The statements we make

As artists, cultural workers and arts organisations, ours is the business of statement-making.

I was reminded of this recently by the work of Portuguese artist Tiago Casanova, whose installation Every wall is a Statement is currently part of the A liberdade e só a Liberdade exhibition (‘Freedom and only freedom’) at The Art and Culture Center of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation in Évora.

I was also reminded, less pleasantly, by recent rushed and fumbled public statements made by Australian arts and cultural organisations in response to local and global issues or events like last year’s Voice Referendum (or the need for voice, treaty and truth more broadly) and the ongoing genocide in Palestine — including the statements that many have made with their silence.

Depressingly, failure has become status quo when it comes to Australian arts, cultural and non-profit organisation’s response (or lack of response) to these and similar issues as matters of governance, risk and crisis management, financial sustainability and duty of care.

An empty gallery with blank red paintings on the walls
Image: Lerato Shadi, blank projects (CC (by-nc-nd) 4.0)

You can read my full article on the statements we make on the Overland Literary Journal website.

Further reading: Palestine as a governance issue

You can check out all of the articles and resources in this series, which include:

Subscribe or support

For future updates, subscribe to my free occasional enews.

If any of 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).

Unknown's avatar

Author: katelarsenkeys

Writer. Rabble-rouser. Arts, Cultural and Non-Profit Consultant.