This programme of events involves art and culture practitioners, policymakers and academics from all three universities in South Australia.
Reset: 'To turn a piece of computer equipment off and then on again when it does not work correctly, to make it start working correctly again.' - Cambridge Online Dictionary
The deepening crisis in arts and culture was only made worse by the pandemic, and its current failure to secure its value as an essential part of our democratic society has long roots. We seek new ideas and practices to help us rethink the value of art and culture and re-establish their place in public policy and in our everyday citizenship.
For more information see the Reset webpage.
2024 Events
Book launch and lecture: Culture Is Not An Industry
In March-April 2024, Justin O’Connor launched his book Culture Is Not An Industry in a series of talks across the UK and northern Europe. As Professor of Cultural Economy at the University of South Australia (UniSA), he presented a lecture on the book to UniSA students and lecturers just prior to his booked-out Adelaide launch.
About the book:
Culture is at the heart of what it means to be human. But twenty-five years ago, the British government, adapting Australia’s “Creative Nation” policy, rebranded art and culture as 'creative industries'. They were now to be valued for their economic contribution, and treated as an industry generating jobs, growth and innovation. Where does that leave art and culture now? Facing exhausted workers and a lack of funding and vision, culture finds itself in the grip of accountancy firms, creativity gurus and Ted Talkers. At a time of sweeping geo-political turmoil, culture has been de-politicised, its radical energies reduced to factors of industrial production. This book is about what happens when an essential part of our democratic citizenship, fundamental to our human rights, is reduced to an industry. Published by Manchester University Press, Culture is not an industry argues that art and culture need to renew their social contract and re-align with the radical agenda for a more equitable future. Bold and uncompromising, the book offers a powerful vision for change.
Watch the seminar:
2023 Events
Bodies of Work conference
1-3 November 2023
This three-day conference, held at the Waterside Workers Hall in Port Adelaide Yartapuulti, was a collaboration between Vitalstatistix, Reset, Assemblage and CP3. Each day had a different focus: arts, community and activism; basic income, dignified work and real rights; and culture as foundational. Highlights included Jessica Alice, Chair, AICSA in conversation with South Australian Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Andrea Michaels MP, about the SA Government’s new taskforce into sustainable careers for artists and arts workers; and an Australian exclusive presentation about the successful campaign for a basic income for artists pilot in Ireland and lessons arising from its current implementation, with international guest speakers Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact and former Chair of National Campaign for the Arts who championed the Basic Income for Artists pilot in Ireland, and Sharon Barry, Director, Culture Ireland. On the final day local and international experts presented a range of new policy approaches and statistical models to help us rethink cultural policy in the next decade. The three days ended with a performance by Catherine Ryan of A Perfect Day, on work, leisure and neoliberalism.
2022 Events
Reset Talk: launch of the working paper Art, Culture and the Foundational Economy, 24 June 2022
Since 1994 art and culture have been told that becoming ‘creative industries’ would lead to a seat at the government table and the resources commensurate with its new importance. Though this has failed dismally the cultural sector lack a language to go forward. Might the Foundational Economy point to a new way for the sector to think itself as part of public policy? In this lecture Justin O’Connor outlined some of the challenges and possibilities opened up by this post-neoliberal economic agenda. The event also marked the launch of the Reset working paper - Art, Culture and the Foundational Economy.
Download the working paper here
Seminar: Culture and the Sustainable Development Goals, 27 April 2022
Presented by CP3 and the Hawke EU Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence as part of the Reset Arts and Culture project.
Chair: Justin O’Connor, CP3 and Reset
Co-host: Dr Samuel Whiting, CP3 and Reset
Dr Tully Barnett, CP3 and Reset, Flinders University
Held at the Bradley Forum, Hawke Building, this hybrid live/webinar event brought together three leading experts from Europe who were lead contributors to a recent EU sponsored report on Culture and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They introduced the debate and outlined the challenges faced in articulating a new cultural SDG. Drawing on their report, they discussed ways in which the role of culture is more important than ever in helping humanity achieve the SDGs. Speakers included:
- Jordi Pascual – United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
- Valeria Marcolin – Culture et Développment
- Marshall Marcus – Sistema Europe
2021 Events
- Reset # 1 Round Table Flinders Vic: 16th April
- Reset # 2 What to do about Cultural Work after the Pandemic 7th May City Library
Watch the video - Reset # 3 Heterodox Economics and the Cultural Sector 17th June Bradley Forum
- Reading/ writing group: 1st July City West
- "Industry group": 2nd July Flinders Vic Square
- Reset # 4 Scott Ludlam: Full Circle and the Art of Panarchy, 15th July Bradley Forum
- 5th August CP3/ Hawke EU centre Guest Lecture: Dan Hill: The new Euro-Bauhaus and its implications for Australia.
Watch the video - Reset # 5 After the Creative City, 10th September, Port Adelaide, Waterside Workers Hall. With Dan Hill. Sponsored CP3/ EU Hawke Centre
- Launch Keeping Creative 30th September, MOD - Cornelia Dümcke, Berlin7th May City Library
Watch the video - Reset # 7 Public Policy and Cultural Citizenship. Thursday 14th October
- Reset # 8 Two-Day Conference, co-hosted Arts Industry Council South Australia. Thursday/ Friday 11-12th November Adelaide Town Hall.
