philanthropyOz Blog

Who Profits from the Arts: Taking the Measure of Australian Culture

Who Profits fom the Arts:Taking the Measure of Australian Culture is a Platform Paper from Currency House by Kay Ferres and David Adair.

Australia’s four great arts centres are major cultural destinations in our capital cities. In Brisbane, the authors write, Expo 88 signalled a transformation from a country town to a vibrant, liveable city that draws immigration from the southern states. Local government has emerged as a major supporter of culture and the arts, enthusiastically adopting ‘creativity’ as a cipher for economic development. But what does this say to a wider community about the benefits of cultural participation? Performing arts centres are at the forefront of new developments, actively seeking to create public value. The old lines between producer and consumer are being broken down and new lines of active interaction are being built via the internet. These centres have come a long way, say Ferres and Adair, but the demands on our new cultural leadership need a fresh and subtle understanding of the nature of demand in this new world of connectivity.

Kay Ferres and David Adair are researchers in Sustaining Culture, a government-funded research collaboration between Griffith University and the Sydney Opera House, the Adelaide Festival Centre, the Arts Centre, Melbourne, and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Kay Ferres and David Adair speak at The Sydney Institute

Tuesday 23 October 5.30 for 6pm
The Sydney Institute
Go to http://www.currencyhouse.org.au/ for more info.