Acknowledgement of Country

25.08.21 | Blog

Vision Statement from UK/Australia Season Directors

The fact that the UK/Australia Season even exists at this moment is extraordinary. Yet here we are, emerging from opposite sides of the globe to share experiences, to collaborate, to re-imagine.

Over 200 events will soon begin across our two nations. We will celebrate artists, producers, educators and organisations who have shown such steely tenacity, but also flowed like water, re-forming time and again in our ever-changing context. We are in awe of our sector.

The central question posed by the Season is “Who Are We Now?”

At a critical time worldwide and a pivotal point in the UK/Australia relationship, artists, policy makers, thought leaders and academics will come together to explore our history, reflect on our present, and imagine who we might be in the future.

For two nations so geographically distant yet so closely connected, conversations and reflections on the relationship have arguably never been more important. What lies behind the Season theme “Who Are We Now?” is a provocation: while Australia and the UK know each other, do we know each other as well as we think we do? A key objective of the Season to turn a spotlight on a relationship which ‘hides in plain sight’.

We may be surprised by what the UK/Australia Season will reveal.

The Season includes work for all ages and celebrates the diversity of cultures and languages in both countries. The program emphasises Australia’s First Nations voices, includes strong cultural exchange with Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, and the diverse society that has emerged in both Australia and the UK through migration.

The focus is collaboration, across a wide range of disciplines, face to face and using new technologies.

This is about long-term impact. Cultural exchange deepens mutual understanding. Sharing knowledge builds capacity and innovation. Co-operation forges relationships and future opportunities, and new networks widen access to markets for Covid-19 recovery. Facing global challenges together clarifies what we most value and inspires new ways of working.

The past year has thrown into sharper relief the fundamental role of arts and culture in our societies. We need to champion artists and create platforms for dialogue, cultural exchange and creative expression.

It is an honour to be part of a project that provides this opportunity in both Australia and the UK, and to support our sector at this pivotal moment.

Michael Napthali & Helen Salmon

UK/Australia Season Directors