Adelaide - February 2002

FOR ART'S SAKE - WHAT'S THE POINT OF COMMUNITY ARTS?

20 February 2002

As the Adelaide Festival draws to a close, a very significant feature of the whole festival will be a reflective event:

THE 'ART OF DISSENT' SYMPOSIUM

Masonic Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide, Friday 8 - Saturday 9 March 2002

At a time when everything of value in the arts world seems to have been to boiled down to business plans, marketing strategies, 'industry' development, and bottom lines, a group of leaders in the arts will conduct a public discussion about the human ­ and humane ­ values of the arts. What is the role of the arts as a dissenting voice in a democracy, as a purposeful and agenda-setting voice, as an unsettling as much as an entertaining energy source?

The symposium will be pose 'big picture' questions. 'Can the arts actually change anything?' 'What's the role of the arts in coming to grips with the challenges of globalisation?'. Speakers will include leading arts practitioners, administrators and thinkers. Anne Dunn will chair panel discussions, and facilitate group discussions amongst the participants.

On the Saturday, the symposium will also be exploring the role of flagship arts festivals. Speakers will involve controversial Peter Sellars and Sue Natrass who replaced him as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival 2002.

The Art of Dissent Adelaide Symposium on 8-9 March will begin a conversation which spans two cities and two festivals. A follow-up three day conference is to be held in Melbourne from 14 to 16 October 2002, linked to the Melbourne Festival.

For further details, visit www.ArtOfDissent.com, or contact Alison Dunn, AFA Marketing,
on 08 8216 4444, or email: adunn@adelaidefestival.net au.

Click here to send your comments to the conference organisers