IACA Conference Wrap-up

The second biannual IACA conference for 2018 was held in Cairns in late October. As always, members valued the chance to network with other Art Centre representatives, managers and industry partners. The conference agenda was filled with practical and engaging presentations and included updates from Arts QLD and CIAF, along with an informative session on product and merchandise licensing by Tim Acker and Judy Grady from Copyright Agency.  It also included a fun, hands-on artwork pricing workshop with Tim Acker and Edwina Circuitt.

Always a favourite, the Art Centre reports presented an invaluable bonding experience. Challenges, successes and learnings were shared and discussed, and the one-on-one sessions with presenters were popular.

Members responded enthusiastically to Carly Davenport Acker and Curator Shona Coyles’ presentation of the NMA Endeavour 250 exhibition and cultural connections project. This project offers the chance to art centres to have uncensored expression of their own perspectives on the subject of the 250th anniversary of James Cook’s Endeavour voyage along the east coast of Australia.

Rebecca Dagnell and Curtis Taylor’s presentation, an introduction to the Northern Disclosure project, was a highlight and left Art Centres excited to get started. An update from Edwina Circuitt, Arts Development Facilitator, on the Belonging project, was equally powerful.  Edwina introduced some of the quality artworks and cultural stories that were emerging from this project.  There was a great sense of excitement over the benefits and possibilities of Belonging, and members expressed their gratitude to the respectful nature of the exceptional work being conducted by Edwina and IACA.

A supportive, friendly and robust debate at the members meeting, demonstrated how highly engaged the membership are with one another and their peak body. The sense that it was a ‘safe space’ to talk about all manner of topics was clear with most Art Centre representatives contributing.

Members certainly weren’t left wanting at the IACA Members Dinner held at Yaya’s Hellenic Kitchen,where the mood was laid-back as a rolling feast was delivered late into the evening.

High member engagement in all of the sessions, along with positive member feedback, confirmed that participants particularly enjoyed hearing updates about projects, new opportunities, learning and refining skills for Art Centre operations, and the opportunity of coming together to share and learn. The event concluded with a clear sense of excitement over upcoming projects.