Junction 2010 - Regional Arts Australia national conference

Tasmania’s Minister for the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, has officially launched the seventh Regional Arts Australia national conference: Junction 2010 ‐ connecting the future, to be held in Launceston next year.

“Junction 2010 will unleash an explosion of ideas and creativity from Australian and overseas delegates through a stimulating and thought‐provoking conference program and arts festival that celebrates, connects and challenges,” the Minister said.

The conference is held every two years and is Australia’s biggest and most eagerly awaited regional arts event.

Junction 2010 will be held in Launceston from 26 August to 29 August 2010 and is presented in partnership with Tasmanian Regional Arts and the host community of Launceston.

With over 1000 delegates participating in the conference, Junction 2010 will bring together people from across Australia and international borders.

The conference will involve leading thinkers and practitioners from the arts and other sectors exploring a range of questions, issues and ideas under the conference themes of Footprints, Threads, Resilience and Momentum.

The conference themes urge us to think about our impact and influence; they encourage collaborations and connections, and remind us to focus on our capacity, knowledge and action for change.

An arts festival will envelop and intersect the conference program, showcasing the best of regional arts with a particular focus on Tasmanian work.

The program will include theatre, dance, opera, visual arts, screen based works, writing, installation and more. A great program of short works will be featured in a genuinely cool festival club.

Ian Pidd has been appointed as the artistic director of the arts festival and the festival program will be launched in March, 2010.

The conference website provides an interactive forum for artists, academics, arts workers, students, volunteers, all levels of government and community to contribute, discuss, debate and voice their thoughts about the questions and issues being addressed at the event.

The expressions of interest and call for presentations for the conference are now open with details available on the website www.junction2010.com.au.