For six years now (bar 2020) Arts House has been running Refuge, an annual program looking at how we can prepare for crises through the lens of art and creativity. Previously the program has covered floods, heatwaves and even pandemics (perhaps DHHS should have turned to Arts House for help last year?) but 2021 is a little different.
The 2021 Refuge program will explore what happens when multiple crises occur – when shit well and truly hits the fan, so to speak. Refuge features 13 projects and brings together artists, emergency experts, scientists and communities to see how we as a society can prepare for the consequences of disasters and the impacts of climate change.
As you can imagine, the program became all too real recently. “Our program is no longer something to imagine in the future. It’s here and we’re all dealing with it right now,” says Arts House artistic director Emily Sexton.
"Throughout last year’s bushfires, the current pandemic and recent floods, it’s clear that government authorities, the emergency management sector and local community leaders must work closely together. Communities must be fully engaged and central to the planning and delivery of possible crisis solutions."
Highlights of this year's program include:
Convergence: an interactive game by Harry Lee Shang Lun that allows guests to apply Indigenous land knowledge to crisis scenarios).
Portage: Shelter2Camp: in which Jen Rae and First Nations master weavers such as Vicki Kinai, Vicki Couzens, Bronwyn Razem and Muhubo Sulieman create a disaster shelter while teaching participants knot tying, hand-building and grass weaving.
Tension//Relief: Corin Ileto and Diimpa lead guests in meditation backed by ambient and experimental music, inspired by re-emerging into the world following lockdowns.
Mass Movement: Latai Taumoepeau undertakes a poetic and participatory journey of local waterways culminating in 100 choreographed people using semaphore in Flagstaff Gardens.
Not a Drop to Drink: Keg de Souza creates a large-scale installation and menu of meals that address food and water scarcity.
Refuge runs from April 21 to May 16. For the full program, head to the Arts House website.
