98% of us engage with the arts and 45% of us create art, yet the majority of Australian visual artists and arts workers remain deeply concerned by income security, cuts to arts education, program cancellations and reduced sales due to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic. All Australians would benefit immensely from ambitious visual arts and culture experiences made possible through strategic policy and funding investment.

In the electorate of Moreton, Queensland, POPSART's Bec Mac facilitates a conversation with artist Gordon Hookey (Waanyi), Pat Hoffie AM artist and Professor Emeritus, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Penelope Benton, Executive Director National Association for the Visual Arts, Paul Osuch Founder and CEO of Anywhere Festival and Carmel Haugh, Program Director Chrysalis Projects about NAVA's call for federal election candidates to take bold action for arts and culture by committing to a whole-of-government National Cultural Plan to effectively invest for impact in the medium and long-term needs of the arts sector.

We also hear from Claire Garton candidate for the Greens, Chelsea Follett from the UAP and Graham Perrett candidate for Labor.

Presented in partnership with Fund the Arts and The Paint Factory.

Wednesday 11 May 2022
The Paint Factory, Yeronga Qld

Breaking the pattern of policy neglect for the arts

For this episode of NAVA: in conversation, Melbourne-based artist and producer Audrey Hulm, (aka ADHOC) speak with Honor Eastly - founder and director of the very successful 'Starving Artist Podcast'  Her podcast, released in April 2017, is an excellent series exploring the relationship between and challenges of art and business for emerging and established artists.

The conversation covers a range of challenges facing Honor in her work as an artist, producer and marketing director of her own creative practice, including social media, mental health and self care, collaboration and identity, and provides insight into establishing and dealing with success in creative endeavours.

Episode 4: Honor Eastly & the Starving Artist Podcast

For this episode, curator Blair French is in conversation with artists Zanny Begg & Alex Gawronski at the MCA for The National exhibition. This episode is the first in a series unpacking and discussing the exhibition with featured curators and artists.

The National 2017 exhibition is on display at MCA, AGNSW & Carriageworks, and is the first of three instalments over the next 6 years presenting new Australian art.

Episode 5: The National 2017, Museum of Contemporary Art

For this episode we speak with Rabbaya Nasser & Hurman Ul Ain, two artists from Pakistan who are in Sydney presenting a live performance work as part of the Public Body .02 exhibition at Artspace. 

Rabbaya & Hurmat are performance artists who have collaborated for several years, and work as artists, curators and educators in Pakistan and internationally. In this episode we discuss their collaborative practice, what we can expect from their work, and explore what it means to be a performance artist today.

Episode 12: Performance Art in Pakistan

​For this episode we speak with Susie Rugg, the Kids & Families Coordinator at the Museum of Contemporary art about the major summer exhibition, Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean.

Pipilotti's work is immersive, engaging and accessible and has been particularly successful in attracting and engaging children and families. The museum hosted a children's only preview opening, and is running 'Sundays with Pipilotti' an interactive space for children and families in the learning centre. We discuss the increasing role and importance of these family friendly exhibitions to the MCA and to museums and galleries throughout Australia.

For more information about the exhibition and the family programs, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art website.

Episode 17: Pipilotti Rist & family friendly exhibitions

For this episode, artist Chris Fox is in conversation with Esther Anatolitis and Penelope Benton around public art, and his most recent public artwork at Wynyard Station, 'Interloop'.

The conversation discusses the value and role of art in the public space, 
and the challenges inherent in public art policy and delivery - through competing stakeholders and agendas. 

This episode unpacks the challenges facing contemporary artists working in public space, and makes suggestions for change.

Check out Chris Fox's work via his website: http://chrisfox.com.au/

Episode 26: Chris Fox in conversation with Esther Anatolitis & Penelope Benton

Esther speaks with Tess Maunder ahead of the launch of her new publication, Absolute Humidity.

Absolute Humidity is a volume that aims to re-position conversations about the climate, weather and the environment by placing artist’s voices at the centre of the discussion. The publication focuses on contemporary artists from the Asia-Pacific region, including twenty-eight new conversations and other contributions that form a new constellation of inquiries. Through this project, contributors discuss how ideas surrounding weather, the environment and the climate be conceptualised by artists producing fresh ideas surrounding artistic agency.

