National Regional Arts Broadband Forum

Recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to be one of fifty observers to the National Regional Arts Broadband Forum, organized by Regional Arts Australia, at Parliament House, Canberra.

Twenty speakers representing a range of stakeholders including; NBN Co, ABC Television, the tertiary education sector, new media, regional and Aboriginal arts organizations, discussed an open response to the question – How will better access to broadband enable the arts to help build stronger communities?

Much of the conversation centred on the impact NBN services will have on education services and creative enterprise/opportunity. By removing distance and isolation from the equation, clearly, more people will be able to participate either as ‘makers’ or as ‘audience’. In nurturing this ‘market share’, speakers stressed the need for players to partner and connect, to metaphorically create broadband like links, in support of what can be achieved.

The Hon Simon Crean MP, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government & Minister for the Arts also addressed the forum. He strongly articulated arts related broadband opportunity in the context of community cultural, social and economic benefit. His vision of a connected future emphasised the need for arts related participation to be found at ‘intersections’ throughout the community. He unambiguously sees the arts as a major player in regional development, lifestyle and service provision and that this role will be enhanced by the NBN.

In health and education, across local government, within community and social services and throughout the private sector ‘cultural’ intersections already exist. As many readers of this blog know, in regional Australia, museums, galleries, theatres, conservatoriums and Aboriginal cultural centres are often found at the centre of what people do. Programs they run actively seek to connect and ‘tap the talent out there’, a role Crean emphasised in commenting on the two way nature of broadband – the ability to upload shouldn’t be forgotten.

In the not to distant future, Regional Arts Australia will be publishing a more detailed account of proceedings. Hopefully we will be able to publish it (or a link to it) on our website so stay tuned and in regard to the NBN, think big!

Michael Rolfe