jeju Cifal and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to present cultural planning and evaluation workshops to its members from across the Asia Pacific. CDN has presented the Cultural Development Planning Framework, the schema of measurable cultural outcomes and more recently introduced the Takso outcomes planning platform to the participating Asia Pacific members of UCLG ASPAC. Local, regional and national governments participating from the following nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam. The following workshops were presented in Jeju, Republic of Korea: 2018, Jeju, Republic of Korea – Cultural Development for Sustainable Island Tourism in the Asia-Pacific Region, September 2017 – Policy Workshop: Cultural Tourism for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region, May 2017 – Cultural Tourism or Sustainable Urban Development in the Asia-Pacific Region, September 2016 – Cultural Tourism Development: Public Space and Cultural Landscape Management in the Asia-Pacific Region, June 2016 – Capacity Building on Cultural Tourism Development in Asia and the Pacific Region
2017: Culture and Development Planning. Presentation and field trip, Urban and Resilience Program, RMIT University co-ordinated by UN Global Compact – Cities Programme, RMIT and AECOM for the first time, organisations across the state – including the Victorian Government, City West Water and Resilient Melbourne – came together to deliver the Bangkok Metropolitan Government (BMA) Urban and Resilience Program for 22 Bangkok city leaders. CDN Executive Officer John Smithies presented on CDN’s Cultural Development Planning Framework and to gather with CDN Research Officer Holly Schauble lead a field trip for delegates visiting a Victorian council to demonstrate how cultural development is applied to local and sustainable community development. The two-week BMA Urban and Resilience Program focused on empowering Bangkok to tackle liveability through customised seminars, workshops and site visits. The program explored solutions within the five components of liveability identified in Bangkok’s 20-year development plan: healthcare, infrastructure, culture and environment, education, stability as well as an extra module on creative economic education. Experts from across RMIT’s urban and planning fields shared their research and expertise on placemaking, spatial mapping, metro planning, and culture and development, as well as leading hands-on capacity development workshops to inspire Bangkok’s leaders on ways to tackle the liveability challenges facing them.
2017 WALGA Local Government Convention and Trade Exhibition. CDN Executive Officer, John Smithies presented the Schema of Measurable Cultural Outcomes to a room of 175 Councillors from councils across Western Australia. On the second day a workshop on Cultural Development Planning was delivered to council officers. Under the theme Members First, the 2017 WA Local Government Convention bought together several hundred senior Local Government Council representatives from across the State. The program reflected on how to better understand and respond to the needs of Local Government by focusing on improving Member engagement and service.
2017: Evaluating Cultural Impacts. Panel Discussion UCLG Culture Summit Jeju Island, South Korea. CDN Executive Officer John Smithies took part in this panel discussion looking at how in several parts of the world, researchers, activists and cities have designed evaluation frameworks that aim to assess and visualise the role of culture in sustainable development, including its social, economic, environmental and cultural impacts. This session will involve the presentation of a range of experiences in this field, with a view to enabling mutual learning and identifying areas for potential collaboration. Panel members included: John SMITHIES, Executive Officer, Cultural Development Network (CDN), Beatriz GARCIA, Head of Research, Institute of Cultural Capital, UoL, Kiley ARROYO, Executive Director, Cultural Strategies Council, USA, Francisco d’ALMEIDA, Co-Director and General Delegate, Culture et Développement, KIM Seungsu, Mayor, Jeonju, JUNG Eunhye, Artist, Jeju, Randy DURBAND, Chief Executive Officer, Global Sustainable Tourism Council,
Mr. Claus-Peter ECHTER, Council Member, Europa Nostra, Germany; Secretary General ICOMOS’ Scientific Committee on Historic Towns and Village. Read more about the summit here.
2017: Applying Measurable Outcomes in Evaluation: Practical support towards effective and efficient evaluation. Invited presentation at the Arts Evaluation Forum hosted by the Ian Potter Foundation. The Foundation hosted an Arts Forum focusing on current best practices in evaluation for this sector. Representatives from 17 organisations attended including nine current and former Arts grantees. Participants discussed a range of topics from the need for better arts evaluation capacity to evaluation frameworks to the best length for a survey. The main focus of the Forum was considering what arts outcomes can look like: how to measure experiences and how to assign a value to the changes that occur. CDN’s presentation on What are outcomes? How can they be measured? is available here.
2016: Measuring the Outcome of Cultural Activity Across Public Policy Domains: A framework for policy and practice. Guest Lecture. CDN Research Program manager Kim Dunphy was invited to present this lecture at the Research Unit in Public Cultures Seminar series held at University of Melbourne. View presentation
2016: Measuring Quality in the Arts. Virtual Study Group Discussant, Cultural Research Network Australia-UK-USA. CDN hosted this virtual study group to explore a new research method that seeks to help artists, arts organizations and funders to develop a shared approach to evaluating the reception of their work. The session comprised a short presentation from an independent researcher who has worked with the Culture Counts Quality Metrics system in the UK: Catherine Bunting. This was followed by a panel discussion with Catherine and Dr. Abigail Gilmore (University of Manchester, UK), featuring contributions from around the world, with Alan Brown (WolfBrown: USA) and Kim Dunphy (University of Melbourne/Cultural Development Network: Australia). We were able to feed questions and observations from attendees into the discussion. The VSG was hosted by James Doeser, CRN Committee Member. Watch now
2016: Councils, Culture and Communities. Panel Discussion at Artland Dubbo 2016. CDN Director John Smithies and Sally Watterson from Local Government NSW both took part in this discussion looking at the growing requirement for cultural development planning for all councils investing in cultural infrastructure and programs across the arts, heritage and libraries. A barrier to best practice planning has been the lack of measurable cultural outcomes for cultural development activities. This session will present the outcome measures, case studies of their use and some of the emerging tools to assist local government managers plan according to outcomes.
2016: Where’s the Evidence? New approaches to measuring the arts. Presentation to Artland Dubbo 2016. The small to medium sector has, over the last decade, relinquished control of project evaluation to academia. This has led to an absence of creative ownership of these important processes. Reasserting creative control of evaluation will invigorate our collective capacity to promote the contribution we make to regeneration in a community and regional context. CDN director John Smithies presented along with Georgia Moore, Culture Counts Australia and Lindy Allen, Living Proof Media.
2016: Culture in Development: Can culture be developed; if so, whose culture and to what end. Global Frictions Seminar Series, Centre for Global Research RMIT University. CDN, through its association with RMIT University facilitated this seminar which explores the challenging role of culture in development, and its significance in contributing to desired futures.
2016: The Case for Arts and Culture for Personal Wellbeing. Regional Arts Australia Winter Webinar Series. Hosted by Ben Eltham and featuring presenters: Dr Christina Davies, Research Fellow at the School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, John Smithies, CDN Director and Alex Kelly a producer and filmmaker committed to social justice. CDN’s Director John Smithies explored the topic of measurable cultural outcomes in depth in this webinar, along with other interesting panellists, addresses the topic: The case for arts and culture for personal wellbeing. How can such benefits be weighed and measured, and is getting the measure in fact leading us back to where we came from – a quantifiable product as opposed to an intangible, yet no less valuable, benefit?
