I read it in the newspaper... ~ theatre notes

Friday, March 28, 2008

I read it in the newspaper...

...so it must be true. Your faithful blogger is, it seems, off to the 2020 Summit in Canberra next month to debate future Australian arts policy on the Creative Australia panel under Cate Blanchett. At least, my name is on the list of delegates announced today. And it's even spelt correctly.

They haven't quite got around to telling me in person, hence a certain sense of unreality. I am going to have a good stiff drink and look again. Maybe I'll see myself twice. Maybe I am hallucinating. While I reorient myself: other Melburnians named today in a diverse list that - hearteningly - includes a lot of artists, include MIAF artistic director Kristy Edmunds, Malthouse executive producer Stephen Armstrong, former MTC associate director Julian Meyrick and director Barrie Kosky.

15 comments:

Nicholas Pickard said...

Congratulations Alison!

Are you the only blogger on the best and brightest list?

Alison Croggon said...

Thanks, Nick! (I'm still waiting for someone to tell me that there's been a mistake - to be honest, I didn't know I'd been nominated until last week). I haven't noted any other bloggers, but that doesn't mean that they're not there.

In the meantime - assuming it isn't a mistake - I'm just thinking about how my presence might be most useful. I've got a few ideas to start with, but any suggestions are most welcome.

Nicholas Pickard said...

Don't worry about suggestions - the next few weeks we are going to bombard you with all manner of suggestions.

It will be suggestion by blog gone crazy.

Alison Croggon said...

Sounds ominous! :) I'll brace myself...

Anonymous said...

not a suggestion - but a congratulations. have been lurking on your blog for years and spent hours getting lost, reading and re-reading. congrats to a voice representing intelligence, art and reason.
Cheers
Stu

Alison Croggon said...

Many thanks, Stuart! And deeply appreciated. Nicholas, it occurs to me that if there are going to be lots of suggestions - and believe me, they're welcome - it might be best to make a wiki, so I can keep track, rather than chasing blogposts around the web. It might in fact be a cool way to harness the pulsating hivemind of Theatre Web 2.0. Let me think on.

Paul Martin said...

Congratulations, Alison. I look forward to seeing your reports on what transpired, and your always sharp perspective.

Anonymous said...

In 2020, we won't have live performers in the theatre, but lifeless holograms that look like our favorite celebrities ... and plays will be written not by human beings but by computers, which will have been programmed to generate scripts that have been designed to appeal to audiences, directors and theatre administrators ...

No, wait ... you'll be talking about the future, not the present ...

Anonymous said...

Did they ask Joanna? Hannie? The Craven Peter? Mssrs Usher or Bolt? Manta Ray Gill praps? LOL!

Anonymous said...

Alison, that last comment was not me using another pseudonym.

George, can you tell me where I could get one of those computers?

Anonymous said...

Good work, Alison! Congratulations. I have no doubt that on behalf of this crazy little artistic community, you will Do. Good. Work. Stand by for my snowstorm of suggestions... x

Alison Croggon said...

V few of those lifeless holograms in Melbourne, George, though of course they're everywhere these days, like pod people...

Hush hush, they asked a good whack of interesting peeps, but not Mr Craven. And thanks MZ. I think I will do a wiki, it will let me clarify my own thoughts, and allow you all to comment/add/extend etc. I've a slighjtly quieter week next week, and will investigate the possibilities.

richardwatts said...

Excellent news, Alison - congratulations.

genevieve said...

Oh Alison. You rock. I was delighted to see your name in there today - went to the creatives straight away hoping to see as many writers as possible. HURRAY.

Anonymous said...

The arts summit should involve a lot of air kissing, based on the list of names. I hope you can give good foyer. It'll be just like an opening night, only longer. And during the day.