What role can the arts and creativity play in navigating unresolved concerns, ongoing debates and controversial questions for our communities?

Exploring complex topics, from reconciliation and truth-telling in the context of colonialism to polarising social or political issues, this symposium will feature exchanges between leading artists and researchers from Australia and Northern Ireland about difficult conversations we, as a globally connected society, need to have today.

The conversations

TURF – A Short Film by Ara Devine

A Derryman and a Syrian asylum seeker spend a day working on a bog with a complicated journey across the Irish border.

Watch the conversation with Paul Moore and filmmaker Ara Devine.

Ulster University

Colin Davidson – Silent Testimony: An Introduction

Colin Davidson introduces his exhibition ‘Silent Testimony’ at the Ulster Museum in Belfast, setting the context and inspiration behind the series of portraits of victims and survivors of ‘The Troubles.’

Ulster University

The Bullock at the Mudhole

Paul Collis, Jen Crawford, Wayne Knight, Story Ground Collective
Barkindji Country & Ngemba Country: Gundabooka, Toorale Station, Bourke, Brewarrina

University of Canberra

Difficult Stories: Creativity, Curation, Culture

Ursula K. Frederick in conversation with Steve Brown, Ashley Harrison, Wendy Somerville, Bethaney Turner

University of Canberra

Ciara Hickey in Conversation with Array Collective

2021 winners of the Turner Prize, Array Collective, discuss their art-making as activism for women and LGBTQ+ rights and share some practical lessons in how to continue working as a collective despite obstacles and recognition by establishment interests.

Ulster University

The Launch

What role can the arts and creativity play in navigating unresolved concerns, ongoing debates and controversial questions for our communities?

This panel discussion opened the UC difficult conversations event featuring a conversa­tion between university leaders and artists from Canberra and Ulster.

University of Canberra

UC acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, traditional custodians of the lands where the Bruce campus is situated.

We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of Canberra and the region.

We also acknowledge all other First Nations Peoples on whose lands we gather.