Leading arts advocate Robyn Archer AO was today announced as the inaugural Chair of the National Institute of Dramatic Art’s highly anticipated Master of Fine Arts in Cultural Leadership.
The MFA Cultural Leadership is the first in a new suite of graduate courses NIDA is launching in 2016 within the institute’s new Graduate School.
Robyn Archer said the course was an important step forward for NIDA and the Australian creative sector, and that she was honoured to be the inaugural Chair.
“We are fortunate in Australia to have strong and daring creative leaders, who are often the driving force behind innovation and change in arts and culture,” commented Ms Archer.
“But leadership is something you don’t necessarily learn on the job, and many talented people may never find the opportunities within a given employment structure to build the skills needed to lead in the cultural and creative space. That’s why this course is so essential � rather than relying on chance to hand down the experience of our current leaders, we are actively harnessing their knowledge to nurture the next generation.
“I’m looking forward to working with the first group of students and exploring what leadership means in arts and culture � what are the challenges, what does it take to lead and what is the role our leaders play in embracing change and driving innovation in our cultural life?”
NIDA Director/CEO Lynne Williams welcomed Ms Archer and said NIDA was privileged to be working with her as key ambassador for the course.
“We feel very fortunate to welcome an artist and advocate as respected as Robyn Archer to the position of inaugural Chair of Cultural Leadership. Robyn is an influential creative leader both in Australia and internationally, and her guidance will ensure this course plays a pivotal role in shaping Australia’s creative and cultural future.”
A number of fellowships supported by the Australian Government Ministry for the Arts, including a fully funded Fellowship for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander candidate, will be awarded to outstanding applicants.
“These fellowships will ensure that NIDA can offer places in the Cultural Leadership course to applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and support them financially to achieve their goals,” commented Ms Williams.
“We want to assemble a cohort of students who have the potential to be creative innovators and cultural entrepreneurs. NIDA is looking for mid-career practitioners from across the performing and visual arts as well as people working in a variety of arts and cultural organisations.”
Set to open in 2016, the new Graduate School will provide a multi-discipline environment for creative and cultural professionals to explore new practices and develop their skills in response to the rapidly evolving world of arts and culture. NIDA’s growing program of graduate courses will build on the success of the current MFA Directing and MFA Writing for Performance.
For more information or to apply, visit apply.nida.edu.au.
Photographycourtesyof Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast.
