City of Sydney Cultural & Creative Sector Forum

*Image is mine from Instagram

I just thought I'd do a quick post on this. Last Wednesday I attended the City of Sydney's Cultural and Creative Sector Forum representing the Big Fag Press. I thought it was a really interesting couple of hours, and I was inspired to know how invested the council is in listening to the thoughts and ideas of people who work in creative fields, in order to see how best to help them be able to use the city as a canvas for their creative endeavours.

Furthermore, it couldn't have been a better place for networking - my table had a guy who works for the City of Sydney outdoor event management, a woman from ArtsHub, a woman from the Red Room Company, a guy who works in the youth music industry, one of the founders of the College of Event Management, and a woman from Waverley Council.

At the beginning I wasn't really sure I would have anything to contribute, but the discussion led to many things I had ideas about. Our table came up with a few collective agreements. One was that Sydney is very much a lively place in terms of art and culture. "Top down" events like Vivid Sydney, the Biennale, Chinese New Year and the NYE fireworks are very successful. We also agreed on the fact that the government does a lot to support smaller initiatives, but that maybe these efforts could be slightly better directed. In terms of "grassroots" initiatives, there was much talk on making it more accessible to individual young artists or smaller collectives wanting to just get out there and express creativity. I spoke of how, last year with my Ivory Tower posters, there was just no place to go out and put them. The dedicated City of Sydney poles for posters just get covered by advertising, and anywhere else they got ripped down. It would be so great if there was just spaces around for spontaneous public art. Places where you don't need to be a verified "emerging creative" to use. The Guerilla Photography project on Elizabeth St by Fairfax photographers was something that was brought up - but nobody really knows if doing something like that is okay. Is it considered defacing public property? If Clover Moore hadn't particularly liked those photographs installed in that place, would they have received fines for doing it?

Another thing I brought up was along the same lines - to me, at least when I'm walking around the streets instagramming things, it's the oddities, the interesting graffiti, the chic little cafes, and the funny coloured walls that get my attention. I like things that are different, and provide an alternate to a cookie cutter town of gloria jeans, lowes and perfectly arranged front gardens. A point was brought up about spaces being unused at certain times - there are many places that, for example, are in use Monday to Friday 9-5pm, but completely useless at other times. So here is where my idea comes through - why can't artists be the ones to decorate the city - to make the boring interesting. Why can't we designate it a business carpark by day and a pop-up art gallery by night? Why does a wall have to be a brick wall - getting a company building wall graffitied by local artists could attract valid attention to your business.

And thus brings up another point. About legal, OH&S, and regulatory council hoops to jump through. I remember when I was doing my Open House project in Foley St in 2010, we had a lot of forms to fill out and information to gather, like making sure people had their RSA's and everything. I know it's a lot to do with people's safety, which definitely should be put above all else. But getting through all that bureaucracy is a major hurdle for an artist or a small collective wanting to set up a guerilla pop-up gallery.

Much of our other discussion was about live music venues and making sure under drinking age teenagers also have access to entertainment, which I think is equally important.

Many of the other tables came up with similar points about reducing the "red tape" for artists and giving more opportunities to "grassroots" programs. Overall I found the forum had a very positive outcome, especially if some of these ideas are taken on by the City of Sydney. They could even have a direct impact on ARI's like the Big Fag Press, like Runway, like Firstdraft. Very exciting!

Art & About 2012

Art & About is holding a photography competition for its exhibition this year.

Sydney Life promotes contemporary photographic practices. The judges are looking for works that make an original and striking statement about Sydney life, images that will engage and intrigue the audience, invoke new perspectives and thoughts about Sydney lifestyle and culture.

Works should incorporate the photographer’s skill, individual concept and style to reveal a unique observation. You may portray any aspect of Sydney – an every day occurrence, an unusual or particular moment or place, the diversity of culture/s or subcultures, individual differences, celebrations or rituals, a natural or man made environment. We welcome work in a number of styles including documentary, portraiture and contemporary art.

I was thinking of entering some of my street photography. Fingers crossed I suppose!

 

What If...?

The What If Project was part of last year's Art & About. People across Australia were asked to answer the question "What if..." in ten words or less, and the 100 most interesting responses were coupled with photographs and displayed on flags throughout the city and neighbouring suburbs.

[All images embedded from respective websites]


What if....

...we could start life at the other end?
...we thought of others for a change?
...I came by boat?
...zimmer frames were turbo charged?
...there was a cure?
...we listened to facts instead of opinions?
...the world doesn't end?
...we all learnt another language?
...the sea level in the harbour rises 10 metres?
...we smiled and talked to each other on public transport?
...you are not special?
...your current haircut becomes the ‘mullet’ of the future?
...we banned cars from George St
...we looked at it from your point of view?
...I became the first indigenous prime minister?
...what you get isn’t what you want?
...you’re dreaming right now?
...we could all dance like michael jackson?
...every time you wake up you were in a different body?
...you look up?
...money was free?
...gay becomes the new straight?
...we all switch off our phones?
...we never stood up for what we believe in?
...we could change the past?
...your mum and dad didn't meet?
...someone is checking you out right now?
...university was free?
...we install lie detectors in parliament?
...art was a slow release drug?
...we weren’t at the top of the food chain?
...Australia was the centre of the earth?
...we stopped reading books?
...speling at skool was not compulsory?
...Sydney had a world class metro system?
...the change we want to see in the world happens?
...truth mattered?
...we all lived in a refugee camp for a week?
...we were prepared to sacrifice comfort for change?
...ten words could change the world?
...street art was legal?
...Picasso had painted the opera house?
...greed didn't exist?
...we didn't gossip for one whole day?
...Sydney had less rules and restrictions?
...I had have kissed him that night?
...this banner started my artistic career and made me famous?
...no one was rushing?
...we introduced ourselves to each one of our neighbours?
...Melbourne beats us?
...only bicycles were allowed in the city?
...you had no fear, what would you do?
...everybody sang when they felt like it?
...life was one long musical?
...a dinosaur lived on top of our house?
....rugby and AFL were never invented?
...laughter was the only currency?
...I could legally marry the man of my dreams?
...the only answer was yes?
...we treated Aboriginal people like they owned the place?
...we stopped making excuses?
...we took time to listen and learn from our grandparents?
...we didn't fear change?
...spin class bikes were connected to the electricity grid?
...love is temporary madness?
...flies couldn't fly, would they be called walks?
...we did nothing, we achieved nothing?
...the world disarmed?
...there are new colours yet to be revealed?
...no-one was watching what would you do?
...we were all happy?
...you smiled at the person walking towards you right now?
...Australia become a republic?
...I had managed to catch the 8.52 train?
...we all knew each others name?
...we just stopped here and kissed?
...god had a twitter account?
...animals could talk to us?
...people actually said what they thought?
...we could harness the energy generated during a standing ovation?
...love was enough?
...Sydney had kept its trams?
...we didn't dream?
...frogs could breathe out rainbows?
...you are the alien?
...you couldn't lie?
...we all stopped and took the day off tomorrow?
...we had to flee Australia?
...'enough’ was the highest investment goal?
...you had to pay for oxygen?
...4 year olds ruled the world?
...we didn't want to live longer?
...my kids are able to marry anyone they want?
...nobody was normal?
...you stood up for yourself today?
...I took the step now to find my birth parents?
...we all spoke the same language?
...I returned their calls?
...plants could talk, would we listen?
...we all did random acts of kindness?