The Humanities & Creative Practice

Audiences for creative practice formats, from the arts to gaming have never been greater. Cities, cultural institutions and business are embracing new approaches and utilising the new insights and formats created through the increasing interaction of the Humanities with creative practices.

Many areas of cultural production, from design to animation to film, need to be reconsidered as a part of the inter-disciplinary approach of both the Humanities and creative practice. Humanities and creative practices both interrogate and activate histories and narratives, and generate new experiences and environments. In so doing, we create a richer, more diverse and speculative physical, mental and spiritual world.

Convened by Distinguished Professor Peter McNeil FAHA with the support of a diverse convening committee, the Symposium foregrounded the diversity and vital role of creative practices, and connected with humanities perspectives on Australian social, cultural, and economic life.

The 56th Academy Symposium was held on 13 – 14 November 2025 in Sydney, Australia. The Symposium was co-presented with the University of Technology Sydney. It was also sponsored by The University of Sydney, the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, the Australian Research Data Commons and the Australian Centre for Public History, UTS.