LARSEN | KEYS – writer | rabble-rouser

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Looking for allies for arts governance

From the start of 2023, I began reducing my client workload in order to write – with a focus on my debut poetry collection (Public. Open. Space, Fremantle Press), the second edition of The Relationship is the Project and my independent research into rethinking arts, cultural and for-purpose governance – which will remain my focus in 2026 as I hope to publish a book-length manuscript.

If my work or writing has been of value to you, I’d appreciate you joining me as an advocate, ally or accomplice from just $2.50/month on Patreon).

And another thing: introducing Artist Corporations

Did you know that you don’t need to incorporate as a not-for-profit organisation for your work to serve a purpose?

My latest ‘and another thing’ vlog is about an exciting new governance innovation that’s come out of the US this year: The Artist-Corporation or A-Corp.

Have your say on Artificial Intelligence in Australia

The Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence is calling for submissions to a broad parliamentary inquiry about the opportunities, impacts and regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Australia.

And another thing: board officeholders

Arts boards, did you know that you don’t need a Chairperson? And that you don’t need a Treasurer either?

Palestine as a governance issue

By my count, 80 Australian arts and cultural organisations have now been accused of many more instances of censoring, threatening or otherwise harming their own artists, cultural workers or audiences between 2023 and 2026 alone.

And another thing: board (lack of) diversity

This month’s ‘and another thing’ rant is about the newly-released Board (lack of) Diversity Index and our lower-than-low definitions of success.

Disrupting the arts

Art is the business of disruption.

No matter the medium, platform or level of professionalism, the act of making is innately transformational: whether it turns thought into matter (or the other way around), brings different elements together or breaks them down to be shared or understood in different ways.

Help support ‘Beyond best practice boards’

Most of my work and writing over the past several years has focused on the failings of Australia’s arts, cultural and non-profit boards and governance models.

In addition to dozens of articles, panels, keynote speeches and vlog episodes on the subject, this has now led to a new book, which I hope to share with the world this year: Beyond ‘best practice’ boards: why (nearly) everything you think you know about governance is wrong.*

And another thing: on advocacy as hope

After the Revive national cultural policy consultation, reactions to the proposed NDIS cuts and more, this month’s ‘and another thing’ vlog is about advocacy as an act of hope.

Have your say on the NDIS cuts

The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee is currently taking submissions on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, which will arbitrarily cut 160,000 current NDIS participants from the scheme and make it even harder for new applicants to get the support they need.

And another thing: on issues with representative boards

Should arts boards be made up of artists or cultural workers with direct experience of an organisation’s work? Or should we have more business people on boards to apply a corporate lens to how things ‘should be done’?