2016: Renewal in the Regions: Re-imagining, Re-thinking, Re-generating Regional Places. Regional Arts Australia Winter Webinar Series. Hosted by Ben Eltham and featuring speakers Dr Kim Dunphy, Research Program Manager CDN, Marcus Westbury, broadcaster, writer, media maker and festival director and Justin O’Connor, Professor of Communications and Cultural Economy at Monash University and visiting chair at Shanghai Jiaotong University. This online event considered how culture is being promoted as a driver, a method and an endpoint of regional development. It is at the core of many current models for regeneration, designed to ignite a myriad of outcomes. But how realistic is this? Is it naive to talk of culture-led recovery in communities suffering high-level unemployment and infrastructure issues? What are some of the innovative models being used for culture-led regeneration across regional Australia? What are the opportunities for transformation in regional Australia? What are the obstacles? How can renewal be long-term, sustainable? How can it be measured? What might we have to change in our understanding of both culture and economy, to really move forwards?
2016: Articulating the Cultural Value of Cultural Engagement. Presentation to The Local Government Association of NSW Arts and Culture Forum. CDN’s Director John Smithies presented on ‘Articulating the cultural value of cultural engagement: making the intangible tangible‘. In his presentation he addressed how the task of measuring the value of engagement in cultural activity continues to challenge policy makers, funders and practitioners. Researchers all over the world have been developing frameworks to enable this measurement, with varying degrees of success and take up. Many of these approaches confound the issue of measuring cultural value of cultural activity, by using proxy measures of social and economic value, leaving the fundamental task of cultural value assessment unresolved. This presentation took on that challenge, in providing both a schema for measuring cultural outcomes of cultural activity and a series of measures derived from theory to enable that assessment.
2015: Cultural Development Planning in Local Government in Victoria. Melbourne professional development forum. This forum built on last year’s series on cultural development planning that involved 75 staff and elected representatives from 50 Victorian councils. It offered extended material from last year’s series and a refresher of concepts presented in the 2014 series. This event built on previous work done to assist the development of shared processes and standards in the cultural development sector across the whole of Victoria. It offered local government cultural development workers skill development in cultural planning, and the chance to share expertise and experience. Participants learnt: how to consult, research, develop, implement and evaluate their cultural development plans and to develop skills in use of national, state and local data to inform their planning. New resources developed by CDN since the series last year were provided to participants. These included a step by step guide to cultural planning; a case example of a cultural development plan from a Victorian council; and a fully developed framework for evaluation and dynamic relationships for project management. The format included presentations, group discussion, case studies and information about resources. Forum facilitators were CDN Director John Smithies and CDN Research Program Manager Dr Kim Dunphy. Program report
2015: A Schema of Outcomes for Cultural Engagement. Presentation to the Australasian Evaluation Society Conference. CDN Research Program Manager, Dr Kim Dunphy contributed to the recent Australasian Evaluation Society Conference in Melbourne, with Dr Kim Dunphy making a poster presentation on CDN’s draft schema of outcomes for cultural engagement. This schema intends to be offered as an evaluation framework suitable for organisations, including local government and some arts agencies, that have a community change or development agenda in their work. Poster Presentation.
2015: Outcomes of Urban Placemaking Projects: A holistic assessment. Melbourne, presentation at the Regional Studies Association Inaugural Conference. Kim Dunphy, CDN Research Program Manager and Principal Research Fellow, Global Cities Research Institute at RMIT University, presented research conducted by Yuji Weisgard, intern at CDN and Roskilde University, Denmark. This research explores the intersection between cultural and urban development. Drawing on concepts of place and place-making, by approaching cultural initiatives as places and a planning process as a place-making process, the report demonstrates how the two fields of cultural and urban development intersect. The research from this presentation invites us to consider how proper assessment of cultural initiatives could benefit planning processes. Included are two case studies from Melbourne and Copenhagen, where an assessment framework devised by CDN has been used to evaluate cultural initiatives within several value domains. Conference presentation
2014: Cultural Development Planning Forum Series. Across Victoria. CDN, in partnership with the Arts and Culture Committee of the Municipal Association of Victoria and host councils, hosted a series of three forums on cultural planning between April and July in central Melbourne (Melbourne City Council) and four regional locations: Camperdown (Corangamite Shire Council); Kerang (Gannawarra Shire Council); Seymour (Mitchell Shire Council) and Morwell (Latrobe City Council) in 2014. Event program. Event Report. This document was provided to forum participants in 2014 and 2015 as the basis for the Framework for Cultural Development Planning being created. Forum Wrap Up
2014: Vital Signs Public Forum and Consultation: Cultural indicators for Australia: local and national approaches. The Vital Signs public forum organized by Arts Victoria and the Cultural Development Network in March 2014 provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share information about the collection and use of cultural data. This formed part of national consultations on the Vital Signs paper on national cultural indicators. Attendance was from a wide range of sector representatives, from local, to state and federal government; arts practitioners, arts organisations, consultants and researchers was very pleasing, as was the quality of discussion and engagement with the issue of cultural indicators. Speakers:Andrew Middleton, M, NCCRS, ABS – ABS’ practices of data collection, Judy Morton, Arts Victoria – About Vital Signs: Draft national cultural indicators, John Smithies, Cultural Development Network – Local government data collection, and the National Local Government Cultural Forum, Kim Dunphy, Cultural Development Network – forum attendees’ data collection and usage practices, Vital Signs – Event report and summary , Vital Signs: Cultural Indicators for Australia: document for consultation Details of resources about cultural data can be found on the complementary Resource Sheet.
2014: Approaches to Planning and Evaluation for Local Cultural Development. Workshop City of Port Adelaide. A one day workshop for local government and other cultural development professionals, presented by CDN in collaboration with Country Arts SA, City of Port Adelaide. CDN Research Program Manager presented this workshop designed for cultural development professionals to assist with effective planning and evaluation of their activities. Participants were introduced to the concept of evidence-based approaches to planning, and frameworks that facilitate this, specifically program logic and theory of change.
2014: Culture in the Community: Indicators of arts, culture and heritage in Australia. Webinar – The Australian Community Indicators Network, Australia. This webinar discussed the importance arts, culture and heritage in the creation of vibrant communities, and available indicators/data sources to measure their impact and influence. Presenters: Dr. Kim Dunphy, Research Program Manager, CDN; Lisa Conolly, the Australian Bureau of Statistics; and Leigh Tabrett, former Director of Arts Queensland.
2014: Victoria Local Government Multicultural Issues Network. Ballarat Forum. This event was presented by the Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues Network with the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Cultural Development Network and Multicultural Arts Victoria, and hosted by City of Ballarat and supported by City of Melbourne, City of Greater Dandenong, City of Monash and Brimbank City Council. Acclaimed author Arnold Zable opened this year’s VLGMIN Forum by exploring the role of story and the arts in nurturing an inclusive, democratic society; based on local communities attuned to their diversity and the multitude of stories contained within them. The program included a series of insightful breakout sessions led by researchers and local government and arts organisation professionals; looking into the how the arts can contribute to the development and delivery of policies which address Australian multicultural realities. Key themes included; building partnerships between local government and culturally diverse communities, ensuring equitable outcomes for people from culturally diverse communities, determining community needs and getting effective outcomes and using arts to address racism in our communities. Event report.
