Arts Leadership – Page 5 – LARSEN

And another thing: the politics of publishing

As I mentioned at my Warrane/Sydney launch of Public.Open.Space. in November 2023, the sad state of the world makes it uncomfortable to talk about book stuff right now, which has made me even more grateful that my book is about control and protest, silencing and speaking up.

Because writers, artists, anyone with a platform, and anyone living on or benefiting from unceded land have an obligation to use our platforms to do so, to listen, learn, interrogate that learning, insist on media justice and speech free of bias and hate, and to recognise and act on our responsibilities.

Have your say on the Modern Awards Review

Due next Monday (4 December 2023), the Modern Awards Review 2023-2024 is a pivotal opportunity to improve workplace rights and entitlements for the arts and cultural sector.

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it consultation period, the Fair Work Commission has invited submissions from artists, arts workers and organisations to investigate potential gaps in arts and cultural sector employment terms and remuneration.

Beyond the governance gaps

Past and present board members and those who support our boards—I want to thank you. In the machine of arts, cultural and not-for-profit governance you are one of our most necessary cogs: legislated, expected and required. From statutory authorities to volunteer-run collectives, you underpin all of our work.

The skills you must wield are varied and plentiful, yet your presence, consideration and time receive little or no remuneration—and often little thanks. But your work is a literal gift, an extraordinary, mandated generosity—without which our organisations would not be allowed to exist.

And another thing: less is (still) necessary

On the one-year anniversary of my #LessIsNecessary campaign, my latest instalment of ‘and another thing’ is about our ongoing workforce crisis and the regressive nonsense of employers wanting to punish workers for standing up for their rights.

Doing it differently: fit-for-purpose governance models

I enjoyed rabble-rousing about how we could (and should) be doing governance differently with Cecilia Anthony and Diversity Arts Australia’s Lena Nahlous for Creative Australia’s Governance Conversations webinar series in July 2023.

And another thing: let’s all take Mondays off

t’s time for us to reject the idea that too-much-work-for-too-little-pay is a problem our sector can’t solve. This month’s ‘and another thing’ vlog talks about why and how we could make it happen).

And another thing: artists leaving arts practice

Welcome to ‘and another thing’, my brand new series on things that interest or infuriate me – exclusively for my amazing Patreon followers.

This one starts with a recent ArtsHub article on Theatre Network Australia’s report that says 51% of independent artists are currently considering a career change.

Tears for peers: the hidden costs of arts funding

Across Australia, hundreds of arts organisations are currently awaiting the outcome of expressions of interest for four-year funding from Australia Council for the Arts. In Warrang/Sydney meeting-rooms, teams of subcontracted industry advisors are being assembled in their respective artforms to advise Council on which applications are eligible to go through to second and final stage of their decision-making process.

We can do better than Boards

Following my collaboration on AICSA’s Rethinking Arts Governance event last year, I articulated some issues arts organisations have with arts Boards and shared examples of Boards making the best of the current situation.

In doing so, it became depressingly clear that our sector has learned how to bend without breaking when it comes to arts governance. But if the cause of most of our Arts Boards’ dysfunction is the governance model itself, perhaps a break is what we need – to throw the model out and start again.

And another thing: self care isn’t selfish

Welcome to my first ‘and another thing’ vlog for 2023.

This one builds on Employment Hero’s new Wellness at Work report and my recent Artshub article for those in need of a New Year creative reset.