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Robyn Archer : “We are all participants in the Atelier”

28 October 2016

In the countdown to the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Chiang Mai, the presenters who will participate to exchange with about 40 young artistic festival directors from all over the world will be introduced. One of them is Robin Archer, Artistic Director of The Light in Winter Melbourne, Former Deputy Chair Australia Council for the Arts and Strategic Advisor Gold Coast Arts and Culture Queensland. She previously participated in the Atelier GÖRLITZ 2006, VARNA 2009, SINGAPORE, IZMIR 2011, LJUBLJANA 2012, POZNAN and EDINBURGH 2014.

As mentors and presenters I know we will get at least as much out of the participants as they may get out of us in the coming week. It should be understood at the outset that there are very few differences between us as mentors and you as participants, except perhaps in terms of experience. We are all participants in the Atelier.” Robyn Archer during the Opening Ceremony of the Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012.

Robyn Archer is a singer, writer, artistic director and public advocate of the arts. Patron of numerous arts organisations across Australia, Robyn Archer has been awarded throughout the world for her contribution to the arts. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia, Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France), Officer of the Crown (Belgium) and holds honorary doctorates from five Australian Universities. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy for the Humanities.

A selection of public speeches is published under the title Detritus (UWA Press) and she is in constant demand as a speaker on the arts, most recently in Beijing, Hong Kong, London and throughout Australia. Robyn is patron of numerous arts organisations and has received many prestigious arts awards, most recently a Helpmann for Best Cabaret Performer 2013.

Robyn Archer is the former artistic director of the National Festival of Australian Theatre, the Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals, and Ten Days on the Island, which she created for Tasmania. She worked for 5 years as Creative Director of the Centenary of Canberra 2013.

“She gave us great lectures and workshops and her words remained in our memories and were brought up numerous times during the Atelier.” Darja Demšar, participant Atelier LJUBLJANA 2012.


Renowned mentors from all over the world will guide the participants throughout the seven days of the Atelier Chiang Mai 2016 under the coordination of Hugo de Greef (Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, Director European Capital of Culture Bruges 2002m Co-Founder Kaaitheater Brussels – Belgium): Robin Archer, (Artistic Director The Light in Winter Melbourne – Australia), Mark Ball, (Artistic Director and Chief Executive LIFT – UK), Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, (President Lyon Biennal -  France), Nele Hertling, (Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe”, Former Vice-President of the Academy of Arts Berlin, Former Director Hebbel-Theater Berlin – Germany), Low Kee-Hong, (Head of Artistic Development Theatre West Kowloon Cultural District Hong Kong – Singapore), Michal Merczynski,(Director Malta Festival Poznań and Nostalgia Festival Poznań – Poland), and Kim Seong Hee, (Artistic Curator and Producer, Professor at the Kaywon Art University – South Korea).

More information about the Atelier Chiang Mai 2016 can be found on the Atelier website.

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