News
Jo Higgins
Published outcomes - National Gallery of ...
Published outcomes - National Gallery of Australia: Digital Young Writers Mentorship
Writings
Jo Higgins
ABC Arts: 'Air' at QAGOMA
ABC Arts: 'Air' at QAGOMA
Writings
Jo Higgins
ABC Arts: Megan Cope is building a living, ...
ABC Arts: Megan Cope is building a living, breathing artwork on Minjerribah
Writings, Events
Jo Higgins
Exhibition essay: Topographies of painting - ...
Exhibition essay: Topographies of painting - Gregory Hodge, Sullivan + Strumpf
Writings
Jo Higgins
ABC Arts: Richard Bell at documenta fifteen
ABC Arts: Richard Bell at documenta fifteen

Events

A New Approach: Enduring Foundations, Bold Ambitions

Last week I was invited by the Australian arts and culture think-tank A New Approach to join the panel of their latest webinar. It was an invitation to share my insights into young people and the arts and what arts and culture policy settings Australia needs for the 21st Century ahead of the launch of their latest Analysis Paper.

I am a huge fan of the research and advocacy they’ve undertaken since launching earlier this year and their Insight Report into the attitudes of young middle Australians towards the arts was especially galvanising. Essential reading for anyone doubting the extraordinary sensitivity and understanding that young people have about the role that the arts can play in their lives.

According to ANA: “Australians are increasingly reporting that arts and culture are a critical and valued part of their life and are looking for policy leadership that recognises this. We also know that Australia’s arts and culture sector is at a crossroads. We now have a unique opportunity to shape the change being driven by Covid-19 and use strategic investment to transform and embolden our cultural landscape to serve our contemporary public.”

This Public Webinar was a first step in asking: So, how do we do this?

I had the immense privilege to join Rupert Myer AO, ANA’s Director Kate Fielding, Professor John Daley AM and Cara Kirkwood to reflect on this question and the insights we took from their latest paper.

Clockwise from top left: Kate Fielding, CEO, A New Approach; Cara Kirkwood, Head of Indigenous Engagement & Strategy, National Gallery of Australia; Professor John Daley AM; me.

OTHER POSTS

Churchill Chat - Equity, Inclusion & the Impact of COVID-19 on the Arts

One of the many brilliant things to have emerged from the experience of my Churchill Fellowship has been my friendship with fellow Fellows Patricia Adjei and Morwenna Collett - experienced, passionate arts advocates and leaders in their own fields.

On 30 August we were invited to hold a “Churchill Chat“ by the NSW Churchill Fellows Association. Given we were all in the middle of Sydney’s second COVID lockdown it was held online. But also… given we were all in the middle of Sydney’s second COVID lockdown we took the opportunity to revisit our respective Fellowship learnings and reflect on some of the bigger conversations happening in the arts at the moment around equity, inclusion and the impact of COVID-19 on the sector and on the respective audiences and stakeholders our research focused on.

As always, I learnt a lot from the conversation and I’m excited it’s finally up online to share:

OTHER POSTS

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Art Collector: Pull Focus interview with Abdul Abdullah & Abdul-Rahman Abdullah

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I couldn’t say no to the opportunity to talk with Abdul Abdullah & Abdul-Rahman Abdullah for Art Collector’s Pull Focus series. These are two artists whose work I hugely admire and respect but it was their friendship and brotherly love - and their creative relationship - that was the biggest joy to learn more about. Their exhibition Peripheries is on at Moore Contemporary in Perth right now.

OTHER POSTS

I acknowledge the Gadigal and Bidjigal peoples of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the unceded land on which I live and work and I pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.