A Focus on Arts Education and Creative Leadership at Adelaide Festival Centre
Adelaide Festival Centre announces Flinders University as Education Partner
Adelaide Festival Centre (Photo credit: Jack Fenby)
With a focus on supporting students and preparing the arts and cultural sector for the future, Adelaide Festival Centre (AFC) is proud to announce Flinders University as a centre-wide Education Partner, following the recent opening of the university’s City Campus located adjacent to the Festival Plaza.
Through a range of innovative and engaging projects, this partnership aims to support students, artists and the wider industries by enhancing the cultural and educational landscape of South Australia and gain a deeper engagement with the Asia Pacific region.
Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University Peter Monteath: “This partnership builds on many years of successful collaboration while opening new opportunities for both parties to contribute to the delivery of world-class education in the Creative and Performing Arts.”
In 2024, the partnership delivered the International Symposium: Leadership in the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries at Flinders University, bringing together leaders from universities and arts institutions across the Asia Pacific to share experiences, ideas, and strategic visions in response to the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities through a series of keynote speeches and critical discussions on leadership. Flinders University was also a Festival Partner for the 2024 OzAsia Festival presented by AFC.
This year, Flinders University students will be offered a 6-day intensive subject focusing on festivals – providing an in-depth exploration of festival management and arts programming. Equipping students with practical skills and insights, the course will be led by AFC’s Head of Public Affairs Christie Anthoney.
Professor Peter Monteath, Susannah Sweeney, Janine Eckert, Sean Parsonage and Christie Anthoney (Photo credit: Simon Rogers)
AFC will also facilitate Work Integrated Learning Placements for Flinders University students, offering hands-on experience across various festivals and roles within the industry including from production and programming to marketing, hospitality and front of house. This programme aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “The collaboration between the arts and education sectors brings a multitude of benefits to the wider community, and as such, Adelaide Festival Centre supports students across all stages of learning.
“Our exciting partnership with Flinders University highlights the opportunities that the Festival Plaza and Riverbank precincts present, for both students and the wider community, and is another great example of how these sectors can work together.”
More exciting programmes and initiatives as part of the partnership will be announced soon.
Adelaide Festival Centre inspiring the next generation of Arts Leaders across Australasia with the annual Arts Leadership Programme
Arts Leadership Programme
Adelaide Festival Centre (AFC) is inspiring the next generation of Arts Leaders across the Asia Pacific with its annual Arts Leadership programme, a fully funded, four-day intensive, with tailored leadership guidance and curated workshops from expert leaders.
In 2024, the programme’s second year, international participants travelled to Adelaide from Hong Kong Arts Development Council, The Esplanade Co Ltd Singapore, National Centre for the Performing Arts Mumbai, Cultural Center of the Philippines and Resident Island Dance Theatre Taiwan, amongst others.
Topics included leadership for creative teams, cultural sensitivity for leaders and habits of high functioning leaders. Developed in conjunction with Flinders University and the Leaders Institute of South Australia, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Arts Leadership Program was instigated by Richard Ryan AO and envisioned by Douglas Gautier AM, to support arts industry workers across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, who see themselves as future leaders, gain the tools to take their career to the leadership level.
At this annual programme, participants receive personalised leadership tools, dedicated knowledge exchange with industry professionals, peer support and the opportunity for networking and relationship building.
In 2024, the Arts Leadership Programme coincided with both AFC’s OzAsia Festival and the Flinders University International Symposium: Leadership in the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries, allowing participants to attend shows at OzAsia, Australia’s leading contemporary arts festival engaging with Asia, as well as engaging with the valuable topics explored at Flinders’ International Symposium, which featured Kim Williams, Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as a speaker, and included panels on the following timely topics;
- Universities and Cultural Organisations Working Together
- Cultural Engagement Through the Arts
- Navigating the Complexity of Arts Management: Leadership Challenges in Small Performing Arts Organisations
- Rethinking Creative Arts Education in SE Asia
- Enhancing Accessibility in Performance Arts for a Sustainable Future
- Navigating Arts and Politics
The Arts Leadership Programme returns in the second half of 2025. Sign up here to be the first to receive updates and reminders: https://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/festivals-programs/arts-leadership-program