Public Panel: The Future of the Arts and Democracy in Australia
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You are invited to attend this panel discussion organised by colleagues at Griffith University and hosted by Natasha Mitchell and broadcast on ABC's Big Ideas.
Australia is facing a pivotal moment in its cultural and democratic life. The conditions that allow the creative arts to question power, offer dissent and open a space for nuanced discussion are under growing pressure. Across the nation, artists, writers and cultural organisations face politicised backlash, loss of funding, donor sensitivity, and heightened scrutiny about whether their work aligns with (presumed) majority opinion.
At the same time, universities are reporting marked declines in creative arts and humanities enrolments. This raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the cultural sector. In this environment fewer people can build or maintain creative careers.
These trends converge on a key question for Australian democracy: what happens to our public life when the conditions that support diverse artistic and literary expression erode, and the capacity for dissent, critique and imaginative renewal is diminished?
This discussion brings together Julianne Schultz, André Dao and Ben Eltham, three of Australia’s most incisive cultural thinkers. Schultz examines how cultural expression shapes national storytelling, social cohesion, and democratic confidence; Dao brings a perspective shaped by his award‑winning fiction and cultural criticism; and Eltham tracks the political and economic forces currently impacting the arts sector.
Together, they consider what reforms are needed to protect artistic freedom as a public good in a changed and challenged democratic landscape.
Attendance is free but registration is essential. Please register here - and scroll to the bottom of the page: https://events.griffith.edu.au/event/1f41411d-4a96-4632-8a2d-6f544e540b20/summary?environment=P2
Australia is facing a pivotal moment in its cultural and democratic life. The conditions that allow the creative arts to question power, offer dissent and open a space for nuanced discussion are under growing pressure. Across the nation, artists, writers and cultural organisations face politicised backlash, loss of funding, donor sensitivity, and heightened scrutiny about whether their work aligns with (presumed) majority opinion.
At the same time, universities are reporting marked declines in creative arts and humanities enrolments. This raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the cultural sector. In this environment fewer people can build or maintain creative careers.
These trends converge on a key question for Australian democracy: what happens to our public life when the conditions that support diverse artistic and literary expression erode, and the capacity for dissent, critique and imaginative renewal is diminished?
This discussion brings together Julianne Schultz, André Dao and Ben Eltham, three of Australia’s most incisive cultural thinkers. Schultz examines how cultural expression shapes national storytelling, social cohesion, and democratic confidence; Dao brings a perspective shaped by his award‑winning fiction and cultural criticism; and Eltham tracks the political and economic forces currently impacting the arts sector.
Together, they consider what reforms are needed to protect artistic freedom as a public good in a changed and challenged democratic landscape.
Attendance is free but registration is essential. Please register here - and scroll to the bottom of the page: https://events.griffith.edu.au/event/1f41411d-4a96-4632-8a2d-6f544e540b20/summary?environment=P2
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Where is it happening?
QCAD Lecture Theatre, S05_2.04, Lecture Theatre, Stanley St, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia, South Brisbane
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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