Theory of Creativity

What can we learn from the culture sector crisis during the pandemic? In this episode I speak with Ben Walmsley, one of the world’s preeminent thinkers on the cultural sector to discuss the importance of learning from culture in crisis. Ben is the Director of the Centre for Cultural Value in the UK, as well as holding the roles of Professor of Cultural Engagement and Director of Research and Innovation in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds. Ben’s rese...

Marketing the Arts during a pandemic has led marketers to throw out their reliance on traditional methods of marketing and embrace a new approach. The way audiences buy tickets has completely changed and has led to the need for a higher level of planning pre-production. The uncertainty surrounding whether people will feel comfortable leaving their homes to see a production, visit an art gallery or museum, or attend a concert has been at an all-time high leading to many empty seats and cr...

The performing arts sector faces systemic and structural challenges that have been present long before Covid-19. These include low financial security, low job security, working contract to contract, a highly casualised workforce, freelancers that aren’t protected, and no access to paid leave or sick leave. The pandemic has shined a light on the prevalence of each one of these and has enlightened the general public to the complex problems workers in the performing arts have been facing consist...

In many ways, racial equity is one of the most important challenges of our time. We have certainly made progress in this space, but there is more work to be done. Our guest today is a powerhouse and champion of cultural diversity and racial equity in Australia’s art sector. Lena Nahlous, Executive Director at Diversity Arts Australia, joins me to discuss the Creative Equity Toolkit, an incredibly valuable and practical resource to help organisations make headway in this area. With a...

My guest today is Morwenna Collett, an accomplished Sydney-based consultant, leader and facilitator working in the arts. Morwenna is sought after nationally and internationally for her expertise in diversity, access, and inclusion. Fuelled by her own lived experience as a musician with disability, Morwenna is passionate about increasing accessibility within the music industry.In this episode, Morwenna shares how her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis whilst studying at the Queensland Conservat...

My guest today is Andrew McIntyre, co-founder of MHM (Morris Hargreaves McIntyre), one of the world’s biggest and best consultancies specialising in the culture sector. He joins me today to discuss psychographic culture segments, which reveal how a person’s value system and beliefs shape their engagement patterns and the type of messaging they are receptive to.Andrew discusses how psychographics help to understand deep-seated values and cultural beliefs and the role people perceive culture wi...

The pandemic has been a crisis on many levels. What started out as a health crisis, Covid made waves throughout the globe, hitting us with massive social and economic implications. With many arts and cultural institutions completely shut down, cultural professionals have been forced to rethink how they work and what role they play in people’s lives. In the midst of the loss and unknown, the pandemic has presented us with a great opportunity to reflect on what really matters. In this spac...

How can design thinking help cultural institutions deliver greater social value?In Episode 5 Tandi is joined by Lisa Baxter, founder of The Experience Business, for a deep dive on qualitative research, customer empathy and social purpose. We talk about how to facilitate meaningful conversations between arts organisations and communities, and how that insight can inform everything from our brand values, to our programming, marketing communications, and engagement programs.This episode covers:W...

What role does economics play in the cultural and creative industries?Tandi is joined by PwC’s Chief Economist Jeremy Thorpe for a frank chat about policy and funding. During this episode we cover topics such as how cost-benefit analysis assists with decision making, how economists measure benefit, what “lobbynomics” is, and the power of specialisation in a technology-driven world.The discussion covers:How cost benefit analysis differs from impact analysis and why cost benefit analysis helps ...

What does good leadership look like in the era of cultural democracy?In this episode Tandi speaks with policy consultant John Knell and CEO and Melbourne Fringe Creative Director Simon Abrahams about key shifts currently taking place in the arts and cultural sector.They discuss the particular challenges of leading a cultural organisation today, and how clarity of purpose is the key to resourcefulness.Key points covered:Why ‘conversations’ are replacing ‘marketing’ in arts organisationsHow cul...