2013: Approaches to Planning and Evaluation for Local Cultural Development. Albury NSW, Workshop presented by Murray Arts and CDN. CDN’s Research Program Manager Kim Dunphy presented a one-day workshop for cultural development professionals to assist with effective planning and evaluation of their activities. Participants were introduced to the concept of evidence-based approaches to planning and frameworks that facilitate this, specifically program logic and theory of change. These were related to case studies were drawn from participants‚ real world experience. The second half of the day concentrated on evaluation: its purpose, benefits and challenges, and the range of approaches. The workshop introduced a mix of theory, relevant models and hands-on experience to equip participants to apply these techniques in their own workplaces. The event was attended by a mix of local government arts, community development and library staff across Victoria and southern NSW. Feedback was very positive with many comments like this: Thank you for assisting me during the Planning and Evaluation Workshop. You were a brilliant facilitator, and I am very convinced that the Program Logic is the way for me to go in terms of planning and evaluation. Thank you for the inspiration… (Coordinator Cultural Diversity, Victorian regional council) Workshop Powerpoint and Notes.
2013: Cultural Planning Process in Local Government in Victoria. Presentation to ACELG Local Government Researchers froum, Adelaide. CDN’s Manager, Kim Dunphy and Visiting Research Linda Tavelli were pleased to contribute to research expertise about cultural development in local government at the Researchers’ Forum presented by the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government. The paper presented by Kim Dunphy, drew from research undertaken by Linda Tavelli who worked on a research placement with CDN in late 2012. The paper presented results of a state-wide survey about cultural planning processes in local government across Victoria: how cultural plans are devised; what principles inform their development; what processes are used to measure outcomes and how cultural development is aligned with other areas of local government’s endeavour. By developing a picture of the current state of professional activity, this research offers the potential for stronger shared practice, improved collaboration and increasingly shared standards and resources between councils.
2013: The Cultural Sustainability Stream of People and the Planet: Transforming the Future Global Conference. Melbourne presentations. CDN partnered with conference organisers, The Global Cities Research Institute (RMIT University) and the UN Global Compact Cities Programme, to convene the stream on cultural sustainability. A fascinating range of presentations from speakers from countries including China, South Africa, New Zealand, UK, and across Australia, addressed the complex relationship between culture and sustainability. Panel themes included: Culture and society nexus; Education, culture and sustainability; Cultural heritage and sustainability; The relationship of the arts to cultural sustainability; Culture, sustainability and cities. Blanche Higgins from RMIT led a discussion about the “culturing” of tertiary education, which she argued would lead to best practice. She advocated for the recognition of the importance of culture in the way we learn, what we learn and how learning is applied. New CEO of the Footscray Community Arts Centre, Jade Lillie, and her colleague Steph Vajda from Ferment Collaborate in Brisbane discussed the relationship they observed between community cultural development practice and sustainable communities. Adriana Partal, Research Assistant with CDN, reported on her literature review on cultural impact assessment; and her findings that this process is infrequently used, most often connected to heritage and indigenous heritage management. Three speakers discussed issues related to cultural heritage and sustainability: Kevin Murray, from RMIT University, on cooperative models for global trade in traditional crafts; Kit Andrews from RMIT University on urban skills in transformation in Myanmar and consultant Samantha Fabry on issues faced by European walled cities. Queensland researcher Shanene Ditton presented her work with Gold Coast community members who were advocating for their desired future by making an active and co-ordinated contribution to their city’s cultural plan. Presenters: Adriana Partal, Research Assistant, Cultural Development Network, Blanch Higgins, RMIT University, Jade Lillie, CEO, Footscray Community Arts Centre Steph Vajda, Ferment Collaborate, Kevin Murray, Kit Andrew, Samantha Fabry, RMIT University, Shanene Ditton, Researcher, Gold Coast
2012: Making Culture Count: Rethinking measures of cultural vitality, wellbeing and citizenship. International Conference presented by CDN and the Centre for Cultural Partnerships, Victorian Collage of the Arts, University of Melbourne. This event explored questions such as: How do we measure our activities in a cultural context? How do cultural indicators alongside economic, social and environmental measures support sustainable development, wellbeing, heritage and diversity? What role do cultural indicators play in globalisation and distinctiveness? Looking at new trends in cultural measurement practice the conference sought to challenge existing ways of thinking and explore the potential of cultural indicators on contemporary governance and public policy. Participants from around the world engaged in a critical dialogue on various approaches to monitoring, evaluating, planning, advocating, predicting, and simply understanding cultural change. You can find information about the conference speakers and their presentations at the conference website.
2012: Practitioners’ Voices, Artists in Community Settings. Melbourne public forum and workshops. This event was a day of investigation and dialogue across art forms. The keynote address was made by Rimini Protokoll, leaders of the theatre movement Reality Trend, who have an extensive history in producing award winning theatre works with communities across the globe. Workshops were delivered by leading artist practitioners: Dave Kelman, Jude Anderson, Görkem Acaroğlu and Ian Pidd exploring topics: Reflective practice. Interrogating and understanding our practice at a deeper level, What makes it a profession? What makes it art? Probing process and aesthetics. What do you mean access? Are the arts really accessible to all community groups? When it all goes pear shaped! Stories of when projects don’t go according to plan. And what is learnt. Video excerpts of the day: including presentation by Rimini Protokoll.
2011: Culture a New Way of Think for Local Government. Melbourne International conference. CDN acted as secretariat and hosted this conference in partnership with UCLG ASPAC (United Cities and Local Government Asia Pacific) which considered how the inclusion of culture with social, environment and economic policies strengthen local governance. In November 2010, UCLG, the international peak body of local governments declared that culture was the ‘fourth pillar’ of sustainable development, identifying that its contribution as a domain of policy with social, economic and environmental domains strengthens local communities. This international conference discussed the potential for the declaration to change the way culture is valued and supported by local government, not only in Australia but for local governments in the Asia Pacific region. The conference included diverse perspectives on cultural policy from across the Asia-Pacific. Issues discussed included: Can positive change be expected as a result of this policy statement? How can it assist councils to achieve best outcomes for their communities? What are the different ways ‘culture’ is interpreted and how does this influence local government policies in relation to the arts? Keynote speaker was Eduard Miralles, cultural relations advisor at the Barcelona Provincial Council and chair of the Interarts Foundation. Speakers: Cr Bill McArthur, President, Municipal Association of Victoria, Dr Fauzi Bowo, UCLG-ASPAC President, Governor of Jakarta, Indonesia, Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor, Mayor, Central Goldfields Shire, Jon Hawkes, cultural policy analyst, on the sequel to The Fourth Pillar of Sustainability, Paul James, United Nations Global Compact: Cities Program, RMIT University, Melbourne, Mr Syed Muhamad Asghar Shah Gillan, President, Local Councils Association of the Punjab (LCAP) Pakistan, Dr Jatin V. Modi, President, All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), India, Mr Lee, Hak-Jin, Deputy Mayor of Gunsan City, North Jeolla Province, South Korea, Mr Sukesti Martono, Deputy Governor of Jakarta for Cultural And Tourism Affairs, Felicity-Ann Lewis, President Local Government Association of SA & Mayor, City of Marion. Event report. Speaker presentations.
