Art is Always Political
Calls to boycott arts festivals, donors pulling funding, the cancellation of works by institutions and talent are all on the rise. Art has always traversed unfamiliar and even dangerous territory. It has always stretched our understanding of morality – asking us to look beyond what is known and familiar. In that sense, art is always political. So, what explains our current state of heightened sensitivity, and how should the arts respond? Where do the boundaries of artistic expression lie? And who decides?
Louise Adler
Louise Adler is the Director of Adelaide Writers’ Week . She has spent over 30 years in the culture business and continues to be committed to the dissemination of dangerous ideas.
Brook Garru Andrew
Brook Garru Andrew is an artist, curator and writer who is driven by the collisions of intertwined narratives emerging from the mess of the “Colonial Wuba (hole)”. His practice is grounded in his perspective as a Wiradjuri and Celtic person from Australia. Brook is Enterprise Professor Interdisciplinary Practice and Director Reimagining Museums and Collections at the University of Melbourne and is represented by Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne, Ames Yavuz Gallery, Sydney/Singapore/London, and Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels.
Violette Ayad
Violette Ayad was born on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja to Palestinian and Lebanese parents. She is now based on Gadigal land where she works as an actor, writer, director, and voice artist. As an actor she has worked for Sydney Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre, Belvoir 25A, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Kings Cross Theatre, and Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Violette has worked in script development for Performing Lines Australia, Merrigong Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company and The National Theatre of Parramatta. She also works in Australian film and television.
Gil Beckwith
Gil has a significant career in the Arts and Not For Profit industry in senior finance and administration management roles. Her working career spans over 40 years and includes working for Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Festival and the Victorian AIDS Council. Gil brings a keen understanding of the fine balance of successful artistic and creative outcomes with positive financial results. She is extremely passionate about the LGBTQIA+ community and she feels very fortunate to be working at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (as CEO) to work with such a dedicated team that provides the space to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community that creates positive change for everyone.
Declan Greene
Declan Greene is a playwright, director, and dramaturg. As a director he has worked for many of Australia’s major theatre companies, including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Belvoir, and Griffin Theatre Company. As a playwright his work includes Moth, Pompeii, L.A., and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography, as well as stage adaptations of Lars Von Triers’ Melancholia and Kenneth Cook’s Wake in Fright. He has worked as a dramaturg with writers including Louis Nowra, Nakkiah Lui, Maxine Beneba Clarke, and Suzie Miller.
Since 2020 Declan has been Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre Company, Australia’s leading theatre of new writing, and was formerly Resident Artist at Malthouse Theatre. He collaborates with Ash Flanders as Sisters Grimm and has co-created and directed all their works to date.
Emile Sherman
Academy Award and Emmy Award–winning film and television producer Emile Sherman co-founded See-Saw Films in 2008. Based in Sydney and London, See-Saw Films has worked with many of the world’s leading filmmakers and actors. Productions include The King’s Speech, Lion, Top of the Lake, Slow Horses, Heartstopper and The Power of the Dog. He’s a former director of Sydney Writers’ Festival and The Ethics Centre. He co-hosts podcast Principle of Charity with Lloyd Vogelman.
Simon Longstaff
Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, a role he continues today. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Adjunct Professor of the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW Sydney, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country in which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
While we believe in freedom of speech, the views and opinions expressed by the speakers are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.