Leadership – LARSEN

Don’t break our arts this election

Arts and culture in Victoria are in crisis. Funding for artists and small-to-medium cultural organisations has declined 35% since 2022. Artists are leaving the sector. Cultural organisations are closing. Creative Victoria has lost the sector’s trust. Victoria’s reputation as ‘the cultural capital’ has been decimated. And the sector’s viability is at significant and immediate risk.

And another thing: Parkinson’s Law

Does your board want to reduce its meetings but thinks its too busy to do so? This month’s ‘and another thing’ vlog explores the concept of Parkinson’s Law.

Looking for hope: censorship versus care

The recording of my Greg Binns Memorial Lecture on looking for hope amongst almost unprecedented arts censorship in Australia is now live on the Art Gallery of Ballarat website.

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.

Have your say on the new national Cultural Policy consultation

The Australian Government is calling for public submissions to inform it’s update of the Revive National Cultural Policy.

Raining on the parade of Generative AI in the arts

The Victorian Government released its updated cultural policy, Creative State 2028, at the end of last year. But I won’t be surprised if you missed it.

And another thing: on getting better at endings

This month’s ‘and another thing’ vlog is about endings, and the difference between knowing when it’s time for something to end, and the types of endings that are outside our control. Because, let’s be honest, our sector isn’t great at either.

And another thing: self-care isn’t (always) selfish

As much of our sector prepares for an end-of-year-break, I wanted to share the end of year public service announcement that: self-care isn’t selfish, taking time off isn’t selfish, rest isn’t selfish. In fact, doing #LessIsNecessary.

And another thing: strategic venting and collegiality as care

Inspired by SACSA’s workforce Plan Updates for the Australian Arts sector, I’ve been thinking about the importance of strategic venting and collegiality as care – two common-sense strategies we’ve all seemed to lose the knack of in recent years.

Take on Board podcast on the ethics of AI

The AI train has left the station, but boards and organisations should take a breath before jumping on board.

It’s not just about a lack of tech know-how; it’s about staying true to your organisation’s purpose and values.