Please join us for the online launch of the Critical Policy Brief: Transitioning Young People to Education and Employment through Arts-based Social Enterprises.
23 November 2020
12 – 1:30pm
Online via Zoom
Register for launch here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/critical-policy-brief-launch-tickets-127972608517
Download brief here: https://artsocialenterprise.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/critical-policy-brief-art-based-social-enterprise-rmit.pdf
The briefing draws upon the expertise of RMIT’s education, art and social science research community to inform policy makers on opportunities and challenges for arts-based social enterprises (ASEs) in supporting the engagement, well-being, education and employment pathways of marginalised young people, while trading creative products or services to help fulfil that mission.
On 23 November 2020, from 12 to 1:30pm, the critical policy brief will be launched by Nicholas Verginis of Social Enterprise Network of Victoria, followed by a panel of speakers comprising of Dr Grace McQuilten and Professor Peter Kelly of RMIT, Kate Gillick of Outer Urban Projects, Farah Farouque of The Social Studio, and Professor Jo Barraket of Swinburne. The event will be chaired by Distinguished Professor Larissa Hjorth, Director, Design & Creative Practice of RMIT.
The policy brief outlines key findings from an Australian Research Council funded study, “Arts Based Social Enterprise and Marginalised Young People’s Transitions” led by Professor Peter Kelly, Dr Grace McQuilten, Associate Professor Kimberly Humphery and Dr Amy Spiers of RMIT University, and Dr Deborah Warr of Charles Sturt University. This four-year project has involved research with arts-based social enterprises across Australia, including undertaking 60 interviews with staff and participants from twelve ASE organisations, and conducting three in-depth case studies with Melbourne enterprises The Social Studio, Outer Urban Projects and Youthworx Productions.
For further information please email amy.spiers@rmit.edu.au.
Presenter bios
Nick Verginis is the CEO of Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) responsible for growing the social enterprise community in Victoria. Nick thrives in cross-sector collaborations and has over 20 years experience in the independent arts sector, not-for-profits and small social enterprises. For the past 7 years, he served on the Board of Melbourne Fringe and launched ‘Common Rooms’ in 2019, the new venue at Trades Hall in Carlton that uses social enterprise to provide a space where uncommon people belong.
Dr Grace McQuilten is an art historian, curator and writer. She has published the books Art as Enterprise: Social & Economic Engagement in Contemporary Art (co-authored with Dr Anthony White, IB Tauris, 2016) and Art in Consumer Culture (Ashgate Publishing, 2011). Grace has also worked extensively in social enterprise and community development alongside her academic career, and founded The Social Studio in 2009, a fashion-based social enterprise that supports young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Professor Peter Kelly is Head of UNESCO UNEVOC at RMIT University, and Professor of Education in the School of Education. He is a sociologist of youth, education and work who has published extensively on young people, globalization, education and work. His current research interests include a critical engagement with young people’s well-being, resilience and enterprise in what has been called the Anthropocene.
Distinguished Professor Jo Barraket is Director of the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne, which brings together the largest team of social economy researchers in the world. A political sociologist with a focus on both public policy and organisational practice, Jo is Australia’s leading researcher of social enterprise and the wider social economy, and has additional research interests in digital inclusion and social innovation.
Kate Gillick has over 30 years of professional practice across theatre, film and TV to Outer Urban Projects. She has trained and worked as an actor, writer, dramaturg, director and producer. Kate’s commitment to art that reflects the stories of working class and disenfranchised people has seen her evolution as Executive Producer of Outer Urban Projects.
Farah Farouque is Board Chair of The Social Studio, a social enterprise tapping into the design talents of people from refugee backgrounds. The Studio, based in Collingwood, includes a fashion school and clothing label. Farah became a founding board member of the organisation in 2009 when she was working a senior journalist at The Age where she held roles including Social Affairs Editor and Law and Justice Editor. This year, Farah took up a new job as Director of Community Engagement at Tenants Victoria. She had previously worked at the national anti-poverty group Brotherhood of St Laurence, where she shaped campaigns and public advocacy. She is currently a board member of the Islamic Museum of Australia.
Distinguished Professor Larissa Hjorth is a socially-engaged artist and digital ethnographer, currently Director of the Design & Creative Practice Research Platform at RMIT University.
Supported by RMIT’s Design and Creative Practice Enabling Capability Platform (DCP ECP); the Contemporary Art & Social Transformation Research Group (CAST), School of Art; and the UNESCO UNEVOC Centre, School of Education.
Art Based Social Enterprises and Marginalised Young People's Transitions 