Grant Award View - GA199752

Asialink Arts and Cementa Inc. will partner to deliver three virtual events at Cementa in Kandos in October 2021. Business, civic and arts leaders from Japan and Australia will be invited to share their experience and participate with stakeholders in a conversation across three events: A keynote presentation to set the scene, a panel to share insights and a closed round table for a focused discussion relevant to Australia’s regions with an emphasis on the Mid-Western local government area. The focus will centre on the challenges faced by communities experiencing regional decline and the capacity of arts and culture to contribute to their economic, social, and demographic renewal. Kandos is a fitting context for this conversation: in 2012, the town faced an uncertain future when its industries closed, attracting the attention of artists and spawning the establishment of Cementa Festival. Cementa is demonstrating its capacity to contribute to Kandos’ recovery, however there is still a case to be made for further learnings and investment. Japan has a substantial and successful history of mounting significant cultural initiatives in regional and rural contexts ultimately stemming regional decline.