News
After a week’s break in Robyn’s favourite city, Kyoto, Robyn started her working year on 6 January in New York, where she moderated the opening panel for the APAP (Association of Performing Arts Presenters) 2017. This dynamic and important conversation was live-streamed and can still be viewed on the APAP website. It’s an extraordinary gathering which gives a truer picture of what and who America is and includes Pulitzer prize-winning author and playwright Ayad Akhtar, African American documentary film-maker and activist Bree Newsome, Chicana ‘artivista’, composer/performer and academic Martha Gonzalez and Ibtihaj Muhhamad – the US Olympic team silver medallist from Rio, and the first woman to fence in hijab. Absolutely worth a look.
Immediately back from the US, the year kicked in with an important announcement from Robyn as Chair of The Arts Centre Gold Coast. The Centre is well on its way to transforming into the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct, with the construction of a big bold new outdoor space now in progress, and a new gallery and green bridge in concept design stage. On 20 Jan, as Chair, she announced the creation of a new role for the Precinct and the appointment of the new CEO/Director. Robyn continues her work as Strategic Advisor to Gold Coast Arts and Culture.
At the end of 2016, Robyn was announced as The Australian Book Review’s Laureate. The ABR’s inaugural laureate is David Malouf, and Robyn feels in hallowed company and has acknowledged the importance of this honour. Robyn’s Laureate fellow will be announced in the ABR during 2017.
A new essay appears in the new edition of The Griffith Review State of Hope which is all about South Australia. It sits as the first essay in that edition and is a potent example of the personal/political.
Robyn Archer AO is a singer, performer, writer, artistic director and public advocate of the Arts.
She is currently:
- Performer, writer, director, public advocate for the arts
- Strategic Advisor, Arts and Culture, Gold Coast
- Chair, Arts Centre Gold Coast
- Chair, Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership), NIDA
- Mentor, European Festivals’ Association Atelier
- Australia Book Review Laureate
Ambassador:
- Adelaide Football Club
- International Women’s Development Agency
Patron:
- Australian Art Orchestra (Melbourne)
- Brink Productions (Adelaide)
- Australian Script Centre (Hobart)
- Arts Law Society (Sydney)
- Centre for Postcolonial Studies (Melbourne)
