Think Tank #1: Who’s Afraid of Public Space?
Wednesday 29 April 2020
3–4pm
Online: Zoom
The question Who’s Afraid of Public Space? seems more pertinent and more complex than ever. Initially posed as a point of enquiry for ACCA’s forthcoming research, publication and exhibition project of the same name, in this rapidly changing pandemic landscape, this subject has taken on a new dimension as we have seen the nature of public space and public culture shift, and the flooding of the ‘digital square’ in place of the public square.
This forum brings together key thinkers in public culture, art and design to consider the impacts of the rapid turn to the digital, messaging around fear, accessibility, as well as other recent global discussions and debates around the contested nature of public space, and the shifting character of public culture.
This Think Tank as the first in a series of six public forums that will take place over the next twelve months that will both feed into and highlight the ideas and concerns of ACCA’s forthcoming 2021 research, publication and exhibition project, Who’s Afraid of Public Space?
The first Think Tank will be held online via Zoom Webinar on Wednesday 29 April, 3–4pm.
Contributors include members of ACCA’s Who’s Afraid of Public Space? Curatorial Advisory Group Dr Marnie Badham, Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Art, RMIT University; Eugenia Flynn writer, arts worker, community organiser, and PhD Candidate at Queensland University of Technology; Grace McQuilten, Lecturer in Art History and Theory, and Leader of the Contemporary Art and Social Transformation Research Group in the School of Art, RMIT University; Professor Nikos Papastergiadis, School of Culture and Communication; and Director of the Research Unit for Public Culture, University of Melbourne; Nur Skhembi, artist, curator and PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne.
This event takes place via Zoom, registration is essential
Free
Image: Public Movement, Training Ground, 2015 (Photo: Zan Wimberley)