2011: Art, Local Government and Climate Change, Arts Talks. Melbourne forum. This event, presented by CDN and the City of Melbourne explored ways that local councils are using the arts to address issues of environmental sustainability especially climate change.Councillor Cathy Oke from the City of Melbourne opened the forum followed by five speakers: Dr. Martin Mulligan, Senior Research Fellow, Global Studies, Social Science & Planning, RMIT University – Presentation, Angharad Wynne-Jones, Curator/Director – Presentation, Lloyd Godman, Ecological Artist, Amanda Owen, Cultural Liveability Officer and Project Manager of Green Expectations, Latrobe City – Presentation, and Andrea Ebsworth, Cultural Planner, Arts and Culture, Mornington Peninsula Shire – Presentation. Martin Mulligan argued that local government authorities needed to think of climate change as an emerging condition rather than a future problem and that we needed to focus on cultural adaptation as much as mitigation. Angharad Wynne-Jones spoke about her association with Tipping Point and the various projects she has been involved with that focus on climate change and sustainability including the City of Melbourne’s Home Art Climate Commissions 2011-12. Amanda Owen explained the unique sponsorship programs which the Latrobe City Council has initiated with energy companies in the Latrobe Valley in order to create cultural and arts projects. Andrea Ebsworth outlined the various community projects she has initiated through the Mornington Peninsula Shire with limited resources, and the outcomes. Finally, Lloyd Godman gave the audience insight into his unique ecological arts projects and described how they were integral to the issues of climate change and sustainability. Following the presentations there was the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and meet the speakers.
2011: Home Lands, Constructing home and identity with young people from refugee backgrounds through media and technology. Arts Talk. Melbourne Forum presented by CDN, the City of Melbourne and supported by Latrobe University Refugee Research Centre, the Centre for Multicultural Youth and APC.AU. This forum addressed issues arising from young people’s use of technology in construction of identity and home in a new country. It asked the question, could re-settlement of young people from refugee backgrounds be more successful if identification and communication with home communities is maintained? And, how could technology assist with this? Speakers: Prof. Sandy Gifford, La Trobe University Refugee Research Centre (listen to audio), Dr. Raelene Wilding, La Trobe University Refugee Research Centre (listen to audio , Dave Nguyen, Artist, Home Lands project (listen to audio), Jen Hughes, Digital Artist and Documentary Maker, Friends of Suai, East Timor – More about Jen’s work: article From Rocks to Social Networks, Shakthi Sivanathan, CuriousWorks, Sydney (listen to audio)– More links from CuriousWorks: CuriousWorks website Videos: Urban Stories 201 | Mamu: A Director’s Vision. For more information on the Home Lands project https://homelandstv.wordpress.com/
2010: International Perspectives: Arts Residencies in the Asian Century. Melbourne public forum. Asialink Arts residency program presented with the City of Melbourne and Asialink. This forum presented the work of three artists’ Asialink residencies and provided information about opportunities for artistic collaborations with organisations and artists in Asia. Speakers: Allyson Hose (Literature): writer, editor and researcher who has worked extensively in book and web publishing and in community organisations spoke about her residency in Phnom Penh with host organisation the Nou Hach Literary Association, a Cambodian NGO that promoted Cambodian literature. Rod Cooper (Performing Arts): Melbourne-based sound artist, artist, instrument builder, recording artist and performer with a background in fine art, furniture design and arts education. Rod discussed his residency with host organisations Principle of South and Performance Klub based in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. Thea Mai Baumann (Arts Management): curator, producer, and media artist. In 2007, Baumann’s residency was in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with artist-led initiative A Little Blah Blah, where she curated, directed, and produced The Last Vestige – a floating junk boat art experience and intervention on the Mekong River, and a series of satellite screenings about Australian contemporary video art in Saigon nightclubs.
2010: After Sorry, What Next? Local Government connecting with Aboriginal communities. Melbourne conference. Presented by CASPN (Community and Social Planners Network), with the Cultural Development Network, VLGA (Victorian Local Governance Association), Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Reconciliation Victoria and the City of Darebin at Northcote Town Hall. The conference was well attended by more than 100; including local government staff, Councillors and decision makers, Aboriginal agencies and communities working with local government, community development workers and social service staff. Extra conference events included a special screening of the film Our Generation and opportunities for discussion with film makers, Sinem and Damien, who travelled from interstate to attend, and the Koori Night Market, an initiative originally seeded by the City of Darebin.
2010: Getting is Right -Community consent and the arts. Melbourne forum. Presented by CDN and the City of Melbourne’s Arts and Participation Program, in collaboration with The Torch and VicHealth. This event featured presentations from arts organisations who are developing their practice around informed consent in their work with communities and individuals. Formal presentations were followed by facilitated group discussions on topics including legal advice, more thorough unpacking of community consent, moral and copyright considerations for arts workers, accessibility and strategic action. Speakers: John Smithies and Pia Smith, Cultural Development Network for VicHealth Informed Consent and the Arts: Literature review and guidelines for community-based arts projects. Rebecca McLean, documentary film maker from Sharp Film Productions. Adam Rozsa, Arts Development Officer, Arts Access Victoria, Raw Law: accessible legal information for artists with a disability. Jemma Mead, Merri Community Health Service, How Y-GLAM Performing Arts Project has addressed issues relating to informed consent and copyright, with same sex attracted and transgender young people. Mark Camilleri, psychologist / community educator, Family Planning Victoria, Film project, Not So Straight, involving same sex attracted young people.
2010: Indigenous Arts Programs – Models for engagement in local government. Melbourne forum. Presented by the Cultural Development Network with the City of Melbourne’s Arts Participation Program. Local government has a key role in supporting the development of Indigenous arts across Victoria. This forum discussed how the City of Melbourne has supported Indigenous arts, primarily through the establishment of an Indigenous arts program more than ten years ago. The City of Ballarat discussed ways that their Indigenous arts program could be revitalised, including development of a stronger partnership with the Indigenous arts community in Ballarat. Discussion continued about the potential for other councils to support Indigenous arts in their communities. Panel: Chair, Richard Frankland, Indigenous singer-songwriter, author and filmmaker, Kylie Belling, Indigenous actor and representative from the City of Melbourne’s Indigenous Arts Advisory panel, Christine Ward, Ballarat artist, Sahn Cramer, Arts and Cultural Development Coordinator, City of Ballarat, Jason Eades, CEO, Koorie Heritage Trust. Event report.
2009: Cultural Development in Local Government. Shire of Yarra Ranges. Presentation CDN Research Program Manager Kim Dunphy made this presentation to the Yarra Ranges Arts Network. View handout and resource list here.