Tess Maunder is a writer, curator. editor and researcher based in 
Brisbane.

Episode 31: Tess Maunder in conversation with Esther Anatolitis

Curator and writer, Jeff Khan joins Penelope Benton in conversation about Performance Contemporary as part of Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and Liveworks 2018, Performance Space's annual festival.

Episode 32: Jeff Khan in conversation with Penelope Benton

'Any conversation becomes easier when there is a starting point of universal and collective understanding' Joe Toohey

Joe Toohey is the Executive Director of Regional Arts Victoria and he sat down with Esther Anatolitis in Melbourne to discuss Artlands 2018.

Artlands is the national biennial event for regional arts in Australia, and was held this year in Bendigo. For information about the program, and future events, head to their website​.

Episode 35: Joe Toohey in conversation

‘Both the ‘Community and Cultural Development’ (CACD) and the ‘Emerging and Experimental Arts’(EEA) sector are the vanguards of the exploration of new genres of artistic practice and artistic practice and I think it’s a really exciting part of the Australian arts ecology as we move into the future’ -Jeremy Smith

In the midst of travelling around remote and regional Australia, Jeremy Smith sits down the Esther Anatolitis at the NAVA office to talk about his role at the Australia Council for the Arts, and the future of community, emerging and experimental arts in Australia. The conversation covers Jeremy's career trajectory, recent projects and future plans.

Jeremy provides provocations for artists and organisations working in Australia, and asks 'what difference can I make in the here and now?'

Episode 36: Jeremy Smith in conversation

Ku Arts​ is the South Australian support organisation for Aboriginal artists and art centres, and recently hosted a professional development symposium and workshop in Port Augusta.

Penelope sat down for a conversation with Alison (Milyika) Carroll, an artist and the chair of Ernabella Arts​ (APY Lands), David Miller an artist and chair of Ku Arts and Ninuku Arts​ (APY Lands), Lavene Ngatokoroua, the director of Ku Arts Port Augusta region, on the board of Ku Arts, recipient of the 2018 NAIDOC Lifetime achievement award in Port Augusta and Marie Falcinella, the CEO of Ku Arts.

Episode 37: Ku Arts Symposium in Port Augusta

‘As artists we have to keep questioning and being really honest about what’s going on’ Karla Dickens, 2019.

Artist Karla Dickens sits down with Penelope Benton to discuss her most recent work in the new Artspace exhibition; ‘Just not Australian’. The conversation covers Karla’s practice and approach to making work, her Copyright Agency fellowship, and the responsibility of artists to make clear and honest work.

Episode 38: Karla Dickens in conversation with Penelope Benton

NAVA's Esther Anatolitis in conversation with Girramay/Kuku Yalanji artist, Tony Albert and Noonuccal Nuugi playwright and theatrical director, Wesley Enoch  discussing the role of artistic courage amidst our nation's current state of political confusion.

Episode 41: Tony Albert and Wesley Enoch

Keynote recorded live at Australian Cultural Policy: The Next Decade, presented by Monash University’s Masters of Cultural & Creative Industries and NAVA at the State Library of Victoria on 8 April 2019.

“We need a national cultural policy that’s grounded in First Nations sovereignty and the NAVA Code of Practice... Cuts to the arts affect the Australian identity.”

Gabi Gabi / Kabi Kabi and Wiradjuri artist and academic Dr Bianca Beetson gave the artists’ keynote and response to Shadow Minister for the Arts the Hon Tony Burke at Australian Cultural Policy: The Next Decade, presented by Monash University’s Masters of Cultural & Creative Industries and NAVA at the State Library of Victoria on 8 April 2019.

Dr Beetson studied a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) at the Queensland University of Technology 1993-95, completed Honours in 1998 and was awarded a Doctorate of Visual Arts in 2018. She is a visual artist who works in a broad range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, photography and public art. She is a former member of the seminal Aboriginal artists collectives Campfire Group and ProppaNow. Dr Beetson is the Program leader of the Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art degree at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University and was recently appointed to the QAGOMA Board of Trustees. 

