Event Session - Panel: Towards creative self-determination

Day 1 - Tuesday 26th, 11:00am - 12:00pm AEDT

The Wheeler Centre - Performance Space

Eugenia Flynn (Participating chair), writer, arts worker, community organiser

Fiona Tuomy, Artistic Director, The Other Film Festival

Tania Cañas, Arts Director, RISE Refugee

Jason Tamiru, Associate Producer, Malthouse Theatre

“Nothing about us without us.” It’s a vital concept for First Nations, People With Disabilities, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities. We don’t often see ourselves reflected in media and the arts, and the representations we do see can be warped, condescending, or downright offensive. What are some ways we can take back the narrative and tell our stories ourselves? By examining everything from funding structures to cultural protocols, this panel will explore how self-determination is practised in the creative sector in Australia.

Panel (45 min) followed by Q&A (15 min) facilitated by chair.

Media Contributions

Key Points

  • disc
    Fiona Tuomy: We are in a moment where a lot is happening in terms of diversity and inclusion but it's been a long fight getting here and there is more to do.
  • disc
    Jason Tamiru: Self-determination is survival.
  • disc
    Jason Tamiru: Sometimes Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) are a weight we (Indigenous People) have to pull behind us before we can be free.
  • disc
    Tania Cañas: Every moment in our practice (as diverse artists) is a political and ethical moment.
  • disc
    Tania Cañas: If you don't get it, it's probably not for you. And that's OK.
  • disc
    Eugenia Flynn: What is a best practice example of self-determination?
  • disc
    Fiona Tuomy: There is often a focus on individuals but understanding the systematic and structural issues is also important.

We would like to acknowledge that we are meeting today on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation, to pay our respects to their Elders, past, present, and emerging, and to honour their long lineage of creative practice.