2009: Supporting Clients to Enjoy Participating in the Arts. Conference CDN Research Program Manager Kim Dunphy made this presentation to the ASSID Conference for Disability Support Workers. View handout and resource list here.
2009: Developing and Revitalising Rural and Remote Communities Through Arts and Creativity: A review of literature from Australia. Conference presentation. CDN Research Program Manager Kim Dunphy made this presentation to the Arts for Health Conference. Read the presentation here.
2009: Encouraging creativity and creative school – Community Partnerships. Presentation. CDN Director John Smithies presented on artists and community partnerships at the Catholic Education Office. You can view resource list used in the event here.
2009: Regenerating Community: Arts, Community and Governance. National Conference, RMIT University Melbourne. This event explored how global issues are being addressed locally through collaborations between artists, communities and local governments. CDN’s Research Program Manager Kim Dunphy presented her chapter: How can the impact of cultural development work in local government be measured? Towards more effective planning and evaluation strategies, you can read the chapter here and for more information about the event, visit the conference website
2009: Meet, Meld and Merge II – Arts Bringing Communities together. Yea forum, This event explored the way communities and individuals have used the arts as a recovery tool in relation to catastrophic events in particular bushfires. CDN’s Kim Dunphy presented at the forum and you can read her presentation along with a selection of other presentations from the event via the following links. Forum report by Lisa Rudd, Berry St, Yea, Arts and creativity in rural revitalisation, Kim Dunphy, CDN, Kinglake Ranges Culture & Environment Centre Project, presented by Daryl Taylor
2008: Artists’ Talk, The International Perspective. This event featured artists and artsworkers who had recently travelled overseas to develop their skills and understanding of arts practice in diverse communities. Speakers: Kirsty Baird who spent four months in the UK and Cambodia in 2007. In the UK she visited a number of organisations and projects working with communities using film/video and new media. In Cambodia she worked with the NGO Epic Arts on puppetry and film projects with deaf and disabled young people. Kirsty discussed some of the insights into the nature of community based arts, both in the ‘developed’ and in the ‘developing’ world, that this trip afforded her. Rosalie Hastwell has been Manager of the Arts and Culture Program at North Richmond Community Health Centre since 2001 and Project Development Co-ordinator with the Community Cultural Development Unit, VCA since 2007. Rosalie discussed her Asialink residency in India in 2006 and 2007 that led to a community engagement program with Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts Research. Raelene Marshall discussed her recent work at the visit to the EcoMuseo in Cortemilia in northern Italy. The EcoMuseo focuses on the preservation of the cultural landscape (dry stone wall and grapevine terraces) and is a story of one woman’s achievements to create a community of interest where one did not previously exist, involving artists at every step. Anne Riggs and Jyoti Mukherjee (also known as Alex Pinder) discussed their recent visit to India where they ran visual and performing arts workshops for socially disadvantaged children, and professional development workshops for their teachers and community leaders, across the whole country. Download their paper ‘Art Across India‘.
2008: Networking the Diaspora – Communications between dispersed communities. Melbourne forum. This half day forum looked at the possibilities of modern technologies to facilitate, develop and maintain communication between dispersed communities. Panellists discussed the rights of communities to communicate with each other, new policy developments, the possibilities of new technologies and building cultural continuity across diasporas. Panellists: David Vincent, Youth Facilitator with the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), and Human Rights Youth, Ambassador with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Dr Raelene Wilding, Lecturer in Sociology, La Trobe University, Rachel Bongiorno, Youth and Women’s officer, National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC), Andrew Lowenthal, media and technology activist, Kirsty Baird, Project Coordinator, CDN’s Home Lands project. Event report
2008: Homelessness and Cultural Democracy – the rights of homeless individuals and families to participate in the cultural life of the community. Melbourne forum. The rights of homeless individuals and families to participate in the cultural life of the community was the focus for discussion at this forum. Taking a broad definition of homelessness, the event brought together a range of stakeholders, including arts and community workers, artists, local government, and people who have experienced homelessness to discuss ways in which social inclusion through cultural participation can impact on the lives of homeless individuals and families. Speakers considered the barriers that exist and the solutions that need to be expanded or developed for the future, including rights to access and broadening of access, and mainstream opportunities for marginalized art and artists. Speakers: Deb Tsorbaris, CEO at the Council to Homeless Persons, the peak Victorian body for organisations and individuals with an interest or stake in homelessness, Nanette Mitchell, Senior Social Planner, Housing and Homelessness at the City of Melbourne, Kiera McDonald, Manager of St Vincent de Paul’s Ozanam Community Centre, Jimmy, DJ on 3CR’s Roominations program, Dale, former lead singer Bipolar Bears and panellist on 3CR’s Roominations program and Rebecca Lister, Jesuit Social Services. Event report.
2008: Connecting Schools and Communities – Exploring the use of schools and community facilities for creative community outcomes. One day conferences held in three Victorian regions – Colac, Wodonga and Melbourne. How are school and community facilities contributing to creative and connected local communities, lifelong learning and successful local partnerships? These events featured presentations about model projects, (local, national and international initiatives), that have resulted in better engaged communities, more effective partnerships, more creative community activity and improved local cultural development. Keynote speaker was Lisa Fitzhugh, founder and Executive Director, Artscorps, USA, a non-profit youth development program that partners with schools and community organizations to bring free after school arts classes to low-income young people in Seattle USA. Since its 2000 inception, Arts Corps has grown from an enrolment of 400 students at 10 partner sites in 2000 to 2,700 students in 139 quarterly classes at 40 partner facilities in 2008. Arts Corps has been deemed a US national leader in excellent arts programming by Harvard University’s Project Zero, a graduate research program on arts education and creativity and the National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning. You can read the keynote presentation: Providing creative arts programs for young people through successful partnerships with schools, sporting and community organizations as well as the conference report and CDN’s Kim Dunphy’s article about the conference in the Curriculum Leadership Journal. You can find more information about the conferences and the individual speakers and presentations here.
2008: Communities, Accessibility and the Arts. Ballarat and Morwell Conferences. Responding to and embracing difference and diversity in arts and cultural contexts. These events sought to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to be involved in creative arts activities, by inspiring and challenging participants about possibilities for their own context. Delegates from local government, disability support organisations, artists and artsworkers and educators, gathered for a full day of discussion, debate and workshops. Inspiring model projects, diverse speakers and a range of workshop options offered participants a range of experiences, to ensure that they left inspired and encouraged with useful new contacts and ideas. Keynote speaker Ross Barber, Executive Director of Arts Access Queensland shared his experiences and successes, inspiring attendees with his speech ‘Creative Pathways: Opening the Door to More Inclusive Arts’. The achievements of Arts Access Queensland both as an organisation and in the broader community offered lessons and ideas for Victorian artist, support workers and organisations. Participants described Ross as ‘inspiring!’, ‘excellent’ and ‘wise on tap’. Event report
2008: Permissible Art. Melbourne forum and walking tour. Presented by CDN with the City of Melbourne, this event brought together artists, residents and city managers to discuss the production of graffiti, its regulation by local government and its place in urban culture. Panellists included artist Ghost patrol, gallery director Andy McDonald, Professor Alison Young – University of Melbourne and Cr. David Wilson, City of Melbourne. The walking tour was attended by a large and varied crowd who leant about the artworks that had been adorning Union Lane in the centre of Melbourne since the previous December. As phase two of the City of Melbourne’s Graffiti Mentoring Project, Union land was painted by more than 80 young artists and mentors, offering young people a blank canvas, quality materials and the opportunity to learn from established artists. The walking tour offered an opportunity to talk with program coordinator Amanda King about the birth and evolution of the project and meet one of the young artists.