In this podcast, Dr Beetson speaks of the need to legislate against fake ‘Aboriginal-style’ art and its cultural harm, to establish a national Aboriginal arts authority, keeping places and a repatriation fund, as well as climate change policy because there are several sacred sites currently at risk of permanent loss to rising sea levels.

Episode 42: Bianca Beetson

What would an artist run world look like? Imagine if artistic courage was a guiding force in the policy arena. What sort of cities could we build? What sort of housing, health, schooling, agriculture, transport or data governance could we put in place? In the lead up to the federal election, 7 artists and critical thinkers joined us for a feisty conversation about voting for a world fit for artists and culture makers.

Bek Conroy hosted this conversation with guests: Alex Wisser (Cementa Festival), Bec Dean (The Big Anxiety), Jehan Kanga, Jess Cook (107 Projects), Louise Crabtree (Institute Society and Culture, WSU), Nadeena Dixon and Ange Abdilla (Old Ways, New).
630pm - 730pm Thursday May 8 
Venue: 107 Projects at 107 Redfern St, Redfern NSW 2016

Artist Run World

Esther Anatolitis in conversation with artists Abdul Abdullah, Çigdem Aydemir and Harriet Body presented in partnership with Parramatta Artist Studios as part of Movers and Makers 2019.

Art/Life Balance

Genevieve Grieves in conversation with NAVA's Wesley Shaw and Georgia Mokak about her current role teaching students about decolonisation at the Art Gallery NSW as part of their annual Djamu Indigenous Art program, as well as her role as Head of the newly formed First Peoples Department at Museums Victoria, and developing a practice and knowledge around decolonisation more broadly.

Episode 44: Genevieve Grieves

In this podcast, Latai Taumoepeau speaks with NAVA’s Professional Development Coordinator, Justine Youssef, about her practice relative to climate justice and the environmental, ethical and political effects of climate change in the Pacific region. Further to this Latai, shares ideas on how the art sector can transform the conversation around climate change and translate it into action.

Latai Taumoepeau is a contemporary Punake — a body-centred performance artist whose powerful artistic practice tells the stories of her homelands, the Island Kingdom of Tonga, and her birthplace of the Eora Nation, Sydney. Working in durational performance and documenting it through photographs, she addresses issues of race, class and the female body. In her recent practice, Taumoepeau explores the effects of climate change in the Pacific, probing existing power structures and the looming possibility of dispossession that many island communities face.

Episode 46: Latai Taumoepeau in conversation with Justine Youssef

In this podcast, Eme, artist and member of the Anticolonial Asian Alliance, is in conversation with Soo-Min Shim from NAVA's Membership and Communications team. 

Eme is an interdisciplinary Filipinx artist based in Sydney - Gadigal land. Identity and personal experience are the driving force to their art practice where ideas are transformed into objects, installations, and naturally, action; a collective experience of creating spaces that welcome inclusivity, diversity, dialogue, self-expression, self-determination, reflection and healing.

Anticolonial Asian Alliance are a group of Asian peoples living on unceded land, and working in solidarity with First Nations communities and elders to dismantle colonialism.

Episode 47: Eme, Anti-Colonial Asian Alliance(AAA)in conversation with Soo-Min Shim

Mandy Quadrio is a contemporary artist and doctoral candidate at Queensland College of the Arts with the Griffith University. Her multidisciplinary practice is intertwined with her proud Palawa identity in her ancestral country of Tebrakunna, Coastal Plains Nation on the lands colonially referred to as North-East of Tasmania. 
In this podcast, Mandy talks to Justine Youssef about her work 'Here lies lies' showing at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery's Bond Store Basement as part of Hobiennale 2019.

