Dance for La Mama

Fonda La Clinica presents...

Jessie Borrelle and Caroline Clements 'Tell it to yourself'

Exhibition Fundraiser

Indonesia Calling: Asialink Annual Arts Forum 2008

Why Gather? Symposium 19 to 20 July 2008 Melbourne

Elisabeth Murdoch Theatre, University of Melbourne

A gathering is a group of people brought together in one space or place, usually congregating for a particular

common purpose. The act of gathering –to meet, share and network– is intrinsic to human behaviour.

Creative expression, critique and reflection are naturally informed by environment, experience and our

engagement with the world. So what role can Gathering play in shaping individual and collective perception

and expression in the arts? In a period of increased mobility where distances are more psychic that physical,

how do we frame such gatherings and consider a transnational dialogue and relevance beyond the usual suspects?

SATURDAY 19 JULY 2008

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Conferences, forums, lectures, colloquia and even symposia follow a generic and approved format: an

opportunity to meet, greet and discuss the arts. As a result they can become self-serving exercises; little

more than talkfests. Day One of the Why Gather? symposium considers purposes, frameworks and processes

that have been employed, evaluating what has made these gatherings successful; whether in a festival

context, international biennale, First Nations meeting or to loose editorial frameworks.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION – “Why Gather?"  Ticio Escobar, PARAGUAY

Drawing on his curatorial rationale and methodology for the Bienal de Valencia (the Bienniale of Two

Oceans), Ticio Escobár will navigate themes of identity, networks, local contexts, and experiences

of gathering.

TIcio Escobar (Asunción, Paraguay) is a leading figure in the contemporary cultural debate in Latin

America. Despite the isolated position of his country and the difficult political conditions, he has remained

in Paraguay, carrying out his work in the field of cultural theory, cultural history, art criticism and education

- work which crosses borders and opens up new horizons. Ticio Escobar plays a leading role in shaping

avant-garde art, in recognising indigenous art and in the cross-fertilisation of these two art forms.

SUNDAY 20 JULY 2008

CONTEXT MATTERS CROSS-CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT VERSUS EXPORT CULTURE

Historically, art and culture are frequently appropriated for social, political and economic purposes. In an

age of heightened global mobility (information and human) the role of arts and culture in transnational

engagement is a topic that has been discussed at various governmental levels (in Australia: federal, state,

municipal). Individual nation-states and govenments, often through genuine interest, are developing

frameworks for cross-cultural engagement as part of their foreign policy and international diplomatic

activities. In response, many artists and arts organisations are feeling the need to establish their own

frameworks for transnational engagment. Where does this leave art in cross-cultural engagement?

Day Two of the Why Gather? symposium will explore the role of cultural context in establishing ongoing

transnational dialogue. How do issues such as place, space and time shape cross-cultural engagement, and

how might they inform the way in which we approach gathering? With the South Project’s next international

Gathering (Yogyakarta, 2009) at an early stage of development, this will also be an opportunity to explore

proposals, future models and develop an open framework for the presentation of Yogyakarta 2009.