Transformative Conversations: Empowered Actions
From art world peripheries to centres for the future

TICKET SALES CLOSE 5pm MONDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2023

BUS TRANSFERS STILL AVAILABLE TO BOOK

Join us in Bega on the stunning NSW South Coast for the 2023 Regional & Public Galleries Conference from Thursday 2 – Friday 3 March, to explore the role of galleries as dynamic, sustainable, and transformative spaces, as we tackle future challenges and continue to evolve as creative centres for our regions.

Visit the recently transformed South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA), previously Bega Regional Gallery, and join us for a jam-packed program of key notes, panel discussions, a visit to the stunning Tathra headland for a talk by Aboriginal heritage specialists, and a feast for the senses at our conference dinner.

PROGRAM

About the Conference Program

After three years of disruptions and cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will come together to explore how we can create financially and environmentally sustainable, accessible and innovative spaces for artistic exchange and audience engagement. The 2023 RPG NSW Conference will explore how recent events have transformed the way we engage with our audiences, how galleries can embed environmental sustainability in their operations and artistic programming and what the future of disaster preparedness looks like. What role does the arts play in combating social isolation, championing diversity and giving voices to communities, and how can we create accessible and safe spaces for critical debate?

Hear from acclaimed speakers from across NSW including keynote speaker Rachel Kent, CEO of Bundanon Trust who will discuss the recent architectural interventions to re-imagine the Bundanon property, gallery and collection storage to be disaster-proof and have low environmental impact.

Does the swing in demographics in regional NSW as a consequence of the pandemic provide an opportunity for galleries? What are the opportunities and challenges to re-imagine regional towns in NSW as new centres for innovation and creation? Hear from the Directors of NSW’s newest regional arts facilities Megan Monte, Ngununggula and Lizzy Galloway, Mudgee Arts Precinct, how they envision the future for creative spaces in regional towns and learn about the new art infrastructure developments in Orange by Lucy Stranger, Curator at Orange Regional Gallery.

Join the discussion on galleries and museums as accessible and welcoming spaces for people with all abilities, with panelist’s: artist Liam Benson, CEO of Accessible Arts Liz Martin and SECCA architect Qianyi Lim, Co-Director AIA, ARB NSW & Associate Professor of Practice, University of Sydney.

Delve into an exciting discussion on how to harness the expansive knowledge of our communities by collaborating with regional arts practitioners, traditional owners and educators to create sustainable solutions for the future. Hear about Earth Canvas, White Bluff Project ), the Painted River Project and Cultural Burning Practices from Firesticks Alliance.

Join us for an exclusive pre-opening tour of the new South East Centre for Contemporary Art, led by Gallery Director Iain Dawson.

Join the discussion on embedding environmental sustainability in galleries’ artistic programming and operations and hear about the newly developed environmental toolkit for galleries by Sabrina Roesner, Artistic Program Manager Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. Sabrina will be joined by Make or Break who will discuss their creative interventions that address environmental and social issues.

And much more…

IMAGE: Art & Artists, National Public Galleries Summit held in Sydney, at Carriageworks, in March 2018. Photo courtesy of Museums & Galleries of NSW.