Closing Plenary: Part A

Closing Keynotes by Glenn Albrecht & Mark Robinson. This session also includes the Presentation of Regional Arts Australia's Awards 2012.

Glenn Albrecht - Psychoterratica & the Arts

The psychoterratic describes the relationship between states of the earth (terra) and states of the mind (psyche). The way the creative artists respond to the positive and negative elements of the psychoterratic typology of conditions constitutes the emergent and now global collection of works I call the realm of psychoterratica. In my presentation I will explain the psychoterratic typology, show examples of psychoterratic art/craft and explore ways that this collaboration between creative artists and philosophers of the earth can continue to flourish. In addition, I shall open-up the emergent field of psychoterratic criticism. How can we use psychoterratic art to openly critique that which delivers negative psychoterratic conditions in our society? Conversely, how can it be used to flagrantly support the positive side? The drama between the negative and the positive, the pessimistic and the optimistic shall be played out in this presentation. Although we shall experience moments of biophobia, ecophobia, necrophilia, solastalgia, global dread and ecoanxiety; we shall end with exciting bursts of biophilia, ecophilia, endemophilia, soliphilia, topophilia and eutierria.

Mark Robinson - Made by many: how creative communities can be the heart of regional resilience

Building on his paper Making Adaptive Resilience Real, and sharing insights from more recent research with arts communities in the UK, Mark Robinson will set out how the characteristics of adaptive resilience – ‘the capacity to remain productive and true to core purpose and identity whilst absorbing disturbance and adapting with integrity in response to changing circumstances’ – can be developed in a regional context. He will draw on case studies of diverse and disabled-led organisations, of networks in predominantly rural areas, and of how strong networks across arts, business and local government in his home region of North East England helped bring about not only a transformation of the cultural landscape, but a resilient network of organisations of all scales and types. He will argue that distance from centres of power and capital need not be an insurmountable barrier to creative resilience in the arts, either collectively as a sector or individually as organisations and individuals: but only if we look to ourselves more than to the metropoli.

Regional Arts Australia's Awards 2012

The RAA Awards acknowledges the invaluable contribution volunteer leaders make to the cultural life of their local communities. Nominations are called from regionally-based arts and cultural volunteer leaders whose work has inspired and supported arts development.

It is well recognised across the arts community that volunteers play a vital role in delivering art and cultural events across Australia, without volunteers the arts and cultural sector would literally come to a standstill. RAA wishes to recognise this valuable workforce by acknowledging exemplary volunteer leadership over the past 2 years.

Inspiring and motivating others is a great skill, some of our most influential leaders have developed and practiced these skills outside the paid workplace. The RAA Awards program endeavours to acknowledge and inspire others to engage, lead and commit to the success of our art and cultural communities across Australia.