A Look Back At 2021 – Unpacking All Things Digital!
Digital: Unpacked! was AAPPAC’s theme and key focus throughout 2021’s calendar of events and activities. The Secretariat hosted two Let’s Talk! sessions in May and August 2021 which led to a fully subscribed two-day AAPPAC Virtual Conference in October 2021. Arts venues, artists, arts groups, festival managers and other key players in the arts were brought together online where they shared their insights, achievements and challenges in the adoption of technology and discussed how it has impacted the way they worked, connected and collaborated in the arts. Their generous sharing has provoked conversations and helped to illuminate possible pathways for the way forward.
LET’S TALK! – Digital: Unpacked! Session #1 – Past, Present, Future (21 May 2021)
Panel Speakers:
1. Charlotte Nors (Managing Director, Singapore Repertory Theatre)
2. Lin Ting-Chun (Programming Director, National Theater & Concert Hall)
3. Katherine Connor (Executive Director, PAC Australia)
The session was moderated by Chng Hak-Peng from the Singapore Symphony Group.
As an introduction to the theme of digital, the speakers took turns to share their unique experiences from their perspective as an arts group, arts venue, and an industry association. They shared their struggles and joys in navigating the tech-world and also what their respective considerations were in planning for a digital future in the arts. The Secretariat also took the opportunity to share updates on the current climate for the performing arts in the Asia-Pacific region based on an AAPPAC Survey conducted in late April 2021 during this session.
LET’S TALK! – Digital: Unpacked! Session #2: Creating Eco-systems for Creation & Presentation of Art/Performance with Technology (13 August 2021)
Panel Speakers:
1. Kay Poh Gek Vasey (Chief Connecting Officer, The MeshMinds Foundation)
2. Sarah Ellis (Director of Digital Development, Royal Shakespeare Company)
3. Kuo Jian Hong (Artistic Director, The Theatre Practice)
The session was moderated by Faith Tan (Head, Dance and International Development, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
The session discussed the ways in which artists, arts institutions, technology companies, research partners, and funding bodies could collaborate to enable new ways of creation, presentation and outreach through the incorporation of technologies and digital strategies such as AR/VR, 3D Visualisation, and more. The speakers shared perspectives and learnings from their own practice and delved deep into the innovative ways in which technology has changed how they have been able to create and engage with their audiences.
2021 AAPPAC Virtual Conference – Digital Unpacked! – Bringing the Arts to the Future Audience (28 – 29 October 2021)
On 28 – 29 October 2021, AAPPAC put together its first ever Virtual Conference – Digital: Unpacked! – Bringing the Arts to the Future Audience. The conference focused the spotlight on Performing Arts Audiences to discuss how we can continue engaging them in relevant and meaningful ways. Over two days, experts and specialists in the fields of producing and programming, digital marketing, and arts management were invited to share their respective experiences and opinions regarding the shifts and transformations that need to take place to address the changing needs of future audiences in this digital world.
Keynote Presentation – Opening Up Post-COVID by Tisa Ho, Executive Director, Hong Kong Arts Festival (Hong Kong). Tisa was also joined during the Q&A by Douglas Gautier AM, Chairman of AAPPAC and CEO of Adelaide Festival Centre.
Panel Speakers:
- Ken Tan, Ken Tan, Senior Director, Producing and Programming, Arts House Limited (Singapore)
- Helen Faulkner, Director of Audiences, Manchester International Festival (Manchester)
- Grant Brisland, Director of Business Growth & Development, HOTA Home of the Arts (Gold Coast)
Moderated by Kristen Eckhardt – Director of Marketing, Sales and Audience Engagement, Adelaide Festival Centre (Adelaide)
Panel Discussion #2 – Live/Digital or Hybrid – What is the right balance for the future audience?
Panel Speakers:
- Paul Tam, Executive Director, West Kowloon Cultural District (Hong Kong)
- Lydia Kuo, Executive Director of Taiwan Philharmonic (Taipei)
- Stuart Buchanan, Head of Digital Programming, Sydney Opera House (Sydney)
Moderated by Yvonne Tham, CEO, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Singapore)
On the first day of the conference, we also presented the first virtual edition of the AAPPAC Connecting Series – an opportunity for artists, artist managers, programmers, and presenters to share ideas on potential partnerships with AAPPAC members through the development and presentation of new work. In line with the conference theme as well as AAPPAC’s overall mission, this year’s edition prioritised work that were digital or displayed innovative use of technology as well as those that reflected the diversity, character and cross-cultural nature of the Asia-Pacific Region.
The Secretariat received an overwhelming number of 24 submissions, the largest number of entries we have received since the series was launched in 2018. The selection panel members comprising of Ken Hayashi (Manager of PR and Marketing, Aichi Arts Center). Faith Tan (Head of Dance & International Development, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay), and SoHyun Kim (Director of Artistic Planning, Tongyeong Concert Hall) had a challenging time evaluating and selecting from the line-up of quality projects submitted but eventually chose the eight works that we saw presented in this year’s conference.
More information on the eight selected works presented at this year’s Connecting Series can be found here: https://aappac.com/en/connecting-series/.
The virtual conference had over 200 registrations. The speakers’ inspiring stories and the intriguing discussions that followed their presentations sparked off many questions and further sharing from those tuning in. Through these online conversations, it was interesting to see how many of us who participated, despite our geographical and cultural differences, were all sharing similar struggles and considerations. Unlike last year’s reactive COVID-19 responses, many arts organisations are now making headway in redefining business models and roles to our individual communities, deepening relationships and making much needed social impact.
The Secretariat would like to thank AAPPAC Chairman Douglas Gautier AM, Deputy Chair Yvonne Tham, Executive Council members, our esteemed speakers, moderators and fellow members who took the time to share their COVID-19 and digital journeys with us in 2021 and in doing so helped us navigate through the uncertainties of this current climate and provide us with a glimpse into the possibilities of how we might operate, create, and collaborate in the future forward. As we head into 2022, we welcome feedback and suggestions on how we can continue to strengthen and grow the Association, facilitate sharing and learning as well as continue to engage members.
Happy New Year to everyone in AAPPAC, and with a very hopeful heart – see you in Singapore for the 2022 Singapore Conference hosted by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay from 19-22 October.
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If you missed any of the Let’s Talk! Sessions or our AAPPAC Virtual Conference, please visit our Youtube Channel to catch the talks.