The Hon. Mr RJL (Bob) Hawke AC will give the opening keynote address at the inaugural OzAsia ‘Big Ideas’ Symposium, in Adelaide on Saturday 22 September from 10.15am.
The OzAsia Symposium, held on 22 and 23 September in the Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, will feature 26 Australian and 8 overseas-based guest speakers, comprising, artists, cultural commentators, academics and political figures who will look at the cultural exchange between Australia and her regional neighbours.
‘Adelaide has a great tradition of encouraging debate and the free exchange of ideas. From the wonderful Festival of Ideas, to the notion of a ‘thinker-in-residence’, there can’t be many cities in the world better served. I hope the OzAsia Cultural Symposium will become just as much a part of the city’s cultural landscape’, said Douglas Gautier, Artistic Director and CEO of the Adelaide Festival.
‘We’ve decided to make it free entry, to encourage people from all walks of life to discuss, debate and celebrate Australia's diverse contributions and regional exchange with Asia, and the cultural excellence that can be achieved as a result.’
Announcing the speaker line-up for the free public symposium, Mr Gautier said ‘I am particularly pleased that we were able to attract Mr Hawke to give the opening address. He has always shown a great depth of understanding of the issues that this Festival is exploring and we’re honoured to have him give the first key note address.’
The full list of speakers at the OzAsia Symposium comprises:
The Hon RJL (Bob) Hawke Hieu Van Le: Chairman of the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, Lieutenant Governor of South Australia and Patron of the OzAsia Festival Michiko Aoki: Japanese producer of Dramatic Australia in Japan Dr Rustom Bharucha: leading practitioner and theorist of interculturalism and author of Another Asia, Theatre and the World, The Question of Faith, In the Name of the Secular, The Politics of Cultural Practice and Rajasthan: An Oral History Merlinda Bobis: award winning author and playwright whose works have been performed in Australia, the Philippines, France, China, Thailand and the Slovak Republic. Her novel Banana Heart Summer was short listed for the 2006 Australian Literary Society Gold Medal Alison Carroll: leading academic, critic, writer, curator and administrator of art exhibitions and artist exchanges with Asia for more than 20 years Benny Chia: founder and director of the Hong Kong Fringe Club, Fringe Festival and City Festival. He has written and produced more than 15 dance theatre and theatre productions which have been performed in Asia and Australia Goh Ching Lee: Director, Singapore Arts Festival Rosemary Hinde: Director Hirano Productions, a company which focuses on touring and exchange with Asia Professor Julie Holledge: Director, Australian Performance Laboratory Li Hong: Cultural Counsellor, Chinese Embassy, Canberra Binghui Huangfu: Senior Visiting Fellow, University of NSW, The College of Fine Arts Noelle Janaczewska: multi-award winning Sydney-based writer and playwright whose work has been performed, broadcast and published throughout Australia and overseas Prof. Nicholas Jose: Chair of Creative Writing, University of Adelaide Amna Kusumo: independent arts manager and producer and director of the Kelola Foundation, an arts management and training initiative in Indonesia Hung Le: comedian, musician and visual artist Mary Moore: leading Australian set designer and visual artist Wojciech Pisarek: director and visual artist and former Deputy Chair of the Australia Council Board Asil Ramli: Director, Teater Kita Makassar r e a: visual artist John Romeril: playwright Dr Argus Sartono: Education and Cultural Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Gariella Smart: musician and founder the Soundstream Contemporary Music Ensemble Dr Lachlan Stahan: Assistant Secretary, Images of Australia Branch, Department Foreign Affairs and Trade Sally Sussman: Director, Australian Performance Exchange Katherine Thomson: award-winning playwright Joanne Tompkins: Associate Professor, University of Queensland, Drama Yumi Umiumare: choreographer and visual artist Hossein Valamanesh: visual artist Leigh Warren: Artistic Director and Choreographer, Leigh Warren and Dancers Penny Wong: Labor Senator for South Australia John Wotton: Executive Director, Australia Korea Business Council William Yang: award-winning photographer and performer Anna Yen: physical theatre performer and visual artist
Day One of the Symposium will focus on the cultural perspective of the developing relationships between Australia and Asia and analyse the diplomatic channels of effective ‘government to government’ cultural communication. On Day Two the debate continues with Australia’s leading artists and the regions dedicated interculturalists.
The full Ozasia Symposium program is available at www.ozasiafestival.com.au and patrons may register their interest in attending and receiving further Symposium announcements.
Entry is free and general admission. However, entry to the Hawke keynote address is by registration only. To register, email
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but please be aware that seats are strictly limited.
Booking for ticketed OzAsia performances may be made at all BASS outlets or through BASS Dial’n’ Charge on 131 246 or online at www.ozasiafestival.com.au
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