KILLING CULTURE
Artists shape the cultural narrative, reflecting and refracting society through story, song and experience. But what happens when that narrative is policed, priced and put up for sale? The real economy behind art is attention, risk, backlash, patronage and platforms.
Artistic freedom may be celebrated, but genuine dissent often comes at a cost. When institutions, algorithms, funders and ideologues help determine what is acceptable, the space for creative risk begins to shrink. This session explores whether art can still challenge power when culture itself has become a battleground.
This session is made possible with the support of Rhodia.
Maria Alyokhina [RUS]
Brook Andrew
Brook 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.
Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin is a musician, writer, actor and comedian. He is the award-winning composer-lyricist of two stage musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day. He has toured his iconic live shows for two decades, playing some of the world’s most iconic venues in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US. He has released 2 studios albums: Apart Together (2020) and Tim Minchin Time Machine (2025).
As an actor, he has appeared in Upright, Californication, Robin Hood, Secret River and The Artful Dodger. He was also head writer and co-producer of Upright. Stage roles include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar and Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Books include Storm, When I Grow Up and You Don’t Have To Have a Dream.
He has won many awards including Oliviers, AACTA, AWGIE, Logie, Evening Standard, Edinburgh Comedy Award, Helpmann, Chortle and the Richard Dawkins Award for Science Communication. He has been nominated for Tonys and Grammys, is a member of the Order of Australia and has received three honorary doctorates.
Image Credit: Billy Plummer
John Cameron Mitchell [USA]
John wrote/directed/starred in the musical/film Hedwig and the Angry Inch for which he won two Tony Awards, Best Director at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. He directed the films Shortbus (2006); Rabbit Hole (2010, Best Actress Oscar nomination for Nicole Kidman); and How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017) starring Kidman and Elle Fanning. On Broadway, he’s also starred in Oh Mary!, The Secret Garden, Big River and Six Degrees of Separation. TV roles: Girls, Shrill, The Good Fight, The Sandman, Yellowjackets, City on Fire and as the “Tiger King” in Joe Vs Carole. His fictional podcast series are: Anthem: Homunculus starring Glenn Close and Cynthia Erivo and Cancellation Island starring Holly Hunter. He is developing a play about anti-Nazi artist Claude Cahun, feature films based on the lives of Allen Ginsberg and AIDS activist Peter Staley, and a memoir entitled A Heart Held Outside the Body.
Sisonke Msimang
Sisonke Msimang is a South African-Australian writer, activist and political analyst based in Perth, whose focus is on race, gender and politics. She is the author of two books, Always Another Country: A memoir of exile and home, and The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela. She has published widely including in the New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.