Human Rights in the Arts Symposium

Register via expression of interest here

Grounded in collaborative thinking, critical reflection, and practical strategy, the day will centre intersectionality across First Nations, disability, race, class, gender, and culturally diverse communities.

Key organisations will report back on current strategies and initiatives, alongside an afternoon designed to collectively develop new, sector-wide recommendations.

This is a space for experimental and community-based arts organisations to gather, share knowledge, and shape the future of the sector—through a lens of justice, care, and solidarity.

Human Rights in the Arts Symposium

As a part of Another World Festival

Date and Time: Friday 14 November, 10-5pm

Location: Utp, Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade Bankstown NSW

Register via expression of interest here

Book your Festival Day Pass here

View the full program of Another World Festival here

Symposium Schedule

10:00am Tea and registration

10:30am Introduction and acknowledgementCo-Artistic Directors: Jess and Bilquis Ghani

10:50am Residency presentation: Intimate struggles: searching for nuance in collaboration across difference by Danish Sheikh and Nithya Nagarajan

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Intersectional Tool Kits Presentations: Platform for advocacy orgs to present existing reports, strategies or pledges

11:10am Diversity Arts Australia: Anti-Racism Strategy – presented by Bilquis Ghani

11:25am Blak Dance: First Nations Workforce Report – presented by Merindah Donnelly

11:40am Accessible Arts by Liz Martin

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11:55-12:15 pm Break

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Artist Conversations

12.15pm Feras Shaheen (online)

12:30pm Travis De Vries

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12:45pm Lunch Break

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Afternoon Session: Sector Recommendations

2:00pm Group Work – sector reflections and strategy

Prompt contributed by audience on post it notes that are then grouped 

1. What does human rights mean to you? 

2. How do we transform our sector to be one based in human rights? 

3. How do we support artists and arts workers from marginalised experiences? 

4. How do we implement it?

5. What are the responsibilities of the arts (including organisations, artists and funding bodies) in the Australian context to respond to crisis?

Post it note session – collective questions 

Recommendations, learnings and reflection for:

1. Funding bodies

2. Arts organisations

3. Artists

4. Arts workers 

5. Audiences/Community

Outcome for recommendations: will live on our website as a resource repository of existing tool kits and a list of recommendations and a series of social posts as summer reading 

4:00pm Report Backs + Recommendations

5:00pm Drinks and canape

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Followed by Another World Festival Opening Night

6:00pm Welcome to Country by Peta Strachan & Festival Opening

7:00pm She Rested by Aimèe Falzon – progress showing & facilitated feedback

8:00pm This Word Sounds: curated by Aimée Falzon

Book your Festival Day Pass here

View the full program of Another World Festival here

Photo credit: Jade Wade

PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, with venue partner, Bankstown Arts Centre.

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, the Neilson Foundation and City of Canterbury Bankstown.