2008: The Bigger Picture: How Cultural Development Fits into an International Perspective. Mt Alexander Shire, Castlemaine, Presentation. CDN Manager Kim Dunpny was invited by Mt Alexander Shire to address a meeting of Castlemaine’s Creative Community Network, a diverse group of local artists, artsworkers and staff from local government and non-government organisations. The topic was ‘Agenda 21 for Culture,’ the important international initiative led by United Cities and Local Government, the international peak body for local government. Cities and local governments all over the world are becoming signitories to this Agenda, and thereby enshrining their commitment to human rights, cultural diversity, sustainability, participatory democracy and creating conditions for peace. The Agenda 21 process has raised the interest of international organisations, national governments and civil society all over the world. You can read Kim’s presentation here and the Powerpoint presentation here.
2008: Social Action Theatre with David Diamond, What role does social action theatre play in making change in the lives of participants? Melbourne, Forum. Presented by CDN and Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service, this event was an exploration of Theatre for Living methods and their application in communities, and the learning of communities who engage in critical dialogue through theatre. Featured speaker was David Diamond, the award winning Director of Headlines Theatre, Vancouver, Canada and a panel of local practitioners; theatre worker Xris Reardon of Taking Up Space project, research and policy advisor, Dr Kathy Landvogt from the Good Sheperd Youth and Family Service, family therapist and researcher, John Bamberg from the Centre for Adolescent Health and family worker, Jacqui Sundbery from the Reconnect Program at Youth Substance Abuse Service. Event report
2007: Expanding Cultures: Arts and Local Government. Melbourne, Conference. Hosted by the City of Stonnington and supported by the Cities of Yarra, Melbourne, Moreland, Maribrynong, Moonee Valley, Boroondara and Port Phillip together with CDN. This conference focussed on the contribution of arts and cultural development to the strength and wellbeing of local communities. Presenters: Jordi Pascual, United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), Jude Bloomfield, Independent researcher, The Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Associate Minister for Local Government, New Zealand, Penny Hutchinson, Arts Victoria, Colleen Marion, Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Association, Dr Martin Mulligan, RMIT University’s Globalism Institute, Glenyys Romanes, Community Relationships – Department of Infrastructure and Professor John Wiseman, University of Melbourne.
2007: Rising Above It All. Vertical communities and cultures. Melbourne forum. This event featured ‘Crowd Theory’ – Southbank project, an activity of City of Melbourne’s Community Cultural Development Team and Footscray Community Arts Centre. The photographic project ‘Crowd Theory – Southbank’ was used as a catalyst for discussion about the experience of communities in new high rise developments. Some questions considered included: Does vertical living addresses the budget and the amenity first and the culture and the community second? Compared to sub-urban living is the community and culture different? How do we know? How important is the spatial cohesion and the environment to the culture, community and well-being of the residents? Key players in vertical living, developers, architects, body corporate, residents, service providers and urban planners, discussed how vertical living can rise above the ground-dwelling residential experience. The forum was hosted by freelance journalist and artist Sian Prior and the\ panel included: artist, Simon Terrill, producer of ‘Crowd Theory,’ Jerril Rechter, CEO, Footscray Community Arts Centre; residents and staff, Joe Bagnaro, President of Southbank Residents Group, Judith Dunster and Dorothy LeClaire, from MICM body corporate managers and built environment experts, Ed Horton – Stable Properties, Developer, Sydney, and Rob Moore from City Design, City of Melbourne. An audience of eighty, including local residents, planners from a variety of disciplines including urban, cultural, community, architects and artists contributed to a lively discussion and exchange.
2007: Cultural Planning and Cultural Indicators, Melbourne, Workshop. This theoretical and practical workshop was designed for those who plan for and measure cultural activity, especially local and stage government arts and culture workers and social, community and urban planners. Presenters were Professor Mike Salvaris, Institute of Community Engagement and Policy Alternatives, Victoria University and Hayden Raysmith, Adjunct Profressor, Faculty of Built Environment, RMIT University. Forum report, Salvaris, M. (2007) Cultural wellbeing indicators in programs and policy makers: report on a workshop for cultural development workers in government and the community.
2006: The International Context: Artsworkers who have recently travelled overseas to study the role of arts in communities. Artist’s Talk, Melbourne. This event featured presentations by three artsworkers who had recently travelled overseas to study the role of arts in communities, Liss Gabb, community artist with the Arts and Culture Program at North Richmond Community Health Centre, Ana Vrantsis, Arts and Cultural Development Officer with Brimbank City Council and Marcela Nievas, Australian Argentinian CCD practitioner. Event Report and Ana Vrantsis, Events and community participation: an informal study of local and overseas events.
2006: How can research enrich arts practices in local communities? Melbourne, Forum. This half day forum was presented by CDN, RMIT’s Globalism Institute and VicHealth. It focussed on lessons learnt about relationships between research and practice in the broad field of community arts and the challenges involved in making this relationship really work. This event was attended by a group of 40 community-based arts, artists and artsworkers, local government workers and those from health, welfare and community organisations interested in the relationships between research and their work. Martin Mulligan. (2006) Stepping out of the shadows of neglect: towards an understanding of socially applied community art in Australia. International Journal of Arts and society Vol , 2006 Event report.
2006: Popular Culture, Art and Community Cultural Development, Artist Talk. This event was presented by Footscray Community Arts Centre in partnership with CDN and CCD practitioner Tom Cho who led a lively discussion with an audience comprising artists, education professionals, academics, local government youth and arts workers. Topics considered included: What attention should artists pay to popular icons, idols, styles and fashions? Should CCD practice challenge popular culture and therefore exist outside of it? Can engagement with popular culture be a way into involving communities in the creative? and Could that engagement lead to more subversive and broad based arts practice? Event report , Tom Cho’s reflection on the topic: Inserting myself into the story: Artistic explorations of popular culture… and identity.
2006: Conversations at the Watchouse, Melbourne, Forum. This series of informal conversations were presented as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival by teh Artful Dodgers Studio, Jesuit Social Services and supported by CDN and the City of Yarra. Topics included: “Alternate Voices – A conversation about the complexities associated with facilitating community arts programs in prison and community justice settings,” Speaking Honestly – The professional artist in the CCD Studio – how does one process affect the other?” and “Other Voices -What we make – our art in a broader context. Young people involved in CCD projects talk about their own art.”
