Talk Cultural - Making & Talking About Art: Politics, Risk & Responsibility

Date: Wednesday 29th Aug 2007
Time: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Venue: City Library Seminar Room, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Speakers
Dr Kate MacNeill Robert Mangion Julie Edwards Kim Kruger Danielle Freakley

Moderator
Peter Mares Presenter ABC Radio National

Description
Deliberately controversial and politically charged art works, when presented to the public or funded from the public purse, are often cause for shock media responses but artists and funding bodies usually deal with the issues fairly easily. Council has a useful protocol for dealing with issues associated with controversial art works. Less easy to manage is the media criticism and public response to art works and cultural development projects that seek to effect the social outcomes for the disadvantaged, minority groups and the poor in society. Such projects seem to pose a more significant and subtle political threat than the deliberately controversial.

How clear are the boundaries and responsibilities for artists, arts bodies and community organisations that embrace both forms of risk taking? Are Council's protocols and policies sufficient to permit artistic freedom of expression? Are laws too conservative now-a-days? This event included a diverse panel discussion about the the future of the arts in Melbourne.

Speakers
Danielle Freakley is the Quote Generator. Her project involves speaking strictly in referenced quotation in everyday life. Whether she is buying groceries, going to the movies, eating at a restaurant with friends, or undertaking any of the countless activities one engages on a daily basis. Danielle will structure all of her conversations from popular culture and regurgitating it. A conversation with Freakley proves frustrating as the audience seeks authenticity beneath the layers of quotation, and frequently that frustration turns hostile.

Dr Kate MacNeill is a lawyer and currently the coordinator of Arts Management at University of Melbourne School of Communication and Culture. Kate has extensive research, teaching and training experience in the government, non-government and university sectors in the areas of law and the arts and communications. Kate's current research interests are the reception of art in the public sphere; censorship and notions of artistic merit and public art.

Robert Mangion is a visual artist and a coordinator of Kings Ari the artist run initiative at level 1/171 King Street. Robert has been an active contributor to Melbourne's independent visual arts scene for years.

Kim Kruger has a background in arts and event management, curating, film distribution, photography and broadcasting. She was the Indigenous Arts Officer for the City of Port Phillip for three years. Distribution Co-ordinator for the Australian Film Institute for three years and General Manager of Ilbijerri for another three years. Kim is currently working on an exhibition about Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicholls which will contextualise the memorial statue of the couple to be unveiled in December 2007.

Julie Edwards is the CEO of Jesuit Social Services. Their mission statement is to stand in solidarity with those in need, promoting a faith that does justice. Julie has 30 years experience engaging with marginalised people and families experiencing breakdown and trauma.

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