I'm Richard Bell.

I was born in Charleville in 1953. I grew up with stories about the importance of small towns like Tenterfield and Charleville in Australian history.

I'm heading back there on the 30th of May.

I'll be holding a meeting in the Henry Parkes School of Arts Theatre in Tenterfield. I will be there to discuss if the Australian Constitution is still appropriate in this ever changing, post modern, contemporary and increasingly digital world?

Having grown up in small country towns, I'm going back to them to look for answers and ways to deal with and face the challenges of living in the 21st Century.

Everyone welcome.

Project information:

RESET begins with a case to replace Australia’s constitution. The project will be part of the 2026 Sydney Biennale, asking (and answering) what a constitution for the 21st century might look like.

The Constitution of Australia, enacted in 1901, has provided the foundational legal framework for the last 125 years. However, its limitations are increasingly evident, if not obvious. Basically, it was written in the 19th Century by white men for white men. Much has changed since then. No one of that era imagined that man could travel to the Moon and back. Nor could they see two World Wars, x-ray machines, Atomic Bombs, penicillin, super computers, mobile phones, internet gaming, gambling, social media, drones, AI, the internet itself and rampant, all-consuming Capitalism and far-flung colonies.

RESET seeks to consult communities through a series of town hall meetings. Historically, Town Hall gatherings were sites of political discussion and action where communities would gather to discuss and resolve collective concerns.

A core idea of this new project is one of direct action: to reclaim collective spaces as sites of free expression and collective resolution for community. Democracy is the favoured model throughout the west, especially in the Angloverse. Consequently, in looking for a progressive and inclusive democratic system, it is necessary to consult citizens as widely as possible.

The goal is to provide a model constitution that can be useful for organisational purposes in circumstances high and low. This is not merely an experiment in legal reform but a profound opportunity to create a more just and representative nation.

We are inviting progressives: Thinkers, scholars, students, teachers, workers, artists, parents, children and teenagers, and anyone else who is interested in participating in a discussion about how we can better deal with the challenges above.

Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Date: Saturday, 30 May 2026

Location: Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts Theatre, Tenterfield

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Contact the host of RESET in Tenterfield

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