2006: Agenda 21 for Culture Meeting and Interaccio Conference, Barcelona. CDN Manager Kim Dunphy, Chair Sue Beal and Resident Cultural Analyst Jon Hawkes attended this first meeting of the Working Group on Culture, United Cities and Local Government. Invited keynote speaker Jon Hawkes presented at the ‘Interaccio’ conference on cultural policy to 600 European delegate all interested in the relationship of culture and local government. Event report.
2006: Meet, Meld, Merge – Art Bringing people together. Yea, Victoria, Forum presented by Berry St Victoria with CDN. This event was directed toward artists, artsworkers and those interested in exploring the possibilities for arts development in their local communities. Event report; Kim Dunphy “Consider the arts: engaging leaders and communities in new ways”; Tess Noonan, Arts Access and Strathbogie Shire’s ‘Spin’ Project “Planning Successful Project”
2006: Engaging Communities Through the Arts. Horsham, Forum. This event explored the opportunities of utilising the arts as a medium to engage communities. It was attended by a diverse audience of local artists and arts workers, as well as workers and managers from sectors including health, environment, education and arts. The event was facilitated by Ian Pidd and speakers included CDN’s Kim Dunphy (Consider the arts: engaging leaders and communities in new ways), Bin Dixon-Ward from Regional arts Victoria, Sue Ball from VicHealth (Partnership resource for Community Arts), and regional arts development officers Marion Matthews (Funding possibilities for arts in community projects), Liz Andrews and Verity Higgins (The Making of Makin Pitchas, a Koori Youth video project). Event report.
2006: Community Voice, Geelong, Conference presented in partnership with Corridor One 4, arts and culture action group of North Geelong and presented as part of the conference program. “Cups in Corridors’ a roundtable discussion about community arts, From the Tea Cup: reflections on community arts’ a presentation about the role of arts in community and ‘Cups in Corridors’ an interactive arts project incorporating storytelling and tea ceremonies from around the world. This conference aimed to strengthen an active model of community and government and services partnerships in ‘Place Planning’ for the north Geelong region. It drew together many of the projects, community groups and individuals to develop directives for government, services and business for the future of these communities. Learn more: “Case Study: Cups in Corridors, Increasing community participation in arts and cultural development to impact positively on health.” Dale Newman, Community Development worker, Barwon Health. “From the Teacup: what contribution can the arts make to our communities.” Kim Dunphy, Manager CDN. Event Photos
2006: The Role of Arts in Regeneration. Melbourne, Forum presented by CDN in partnership of City of Melbourne’s Community Cultural Development Program. Featuring international speaker Min Jay Kang, Associate Professor of Architecture from Tamkang University, Taiwan. Kang spoke about his inspiring work with artists and squatter residents of Taipei’s Treasure Hill. His research and practice focuses on dialectics in cultural landscapes, creative sustainability, identity politics and ‘artivism,’ representation of landscape in arts and literature, urban design, and landscape narratives. Read Professor Kang’s Altered Space: squatting and legitimizing Treasure Hill and view event photos.
2006: Working Outside the Box – The role of cultural facilities in community strengthening, South Morang, VIC, Conference presented by CDN in partnership with Arts Victoria, Regional Arts Victoria, Museums Australia (Victoria), Victorian Association of performing Arts Centres, Hume City Council, Shire of Yarra Ranges in conjunction with Showcasing Victoria a RAV and VAPAC initiative. This event explored how cultural facilities (including galleries, museums and performing arts centres) can work with communities for facilitate the expression of local identity. Questions discussed included: how facilities can develop programming that contributes to community building, how building design can advance or detract from community engagement, challenging the balance between artistic and community expectations and celebrating local assets. The program featured key note speakers: Paul Reeves, Deputy Head of Education at the Royal Opera House, London, John Kirkman, CEO of Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and Lewers Bequest with Anne Loxley from Penrith Regional Gallery in western Sydney, case studies from diverse regional and metropolitan facilities, Professor Mike Salvaris on cultural indicators, a Hypothetical facilitated by Professor Peter Sheldrake. For more information you can read the event report as well as this selection of papers from the speakers: Louise Tegart & Ariane Ramsay ‘Opening Doors to Young people: research to gauge their needs and interests’, Paul Reeve “What’s that go to do with me?” The benefits and challenges of partnering a world class cultural organisation with schools and community groups’, Merryn Tinkler “Cube 37: engaging young people in outer metropolitan areas”, Paul Streefkerk “Making facilities and management more responsive to community needs”, Carina Clement “Taking the Community along for the ride: the evloution of Albury’s cultural precinct, Mike Salvaris The role of cultural facilities in community strengthening and“Community indicators for culture and the arts”
2006: The Art and Craft of research in communities, Melbourne, Seminar. This half day seminar was directed toward researchers working in community based arts programs. It addressed issues about process and application of research through formal presentations and discussion. Topics included, how can our work: lead to better outcomes for audiences, participants and communities? engage practitioners, arts organisations and local government?, impact funding priorities, and influence policy decisions? Speakers and presentations were: Kim Dunphy, CDN Manager ‘The full circle- research, practice and art – making it come together, Dr Deborah Warr, Research fellow Centre for health and society, University of Melbourne, ‘True Stories: Research as Praxis’, Sue Hartigan, Geelong Arts Alliance and Back to Back Theatre Company, ‘Outcomes of a research project on communities and organisations in north Geelong.’ and Professor Paul James, Director of Globalism Institute ‘The big picture – tying together policy and practice.’ You can read the event report here.
2006: Community Dance, Working with young people in a community context, Horsham, Forum. Presented by CDN in partnership with Ausdance, Regional Arts Victoria and ‘The art is’ festival. This Forum included discussion about the current practice of community dance around the world, hands on experience with a community dance artist, and informal discussion about issues and challenges that face dance artists working with young people in a community context. You can read CDN Manager, Kim Dunphy’s paper Community Development through Dance, the forum report and look at event photos.
2006: Opening the Cocoon, Arts Culture and Community on the Mornington Peninsula, Forum. This Forum aimed to enhance the capacity of community artists and community groups to positively influence the health, hope and happiness of the Mornington Peninsula. It’s key objectives were to: develop mutual relationships, connections and networks, encourage skill development, promote ways of engaging with the community through community cultural development and raise awareness of community cultural development practice. You can see some event photos here.
2006: The Arts and Community in the 21st Century, Melbourne, Forum. CDN in partnership with the City of Melbourne’s Community Cultural Development Program, collaborated on two events featuring Bill Cleveland, (Director of the Centre for the Study of Art and Community in the USA) a workshop ‘Common sense survival skills for working in community and institutional settings: a workshop for artists, artsworkers and arts organisations’ and a public forum on ‘The Arts and Community in the 21st Century: what is best practice?’ Cleveland’s presentation was followed by panel reflection and group discussions about best practice in community-based arts programs in Australia and overseas. Discussion outcomes contributed to CDN’s work in the development of a Charter for Lead Practice in Community Cultural Development. Panellists were: Maud Clark, Founder and director of Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company, Maria-Lourdes Doronila, Philipina-Australian playwrite, community activist and Asialink fellow, Lisa Arnott, Scottish community artist and activist working in Melbourne on the Interlock project, Carey Lai, artsworker and Australia Council Fellow and Kim Kruger, audience access project manager for Ilbijerri Theatre Company. You can read the event report and Cleveland’s ‘Mapping the terrain: Arts-based Community Development.’
