This event took place from 13-15 November 2024. Online recordings will be made available in due course.
The 60th anniversary of Donald Horne’s landmark book, The Lucky Country, prompts us to think afresh about Australian culture and social changes, and ask: are ordinary Australians fulfilling their aspirations? Are we a tolerant people?
The Australian Academy of the Humanities’ 55th Annual Symposium will take on the big questions posed by Horne and bring others to the fore. Convened by Professor Frank Bongiorno AM FAHA FRHistS FASSA and Professor Mark McKenna FAHA, the Symposium will take place on 14 & 15 November 2024 in Canberra, Australia.
In 1964, Horne’s chapter titles were a checklist for assessing the state of the nation and its sightlines:
- The Australian Dream
- What is an Australian?
- Senses of Difference
- Between Britain and America
- Living with Asia
- Work
- Power
- Forming Opinions.
From the vantage of 2024, there are clear omissions amongst them, including the changes wrought by feminism, Australia’s involvement in Vietnam and the Middle East, globalisation, enhanced connectivity, and persistent difficulty in hearing Indigenous voices.
This Symposium aims to reflect, debate, and imagine what Australia is now and what it can become.
The Symposium was co-presented with the Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University.
Details
When
13 November, 5.30pm, A Big Dialogue: The State of the Arts in The Lucky Country?
14-15 November The Lucky Country Symposium
Where
Superfloor, Marie Reay Teaching Centre (Building 155), Australian National University, Canberra
> Location and accommodation details
Program
Program sessions
Speakers
Convenors
Professor Frank Bongiorno AM FAHA FRHistS FASSA
Frank Bongiorno is Professor of History at the Australian National University.
Professor Mark McKenna FAHA
Mark McKenna FAHA is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Sydney and Honorary Professor at the National Centre of Biography at the ANU.
The Symposium is supported by a wider convening committee:
- Distinguished Professor Lynette Russell AM FRHistS FASSA FAHA
- Professor Emeritus Julianne Schultz AM FAHA FRSN
- Professor Frederick D’Agostino FAHA
- Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner AO FAHA FQA
- Emeritus Professor Shirley Leitch
- Dr Jennifer Gordon
Sponsors
Principal Sponsor
The Academy acknowledges the generous sponsorship and support by the Australian National University for this year’s Symposium.
Associate sponsors
The Academy gratefully acknowledges our Associate Sponsors, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, and the University of Adelaide.
About the artwork
'Piltati Tjukurpa' (2023) by Rhoda Tjitayi
150 x 200cm, Acrylic on linen
Rhoda was born in Pukatja on the APY Lands in 1969. Rhoda's grandfather was from Nyapari and grandmother from Makiri, Tjala Minyma Ngura, a sacred women’s place relating to the Honeyant. Rhoda is now based in Adelaide and began working at the APY Studio Adelaide in 2019.
Rhoda’s exquisite works depict Piltati Tjukurpa, an important cultural story learnt from her grandmother. Rhoda remembers visiting her grandmother and sitting with her while she painted. When Rhoda paints she says, “I am remembering the story she passed on. I am painting this to pass it on to my children. I have learnt this story from my grandmother she put the story in my heart and it’s going out to my grandchildren. When she was painting, she would tell a story and sing.” Rhoda learnt how to dance and sing from her grandmother and is now teaching her daughter and her family. Rhoda says “I am happy to be painting my grandmother’s story.”
Rhoda has been included in numerous exhibitions at APY Gallery and most recently has been featured in the 2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State at the Art Gallery of South Australia and 2022 Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
