With a focus on supporting students and preparing the arts and cultural sector for the future, Adelaide Festival Centre is proud to announce Flinders University as a centre-wide Education Partner, following the recent opening of the university’s City Campus located adjacent to the Festival Plaza.
Through a range of innovative and engaging projects, this partnership aims to support students, artists and the wider industries by enhancing the cultural and educational landscape of South Australia and gain a deeper engagement with the Asia Pacific region.
Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University Peter Monteath: “This partnership builds on many years of successful collaboration while opening new opportunities for both parties to contribute to the delivery of world-class education in the Creative and Performing Arts,” he said.
Next month, the partnership will deliver the International Symposium: Leadership in the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries at Flinders University, bringing together leaders from universities and arts institutions across the Asia Pacific to share experiences, ideas, and strategic visions in response to the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities through a series of keynote speeches and critical discussions on leadership.
In 2025, Flinders University students will be offered a 6-day intensive subject focusing on festivals – providing an in-depth exploration of festival management and arts programming. Equipping students with practical skills and insights, the course will be led by Adelaide Festival Centre’s Head of Public Affairs, Christie Anthoney.
Adelaide Festival Centre will also facilitate Work Integrated Learning Placements for Flinders University students, offering hands-on experience across various festivals and roles within the industry including from production and programming to marketing, hospitality and front of house to name a few. This program aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.
“The collaboration between the arts and education sectors brings a multitude of benefits to the wider community, and as such, Adelaide Festival Centre supports students across all stages of learning,” said Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director, Douglas Gautier AM.
“Our exciting partnership with Flinders University highlights the opportunities that the Festival Plaza and Riverbank precincts present, for both students and the wider community, and is another great example of how these sectors can work together.”
Flinders University is also a Festival Partner for the 2024 OzAsia Festival, delivering; a staged reading of Rising Out of Water at Adelaide Festival Centre’s Space Theatre, the exhibition Reuniting Cargoes: Underwater Cultural Heritage from the Maritime Silk and Spice Route from the Flinders University Discipline of Archaeology, and a workshop hosted by Flinders University for artists participating in OzAsia Festival’s Artist Lab, offering valuable resources and support as they prepare for their performances.
More exciting programs and initiatives as part of the partnership will be announced soon. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au for details.
Image: Professor Peter Monteath, Susannah Sweeney, Janine Eckert, Sean Parsonage and Christie Anthoney – photo by Simon Rogers