NAVA: in conversation with Mandy Quadrio

"I was thinking a lot about what an art museum of Indigenous moving image work from this region, the Great Ocean and all its shores would look like and how it would feel. And to use the words that we have in English, how do you archive living knowledge of bodies? How do you go beyond shame? How do you bring all these things together?" - Dr Léuli Eshrāghi 

Dr Léuli Eshrāghi is an artist, curator, writer, and researcher from the Samoan archipelago and Persian ancestries.  Léuli's creative practice is based around performance, installation and curatorial projects primarily working with the body, language, ceremony and positive futures for First Nations peoples and cultures, in addition to regularly featuring in publications and contributing to the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective (Canada) on the board. In this episode of NAVA: In Conversation, Georgia and Léuli chat about global First Peoples collaboration, language, display culture and improving our First Nations leadership in institutions in Australia. 

Wansolwara: One Salt Water is showing at UNSW Galleries until 18 April 2020

Episode 50: Dr Léuli Eshrāghi in conversation with Georgia Mokak

Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, Cr Jess Scully in conversation with Penelope Benton about the importance of having more creative people in politics and in government and how to get involved at a local level.

NAVA Episode 51: Cr Jess Scully

Following the culmination of the 42nd Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, we opened a conversation about the role of art in worldbuilding and community mobilisation with four 78ers on Wednesday 11 March at I.C.E., Parramatta NSW.

Facilitated by artists Enoch Mailangi and Justine Youssef in conversation with artist activists Ray Delaney, Dj Gemma, Alissar Chidiac, Beau James and Yul Scarf on behalf of the Department of Homo Affairs. This program was presented in partnership with I.C.E. and Twenty 10.

More information here: https://visualarts.net.au/news-opinion/2020/past-becomes-our-future/

'The Past Becomes Our Future' NAVA x Twenty10 x I.C.E. event on March 11 2020

In this podcast, Esther Anatolitis is in conversation with Toby Dennett from the Arts Council of Ireland about their 'Paying the Artist' policy released earlier this year.

Episode 52: Toby Dennett

Emele Ugavule is a Tokelauan Fijian storyteller. Her research and practice area of interest is Oceanic Indigenous-led storytelling, working across live performance, film, tv & digital media as a writer, director, creative producer, performer, educator and mentor. Her work explores creative processes and outcomes grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, and nurturing the vā where embodiment, cultural expression, digitisation and neuroscience intersect.

Episode 53: Emele Ugavule

This episode bridges the cross-generational experiences of Helen Grace, on behalf of the historical Artsworkers Union, and Dylan Batty, a co-founder of the Australian Arts Workers Alliance. NAVA’s Professional Practice Coordinator, Justine Youssef, speaks with the pair about the cyclical issues and widespread instability facing arts workers, the amount of free labour still subsidised by artists, how unfairness and illegality can be challenged, and the rights that the Artsworkers Union were able to fight for and achieve.

Episode 54: Artsworkers Union x Australian Arts Workers Alliance

Santilla Chingaipe is a journalist, filmmaker and author whose work explores migration, cultural identities and politics. In this podcast, NAVA's Tanushri Saha talks to Chingaipe about interrogating whiteness and centring blackness in the arts.

Episode 55: Santilla Chingaipe

Rohin Kickett is a NAVA Board Member and Nyoongar artist from the Balardong region Western Australia. In this podcast, NAVA’s Esther Anatolitis talks to Rohin Kickett about his personal leadership journey, community development models for Art Centres and key issues around Indigenous art production.

Episode 56: Rohin Kickett

Arts Day on the Hill is Australia’s annual focus on building sector capacity for sustained government engagement and lasting policy reform. This year’s Arts Day on the Hill took place on Wednesday 12 August 2020. In this podcast, NAVA’s Esther Anatolitis is joined by artists Nadia Odlum and Sha Sarwari in reviewing our experiences and next steps, with Nicholas Pickard, former policy adviser, joining half-way to offer a national political perspective on the debrief.

Episode 57: Arts Day on the Hill Debrief

Sophia Cai is a curator and arts writer based in Melbourne, Australia. In this podcast, NAVA's Leya Reid talks to Sophia Cai about community-based practice, cultural safety, creative nourishment, and the importance of joy in our work.

Episode 58: Sophia Cai

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) is the national peak body protecting and promoting the professional interests of the Australian visual and media arts, craft and design sector.

NAVA

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