The India and Australia Creative Connections Forum, held in Delhi on Friday, was an important milestone celebrating cross-cultural collaboration and innovation within the creative sectors of both countries. The event brought together creative minds from across a range of art disciplines to explore new opportunities to promote cultural exchange.
The India and Australia Creative Connections Forum, being convened by the University of Melbourne with relevant industry partners, aims to facilitate a creative network of Indian and Australian talents to meet, share and co-create, reflecting the commitment of both countries to promote the arts and creative industries, which are central to the nations' futures.
University of Melbourne's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Culture and Engagement), Professor Michael Wesley said: "This initiative exemplifies our dedication to cultivating global collaborations that transcend disciplinary boundaries and deepen mutual cultural appreciation. As the creative sector flourishes in both nations, bringing together diverse talent from India and Australia enables us to learn from each other and leverage our strengths, offering valuable educational experiences that will enrich our University's diverse community while contributing to expanding the creative industries in both countries".
Delivering the opening remarks at the inaugural forum, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Phillip Green said:
"Australia's relationship with India is at an unprecedented high. As the fastest growing major economy in the world, with complementary strengths to ours, India presents vast opportunities for Australia. This extends to opportunities in the creative sector, with creative industries accounting for nearly 8% of India's workforce.
As the Australia-India relationship continues to grow, it's important that we get to know each other better and celebrate the rich culture and diversity that each of us brings. Whether it's music, art, food, film, literature, or theatre, culture is an essential connecting thread by which we can help build mutual understanding that will pave the way towards greater cooperation and a richer partnership between our two countries.
The India and Australia Creative Connections Forum presents a valuable opportunity to share our unique cultures and stories, strengthen our institutional linkages and explore new avenues for cooperation."
The India and Australia Creative Connections Forum is a strategic platform allowing Indian and Australian creatives to share industry insights and best practices. More than 50 creative industry professionals attended the forum, including highly awarded conceptual artist, Mithu Sen, and acclaimed author Vikas Swarup, who wrote the book 'Q&A', which the film 'Slum Dog Millionaire' was based on.
Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette AM emphasised: "Creativity connects us across borders, cultures and disciplines, and the India and Australia Creative Connections Forum is a wonderful example of this. By bringing together creative talent from both nations, we are creating a unique space for dialogue, innovation and collaboration. Our vision is for Australian arts, culture and creativity to flourish globally and to be celebrated for their innovation, sustability and diversity. We hope the forum will spark connections that continue to inspire and bring value to the creative industries of both nations".
Tim Thomas, CEO Centre for Australia India Relations added, "Strengthening collaboration in arts and culture is a key pillar of the Centre for Australia-India Relations strategic plan and mission. Through supporting artists and creative industries, we aim to deepen understanding and connections between Australia and India and foster creativity in our own multicultural eco-system. We are proud to support this gathering of industry leaders from Australia and India through this forum and hope it can be a catalyst for further collaboration".
The forum covered topics including the state of the Arts in India, filmmaking and the rise of new media and technology, in addition to building future creative capabilities through partnerships with Shiv Nadar University, and the collaboration between Science Gallery Bengaluru and Science Gallery Melbourne.
Connected through Asialink's Regional Regional initiative, Australia's 'Outback Theatre for Young People' is collaborating with 'Think Arts' and the Serendipity Festival in India on creative programs for young people that will be part of the Serendipity Festival in Goa, India in December 2024.
Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Director Professor Emma Redding reiterated the benefits of cross-cultural collaborations during the forum.
"The VCA already has a well established relationship with India's largest film school 'Whistling Woods International' (WWI) and this partnership is proving hugely successful. As part of a collaborative film project, VCA students developed a script that was produced in India, with WWI students managing the cinematography, production design and location sound recording. I am excited about future collaborations between our like-minded institutions".