2006: Dance in the Community: A current perspective, Melbourne. Artist talk and workshop with Petra Kuppers, community dance artists and disability advocate. Dr Kuppers was visiting Australia during her stay at the University of Otago where she was the first Caroline Plummer Fellow in Community Dance. Kuppers is also the Associate Professor of Performance Studies, Bryant University, USA and Artistic Director of the Olimpias Performance Research Projects, through which she runs community arts and disability culture workshops. Kuppers is author of Disability and Contemporary Performance: Bodies on the Edge (2003), Bodily Fantasies: Medical Visions/Medical Performances (2005) and Community Performance and introduction (2007). You can read the event report, a summary of discussion about community dance in response to Australia Council’s scoping study by Kath Papas and Workshop participant’s response: Dancing the personal and political from Ann-Maree Ellis.
2005: The International Context, Community arts based initiatives in Europe, USA and the UK, Forum, Melbourne. This informal event featured four speakers who has recently travelled overseas to develop their skills and understanding of arts practice in diverse communities. The speakers were Eulea Kiraly, theatre director and Community Cultural Development Officer at Tuggeranong Arts Centre in the ACT, Jane Crawley, Team Leader of the City of Melbourne’s Cultural Development Program, Ruth Whittingham, Artistic Program Manager, Arts Access Victoria, and Angela Bailey, photographic artist. You can read the event report here and Eulea Kiraly’s refelctions here.
2005: Just Culture: Arts and Social Change Forum, Melbourne. This symposium jointly hosted by CDN and Social Planners Network was part of the ‘Just Communities Conference’. More than 90 people, including local government arts and culture workers, community and social planners and managers, councillors, community artists, arts workers and academics participated in active discussion chaired by Deborah Mills (author of Art of Wellbeing, 2004). Discussion focused towards exploring ideas to improve policy and practice and also identifying barriers currently preventing a deeper engagement with the arts in social transformation. You can read full forum report here and the report on small group discussions here. You can also read two pieces from Deborah Mills’ Can art contribute to social change and The necessity of art: claiming our right to be human.
2005: Former CDN Director, Judy Spokes presents on the Small Towns, Big Picture Project at the Cultural Future of Small Cities Conference held in Kamloops, Canada. Read about the project here.
2005: Former CDN Director, Judy Spokes participates as an advisory board member, co-host and leader of Taking Circles at the First International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability in Honolulu.
2005: Building Communities through Engagement, Art and Urban Design, Melbourne. Presented by VicHealth and CDN. The speakers were Jim Sinatra, Emeritus Professor Landscape Architecture, RMIT University and Phin Murphy Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours), RMIT from Sinatra Murphy Pty. Ltd.
2005: Roundtable discussions on Arts, Local Government & Community Strengthening, Melbourne. Over the month of August CDN ran a series of small roundtable discussions to address issues affecting artists and communities involved in arts-led community development in Victoria. Topics of focus included community cultural development, councils and cultural vitality, community engagement in the arts.
2005: Theatre for Living: Why Should Communities Speak? Forum with David Diamond, Melbourne. Presented in partnership with Borderlands Coop and Xris Reardon’s ‘Taking Up Space Project.’ Internationally renowned theatre practitioner David Diamond addressed more than 100 people including artists, community, disability and health workers, arts workers, academics and researchers, students, teachers and therapists. Diamond spoke about his work at Headlines theatre, Canada, to help living communities to tell their stories. You can read the forum report here.
2005: Not Just For Arts Sake, St Kilda. Presented in partnership with Port Phillip Community Group, Borderlands Co-operative and Port Phillip Council. This event was a very hands-on arts experience with lots of workshops, showings, exhibitions and opportunities to participate in the making of art. More than 120 artists, arts workers, community and health workers attended. These sessions informed our policy advocacy work and discussions from them fed into the symposium we hosted at the national “Just Communities Conference.”
2005 What role does social action theatre play in making change in the lives of participants. Presented in conjunction with Good Shepherd Youth and Family service this event was an exploration of Theatre For Living methods and their application on communities, and the learnings of communities who engage in critical dialogue through theatre.
2004: The Fourth Pillar of Sustainability Conference, Melbourne. Hosted by CDN in partnership with Common Ground and RMIT’s Globalism Institute. This conference canvassed ideas around the four pillar model of public planning; the idea of considering cultural factors along with economic, environmental and social in our planning for sustainability. CDN’s Judy Spokes and Jon Hawkes both presented. The 120 page report contains all papers given at the conference as well as workshops and panel session summaries. You can download the report here.
July 2003: Beyond Cultural Policy Conference, Melbourne Presented by the City of Port Phillip and The Cultural Development Network. This symposium investigated cultural vitality as an indicator of community and organisational sustainability and well-being. It also considered avenues available to those wishing to incorporate cultural considerations within the policy frameworks of their organisations. CDN’s Jon Hawkes was among those speaking, presenting on Governance and Engagement.
2004: The Art of Engagement: Arts, Culture and Social Capital. Forum at Nauru House, Melbourne, presented in partnership with the Department for Victorian Communities. A forum for state government policy makers and service deliverers.
2004: Growing Resilience: Sowing Seeds of Hope and Empowerment. Forum at the Community and Social Planners Conference August 2004
at the Hume Global Learning Centre in Broadmeadows, with the VLGA and the City of Hume
2004: Just Talkin’ an informal gathering of northern artsworkers with Murray Arts
2003: Imagining New Partnerships – Artists, Schools and Communities. Forum Melbourne Town Hall, with the City of Melbourne’s Conversations Program
2003: Community, Arts and Wellbeing Think Tank. Forum Melbourne Town Hall with the Community Cultural Development Board
2003: Grass Roots: Communities, Collections and Councils. Melbourne forum with Museums Australia (Victoria) and the Public Galleries Association of Victoria at the Ian Potter Museum of Art
Building Communities: Arts, Culture and Public Housing
May 2003, Melbourne Town Hall, with the North Richmond Community Health Centre and Department of Human Services Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (check out: Public Art Public Housing)
2003: Arts, Culture and Public Planning. Melbourne forum with VicHealth’s Arts and Environment Program
2002: Community Cultural Development Through Dance. Melbourne forum with Ausdance at the North Melbourne Town Hall Arts House
2002: Councils Cultures Communities. Melbourne forum with the Victorian Local Government Association
2001: Cultural Action for Community Health. Forum with the Centre for Popular Education (UTS)
2001: Creativity and the Future of our Cities. Forum, North Melbourne Town Hall Arts House – Our first forum brought together urban planning gurus Charles Landry (UK) and Jan Gehl (Denmark) and a panel of Victorian public artists and council staff in a free public forum that attracted 250 people.