The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre – University of South Australia

The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre is a dynamic and eclectic Centre devoted to generating ideas and solutions to achieve cohesive, sustainable societies. We engage national and international speakers to contribute to a year-long free events programme including lectures and art exhibitions on topics ranging from human rights to space technology, arts to environment and more.

As the year’s programme comes to a close, we have enjoyed presenting an even more diverse selection of events in 2018 reflecting the Centre’s fundamental themes Strengthen our Democracy; Value our Diversity and Build our Future. The Centre has hosted high profile guests including sustainable peace advocate Gill Hicks , author and journalist George Megalogenis, and Flavia Tata Nardini from Adelaide start up Fleet Space Technologies.

The Hawke Centre will present English comedian, actor, author and comedic composer Eric Idle, as he launches his book Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography on 22 November. Eric Idle was a member of the British surreal comedy group Monty Python, a member of the parody rock band The Rutles, and the author of the Broadway musical Spamalot.

Registrations will soon open for the 2018 UniSA Nelson Mandela Lecture, presented by Ronni Kahn, CEO of OzHarvest. The Nelson Mandela Lecture series is jointly presented with the School of Law UniSA, and was established to honour Nelson Mandela, the Hawke Centre’s first International Patron (2001-2013). The purpose of this lecture series is to promote the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals and the value of truth and reconciliation in life and public affairs. The ideal of justice for common humanity underpins all the lectures presented.

The final instalment of the 2018 Art Talks in November will feature ASO Managing Director, Vincent Ciccarello in conversation with Arts Consultant and Digital Entrepreneur Kate Gould, and Professor Joanne Cys, Pro Vice Chancellor: Education, Arts and Social Science at UniSA as they talk about Art and Place: Why the two are inextricably linked.

This year the Hawke Centre is proud to support the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, presenting journalist and social commentator Jane Caro.  Jane Caro presented at the Hawke Centre recently where she delivered the 2017 Amnesty International Oration to a full house.  The Hawke Centre will be co-presenting the 2018 Amnesty International Oration, with the speaker and date to be announced shortly.

Jane Caro (Photo credit: The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre)

In the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, the 2018 Exhibitions programme will see a focus on talented students studying at UniSA. Facilitated by Match Studio, Visualising Mental Health presents clinical tools and product prototypes designed and developed by UniSA’s Communication Design students in consultation with practicing psychologists to ‘visualise’ complex mental health concepts. In conjunction with Visualising Mental Health, Match Studio will also be presenting  Concepts for a Modbury Age Friendly Precinct which will explore strategies that best incorporate the diverse voices of older people into the build environment, and the importance of creating effective ‘age friendly’ public spaces.

In collaboration with the School of Art, Architecture and Design at UniSA, IGNITE! UniSA Illustration and Animation Graduate Exhibition, is the inaugural exhibition for graduates of the UniSA Illustration and Animation program. IGNITE is an exhibition not to miss, including Illustrated and animated pictures for Children’s Picture books, Short Animations, Character Design, Posters, Game Art, Editorial Illustration, Comics, Concept Art, Murals, Tattoo Design, Graphic Design, Fashion and more.

Artwork by Jessica Collicelle

The exhibition programme concludes with the University of South Australia’s  2018 Industrial Design Graduate Exhibition, showcasing the creative talent of the University’s Industrial Design students.

There is more to come as the Centre is home to an ever-revolving door of artists, activists, and change makers. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2018 speaker for the highly anticipated Annual Hawke Lecture series, and announcements for the 2019 programme.

It has been Jacinta’s aim that this year’s programme provides the audience with the knowledge and means to navigate some of the world’s more complicated issues, and the tools to meet our shared responsibilities. You can relive all Hawke Centre events through podcasts and videos on the Hawke Centre website including our TEDxUbud presentation with artist and University of South Australia PhD candidate Daniel Connell ‘How art teaches you to approach the unfamiliar’.

Daniel Connell, TEDxUbud (Photo credit: Shayna Pitch Photography)

Visit The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre’s website here.