Independent Convergence - Friday 17 February 2016

Convergence is a time to meet and investigate the realities of being an independent artist in Australia. We underline independent, encouraging attendance by those who see independence as a positive choice and central value of their artistic practice. But we don’t have an axe to grind against the wider sector, rather we offer this opportunity as a moment to focus on the strengths and possibilities of our overlapping, unaffiliated and complimentary independent community.

These kind of events can often get dominated by “industry” talk, so we’re hoping to put the focus of discussion and events firmly upon artistic practice, autonomous creativity and wherever possible we’ll strive to avoid talking about money – because that’s only one way to value what we do. With our creative lives and artistic practices at the forefront of conversation, it’s a day focus upon what it is, how it is and what we want it to be.

We hope this opportunity to gather will interest people who’ve been working for years, people who are developing their first works and the gamut between. We want there to be some of the same usual faces in attendance, but also those steadfastly on the independent fringes or those who’ve not yet been extended the invitation. We want those attending to represent a variety of practice, a range of cultures and a mixture of abilities. We want this representation simply because we believe a rich cohort generates a diversity of thought and that this varied perspective is one of the central advantages we gain from independence. Please pass this invitation on to someone else that you think should attend.

And we hope this is something of an offer and a challenge to those in our wider circle of colleagues and collaborators beyond Melbourne. We’re calling this event in order to begin an autonomously convened conversation that continues in other Australian locations. A challenge to continue an independent strand of discussion, advocacy and community that feels timely to where you practice.

  – Bek Berger, Dan Koop & Kieran Swann, 2015. 

Independent Convergence 2017

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2017

10AM-4PM AT MPAVILION

This year, we centred our conversations on the topic of ‘responsibility’.

In a connected world, what is our responsibility to the local spaces of our daily lives, and the global spaces that influence our lives?

In a complex society, what is our responsibility to the communities that we belong to, and the communities around us?

In a place where many cultures meet, what is our responsibility to the tradition(s) that we’ve inherited, and our responsibility to experiment?

In a fast changing world, what is our responsibility to maintain personal consistency, and what is our responsibility to adapt and respond?

In a world of many voices, what is our responsibility to speak and our responsibility to listen?

Artists Bek Berger, Dan Koop and Kieran Swann first conceived Independent Convergence in May 2015, as a day-long conference where independent artists could form a creative community that thinks differently. Now, join Esther Anatolitis, Bek Berger, Julien Leyre & Izzy Roberts-Orr for a day-long symposium at MPavilion that explores the realities of being an independent artist in Australia today.

– Esther, Bek, Julien & Izzy

PLEASE BRING comfortable clothes for the Melbourne outdoors, a picnic rug and your lunch – a sharing plate of food is great if you can!

PLEASE SHARE this invitation to thinkers and makers who you’d love to see there on the day, both within and well beyond the arts.

Wanna contribute? Wanna Help? Wanna ask some questions?
Contact us! independent.convergence@gmail.com

Bek Berger, Dan Koop, Kieran Swann, Esther Anatolitis, Julien Leyre & Izzy Roberts-Orr are Independent practitioners interested in starting dialogues about practice in Australia and finding ways of helping each other. This project is not being run with any funding so if you want to help out in anyway please get in touch!